From Chile comes this handsome but curious plant bearing dark green, lobed, acanthus-like leaves. In summer, highly attractive bright orange-yellow, concave-petalled flowers open, each an inch or so across. But take care! This is one of the surprise plants of the Chilean woodlands as my legs discovered on our last Andean expedition. The entire plant, including the flowers, is covered with fine stinging hairs, just like a stinging nettle. Grazing animals keep away! ... Learn More

There is little to rival a mass planting of lupins glowing with colour in May and June. The tightly packed spikes of pink and white pea-shaped flowers are produced above a shapely mound of deeply fingered, mid-green leaves. These are excellent plants for any garden. Amongst the showiest of hardy, herbaceous perennials, they provide the border with strong shape and colour just when spring flowers are fading. Reliable and easy to grow. ... Learn More

Dense sprays of bright pink flowers arise on numerous long, thin sticky stems, which arise from compact rosettes of lanceolate leaves. A very attractive and long-lived plant which will grow in just about any position. ... Learn More

Making mature trees laden with fruit in warmer climates, (there are NOT the normal large oranges!) these smaller-fruiting plants also make attractive pot plants in colder climates, when they will produce fragrant orange blossom, followed by sweet fruit if kept warm. Mandarin is the blanket term for this group of fruiting trees, but is mainly used outside the USA, and the name Tangerine is the English word for the Mandarin. There are several groups of Mandarins, and the most desirable one is the Satsuma which is also the easiest to peel due to its loose leathery skin. These seeds have been coll ... Learn More

Unlike the common garden stocks, the white form of the fragrant tree stock is rarely encountered. Slowly, with age, it develops a trunk supporting several radiating rosettes of grey lanceolate leaves, each rosette producing spikes of sweetly perfumed white flowers. It is hardy and long lived in a sheltered well-drained spot. ... Learn More

In late autumn, fans of soft, lance shaped leaves similar to those of the freesias and irises arise, seldom more than 3 to 4 inches in height. In Spring, they flaunt their "fairy bells", each sending up a thin, wiry stem with alternate branches carrying a waterfall of dwarfish blossoms, that tremble in the slightest breath of wind. Every pale yellow or cream flower is less than a centimetre wide, and is etched finely along the centre of the pointed tepals with a fine, darker line. A choice and lovely South African plant, but just a very few viable seeds collected. ... Learn More

The stature and dividing branches of this lovely plant qualify it as the biggest clover plant in the world, a veritable tree clover! It opens its heavy load of white flowers in July and August when it is a major source of nectar for bees in apiaries, and indeed, its botanical name means "honey-scented white lotus". Its characteristic sweet odour, intensified by drying, is derived from the coumarins it produces. ... Learn More

This heirloom melon, first grown in 1881 in the greenhouses of England's Blenheim Palace, have thin, finely-netted skins and thick, fragrant orange flesh. It is just the right size (up to 2lb) for one or two servings and is perfect for smoothies. It grows well in short season climates. ... Learn More

Cucumis melo, commonly known as Cantaloupe, is a delicious and popular melon variety appreciated for its sweet and juicy orange flesh. Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, Cantaloupe is a warm-season fruit that thrives in well-drained, sandy soils with plenty of sunlight. The Cantaloupe fruit is round to oval in shape and typically weighs several pounds when mature. Its thick, netted rind is beige to tan, and the prominent netting or webbing on the skin distinguishes it from other melon varieties. The fruit's interior is where its true allure lies. The flesh is juicy, aromatic, and ranges in ... Learn More

Charentais is one of the easier varieties to grow and perfect for the novice gardener producing very early fruits weighing approximately 1kg. It has a fragrant, thick, extremely sweet and juicy, deep orange flesh. Best grown in the greenhouse in the UK but also particularly suitable for cloche culture. ... Learn More

Galia melons will grow perfectly well in a dry climate, especially on well-draining sandy soil, but early on, the crop requires some moisture in the soil to flourish. Like other melons, it runs along the soil surface as a trailing vine. It grows in a round shape, and is conspicuous by the raised pattern of fine netting on its rough skin. At maturity, it attains 4-6 inches in diameter and usually weighs about 2 to 3 lbs. Inside, the succulent pale green flesh is juicy, and has a soft consistency with a sweet, musky aroma that emanates best in the completely ripe fruits. In addition, it is rich ... Learn More

This is one of the easier varieties to grow, producing sizeable early fruits weighing up to 3kg. With fragrant, thick, extremely sweet and juicy flesh, it has a small seed cavity and light green flesh. The wonderful, vine-ripened flavour of this very sweet, juicy melon is almost wine-like. Best grown in the greenhouse in the UK but is also particularly suitable for cloche culture. ... Learn More

Muskmelon Malaga F1 is a rampant plant, which is resistant to mildew and produces almost perfectly round orange fruit with a characteristic net-like pattern on its skin. The deep orange flesh is thick, juicy and sweet with an aromatic taste. ... Learn More

A 17th century French heirloom originally from the garden of the Bishop of Rennes. An early variety which is well adapted to cooler climates. The fruit are smooth-skinned with slight ribbing and weigh about 2 lbs while the orange flesh has a superb sweet flavour, fine texture and delightful scent. ... Learn More

This rare and strikingly attractive, strongly aromatic plant, comes from the mountains of central and southern Europe and bears jaggedly cut, glossy green foliage, and creamy umbels turning lime green. In late spring it produces large numbers of yellowish-white, sweetly fragrant flowers, which in turn form large, intriguing heads of sizeable, twisted seeds.... And yes, what a brilliant name! ... Learn More