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 397
Lavandula angustifolia
English Lavender
Although lavender seed will not come true, but will produce plants with some variation in colour and form, unless you plan to make a formal feature in your garden this can be a plus... a mass planting of lavender grown from seed, with colours ranging from light mauve to deep…
This delightful plant with its tall spikes of tiny purple or pink flowers resembling miniature snapdragons, which appear from a basal clump of fine, grey-green leaves, is attractive not only to right-minded humans, but to wildlife... it is much loved by butterflies and bees. It flowers from June right through…
This charming, usually short-lived, perennial produces masses of clear blue flowers an inch in diameter and dark-green foliage on wiry stems. The flowers last only a day, but new buds burst daily too, so during summer the plant is always full of colour. It will self-seed but is not a…
Happiest in part shade and moist soil, Liriope offers interest all year round. It forms clumps of glossy, evergreen, strap-like leaves, which contrast well with spikes of deep purple flowers from late summer and into the autumn. These are followed by glossy black berries. Growing up to about 1 foot…
This stately plant, which originates from Northern America, has tall spires of rich-blue or violet, tubular flowers above rosettes of dark green leaves. It much loved by pollinating insects but on the other hand is said to be a herbivore deterrent, which, if it works, will be useful to gardeners…
An old cottage garden favourite, the seedheads of which are often to be seen in dried floral arrangements. Carefully rub the seed pod (silicles) casings off the dried stems to reveal moon-shine like membranes that give this plant its Latin name. A trouble-free plant that will establish itself happily and…
The picture does not really do this plant justice. Attractive, deep-purple rosettes of rounded leaves appear in early spring, followed by tall spikes of more pointed leaves which bear small, yellow, star-shaped flowers along their length. Although moist - even wet - soil is recommended, mine grow in a dry,…
A profusion of blooms no more than an inch across, coloured deep purple - almost black - with white edges. A lovely statement at the front of the border or tumbling from hanging baskets and planters.
Looking very similar to Chinese Lanterns (Physalis alkekengi), but with green/black lanterns rather than the familiar bright orange, and striking black stems, this plant is an annual and although it does seed itself around it is easier to control than Physalis (which multiplies by underground runners and has a tendency…
A dark-purple variety of basil, with smaller, more toothed leaves than the more commonly-grown Sweet Genovese. Great for adding contrasting colour to salads and tomato dishes. For companion planting enthusiasts, basil is said to encourage the growth of tomatoes, peppers and chillies!
NOTE: These are externally sourced, organic seeds.
I don't generally welcome thistles in the garden, but this is an exception! This huge, ornamental thistle, which can reach 3 metres tall and a metre across, has spiny, silver-green leaves on a thick, branching stem, from which beautiful spherical buds develop, opening to gigantic pinkish-purple thistle flowers which are…
Although, true to its common name, this evergreen plant is both ornamental and black, it is not a grass! It forms clumps of glossy, purple-black leaves (some may occasionally be dark-green), with spikes of pale purplish-pink flowers in autumn, followed by glossy black berries. It grows only about 6 inches…
The flowers of the familiar opium poppy are often pale purple-pink, but are quite variable, with colours varying from almost white to dark purple-pink and sometimes shades of salmon-pink. The darkness of the blotch at the centre of the flowers can also be variable. The seeds of are widely used…
Attractive in all respects, this vigorous climber has not only exquisitely intricate flowers but distinctive lobed foliage and bright orange, egg-shaped fruits, which are edible when fully ripe but rather bland in taste, from late summer onwards. It is often deciduous in milder areas.
A beautiful specimen tree with mauve, foxglove-like blooms in early spring, followed by large, soft, downy leaves. Rapidly growing, it can reach 2m/6ft in the first year and should flower within 2-3 years. The plant is borderline hardy in milder parts of the UK and it is a good idea…