With a fair resemblance to Moraea huttonii, large, iris-like, bright yellow flowers are held well above the thin strap-like leaves, but once again these are different from other moraeas as you will agreeably discover when you smell the sweet perfume! A valuable find from the South African mountains. Few seeds collected. ... Learn More

This fast-growing, drought-resistant tree, native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in north western India is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Hanging clusters of fragrant, orchid-like flowers later become hanging fruits which are three-sided brown capsules holding dark brown, globular seeds which have three whitish, papery wings and are dispersed by wind and water and are sometimes eaten like peas or roasted like nuts. The whitish-grey bark is surrounded by thick cork, and in cultivation the trunk is often cut back annually to 1–2 metres and allowed to regrow, an ... Learn More

Abundant, true blue petals open in a disc, with a tiny yellow "ring" at the centre, blooming constantly from late spring into summer. It self-sows anywhere it is happy, giving the appearance of a cloud of blue surrounding spring bulbs to a magnificent effect. The Alpine Forget-me-not is the county flower of Westmorland in the UK, and also the state flower of Alaska where it grows well in open, rocky places high in the mountains, flowering in midsummer. Just a few seeds collected. ... Learn More

Also called Sweet Cicely, Garden Myrrh, and Spanish Chervil, this uncommon and beautiful British native, has ornamental, much-divided, delicate, fern-like foliage and crowded umbels of small white flowers followed by extremely large, shiny-black, decorative seed-heads which are fluted and slightly curved. The whole plant has a pleasant odour of aniseed. Budding chefs can use it for flavouring stewed fruit such as plums, when it is said that it is possible to halve the amount of sugar required. Its crisp stalks make an excellent substitute for celery after light cooking and the leaves have b ... Learn More

This lovely Japanese plant from Honshu has a more compact, upright habit than many catmints, bearing fat spikes of unusually large flared pinkish-blue trumpets on stubby spikes above sweetly fragrant foliage. This treasure is one of the very largest flowered catmints, and being native to damp areas of Japan, it is also more tolerant of moisture than other species. ... Learn More

Possibly the fastest and most impressive plant you can grow from a single seed, this amazing monster was only recently discovered in the Andes of Colombia at around 1800 m. The rare giant Nicandra shrub grows into an incredible plant that can reach a height of 3 m in just a few weeks, with enormous leaves and far larger flowers and fruits than the common, and far smaller Nicandra physalodes. It will provide you with a unique, stunning and extremely fast growing specimen, guaranteed to amaze all of your friends. And just like its smaller relative, it is called the "shoo-fly plant" as it is su ... Learn More

The Parijat, often known as the Night-Flowering Jasmine, is a tree shrouded in elegance and mystery, its name translating to "sorrow of the night" in reference to its ephemeral blooms. This enchanting tree is celebrated for its fragrant, star-shaped flowers with vibrant orange centers that bloom at dusk, filling the air with an intoxicating, sweet aroma. By morning, the delicate blossoms fall gently to the ground, carpeting the earth with a soft, fragrant blanket of white and orange, offering a poetic beauty unmatched by other plants. Its slender, gnarled branches and rough-textured leaves ... Learn More

A quite spectacular small plant with grey-green leaves, above which arise profuse sprays of faintly sweet-scented, pure white, golden-eyed flowers all summer long. This lovely thing will very gently self-seed around the garden but never, ever becomes a nuisance here! Unsurprisingly it is an 'AGM' Award Winner. ... Learn More

A traditional Italian variety (known as Cipollini in Italy) with paper-thin, golden skin and firm flesh. The flat shaped bulbs with have a lovely, sweet flavour and are traditionally pickled with sweet balsamic vinegar and sold in Italian delicatessens. They are delicious braised, roasted whole in the oven or cooked in a little butter on the stove top. ... Learn More

This superb open-pollinated variety produces flattened globe-shaped red skinned onions. The flesh is white with a sweet taste, alternating with rings of deep crimson. It works equally well in salads or for cooking and gives heavy crops which store well over long periods. ... Learn More

This Tuscany heirloom has long red bottle-shaped bulbs with an excellent mild-sweet flavour, so is particularly suited for use raw in salads. Can either be pulled young as spring onions or allowed to mature for August cropping. ... Learn More

Paris Silverskin is an easy to grow, dual purpose onion grown mainly for pickling. Fast maturing and producing good crops of small, sweet and crisp silvery white onions which can be pulled young to add zing to salads, or, if left to mature to small onions, are ideal for pickling or using whole in casseroles. Can be grown in pots and containers. ... Learn More

Red skinned variety which produces elongated pinky red bulbs with an outstanding sweet flavour. Continental type very popular in France and Southern Europe. Perfect as a raw slicer. Treated seed ... Learn More

Opuntia ficus-indica is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant important in agricultural economies throughout arid and semi-arid parts of the world and is thought to possibly be native to Mexico. Flowers vary from red to yellow, all producing sweet, succulent, but pippy fruits. ... Learn More

This is the first paeony to flower in spring and you could grow it just for its attractive leaves, which appear in February and are a greyish-green pewter colour, with beetroot-red veins and stems. In March the large flowers open and are from mauve to pink. It truly is the first really glamorous plant of the year and sets very few good viable seeds. ... Learn More