IMPORTANT NOTE: At times, especially during the summer, plants may be cut back or pinched out if they are too far advanced to ship whole. This encourages annuals and biennials to produce extra flowering stems, so no bad thing! Perennials will establish well for next year, but may or may not flower this year, depending on species. In some instances top growth may be woody or sparce (e.g. Anthemis tinctoria), but don't worry, the plants are perfectly healthy and will soon produce fresh foliage! Please contact me if you would like to enquire about specific plants.
NCG 827
Astrantia major, deep pink
Masterwort, deep pink
A lovely deep-pink variety of the traditional cottage garden plant. I don't know its name, unfortunately.
This lovely astrantia has a long flowering period. Rings of stiff, finely toothed, rich-pink bracts surround umbels of very small, pink flowers on straight, wiry stems above attractive, deeply-lobed, bright-green foliage. The plant has a spreading habit but is generally not difficult to control. Much recommended!
This astrantia mix should produce pincushion blooms which are pink or white with green tinges. It is happy in shade and is said to repel slugs, so try planting near hostas. Makes a very good cut flower which lasts well and also can usually be successfully dried for winter arrangements.
Perhaps the best thing about wild rocket is that (as its other common name makes clear!) it produces lush foliage at times when other salad plants are not available. Its strong, pungent flavour is not dissimilar to water cress. Finely chopped, it makes an interesting addition to sandwiches. Treat as…
Lovely in hanging baskets and containers, this very pretty trailing begonia was introduced to the UK from Natal in the mid 19th century. It produces masses of tiny orange flowers all summer beneath, small, rich-green, toothed leaves. They are likely to survive winters outside in milder areas, but it is…
This most attractive perennial, which bears vividly orange blooms with dark spots, is a member of the Iris family. A lovely addition to a sunny hot bed, where it thrives even in quite arid conditions, although it will also tolerate light shade. A plant that is very easy to grow…
A taller variety than the familiar hanging basket and container Bidens, this bright and cheery plant looks lovely planted en masse in the hot bed, alongside other orange and yellow-flowering plants such as Cosmos polidor and Tagetes tenuifolia. The foliage is very attractive too - finely divided leaves are a…
A bromeliad native to South America, the Friendship plant is so called because it produces side shoots which can be removed and grown on give to friends and family. The flowers are a kaleidoscope of pink, green, purple and yellow. They are evergreen perennials, generally quite forgiving of cold -…
A bromeliad native to South America with flowers in a kaleidoscope of pink, green, purple and yellow. They are evergreen perennials, generally quite forgiving of cold - mine survive well over the winter in an insulated but unheated greenhouse, and spend the rest of the year outside in dappled sunshine,…
Like the common blue borage, this white variant is edible. The flowers, which have a flavour reminiscent of cucumber, can be added to summer drinks or as a garnish on salads and other cold dishes. The leaves can also be added, wilted, to Mediterranean recipes such as pasta sauces and…
Borage is edible - the flowers, which have a flavour reminiscent of cucumber, can be added to summer drinks or as a garnish on salads and other cold dishes. The leaves can also be added, wilted, to Mediterranean recipes such as pasta sauces and to ravioli stuffing. Borage is very…
The delicate, pale blue, nodding bells of this pretty bulbous plant are fragrant and much loved by butterflies. Although the common name refers to it as a hyacinth, it is in fact only distantly related. NOTE: Not to be confused with the Spanish bluebell, which is a thug and…
One of my favourite spring-flowering plants, with delicate sprays of sky-blue flowers, somewhat similar to forget-me-not, but with rather more wiry flower stems, above large, heart-shaped, exquisitely marked leaves. NOTE: Depending on the season, plants, when offered, may be delivered bare-rooted and trimmed back, but will soon produce fresh growth.
One of my favourite spring-flowering plants, with delicate sprays of sky-blue flowers, somewhat similar to forget-me-not, but with rather more wiry flower stems, above large, rich-green, heart-shaped leaves. NOTE: Depending on the season, plants, when offered, may be delivered bare-rooted and trimmed back, but will soon produce fresh growth.
A very useful filler both in the flower beds and in flower arrangements (fresh or dried), this plant resembles euphorbia, but without the irritating, milky sap. The foliage is bluish-green and the tiny flowers a vivid yellow-green. Gently self-seeds.
One of the most recognisable and popular cottage garden plants, this Calendula mixture will light up the garden for many months with an abundance of yellow and orange blooms, some double. Makes a nice addition to small flower arrangements, so cut often to encourage repeat flowering and to keep the…
A variation on one of the most recognisable and popular cottage garden plants, 'Sunset Buff' produces double (and perhaps the occasional single) flowers in soft, peachy tones with red backs. Makes a nice addition to small flower arrangements, so cut often to encourage repeat flowering and to keep the plants…
Clusters of deep-blue bell-shaped flowers on straight stems from early summer. A very pretty plant, but spreads by underground runners and can be rather invasive, so position carefully.
Note: Bare-rooted plants, when on offer, may look a little untidy, particularly early in the year. Don't worry - they will establish…