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 001
Acanthus spinosus
Bear's Britches
Dynamic - good in shade!
This stately, dramatic plant is happiest in full sun, but will also tolerate deep shade. Very useful cut flower, both fresh and dried. The flower spikes, with white blooms with purple bracts, appear above deeply divided dark green foliage.
A small to medium sized ornamental tree which lends interest to the garden at all times of year. Small, yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by fresh green foliage in spring and summer, then spectacular orange, red and pink autumn foliage in autumn. At all times of year the chestnut-red…
A cultivar of the familiar white or cream wild flower, with flat heads of tiny, deep-pink blooms with white eyes, held on wiry stems clothed in very fine, ferny, dark-green foliage. Attractive to bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
Formerly known as Cimicifuga racemosa, this tall, dynamic plant produces bold cut foliage of a deep burgundy colour - almost black. Racemes of tiny, white or pinkish flowers appear on tall, arching stems in summer. Highly recommended.
This delightful annual wildflower has pink, five-petalled flowers surrounding by elongated calyxes, on strong, upright stems with narrow leaves. Should happily self-seed but unwanted plants are not difficult to remove.
A most attractive climbing vine that lends interest to the garden throughout most of the year. Pretty flowers, interesting foliage and striking lilac-skinned fruit, which are edible. The fruits are ripe when they split to revel their glistening white pulp, studded with shiny black seeds (which are also edible, so…
Deepest, deepest red-purple - as close to black as you can get! Although strictly speaking a perennial, this very popular cottage garden plant is best treated as a biennial, particularly since it can be susceptible to rust. These are very tall plants and some support is recommended.
I am offering here not only mixed-colour seeds but a selection of packets containing seed collected from individual plants that I thought particularly pretty, but they cannot be guaranteed to come true. (NOTE: Seeds from black hollyhock are listed separately.) p>
Although strictly speaking a perennial, this very popular cottage…
Looking for all the world like fireworks, giant orbs of lilac flowers are followed by exquisite seed heads that and are wonderful for dried flower arrangements. The dried stems are very weak; the solution is to very carefully push a slender woody stem (I use willow) or heavy wire down…
A native of Peru, this is one of my favourite discoveries! The stems of this tender perennial are strong and wiry and the small leaves are a rich green. The flowers, which are about an inch across and rich vermillion-red, opening from sweet little pouch-like buds, are produced in profusion…
Flowers in a range of colours, from white through warm yellows, oranges and reds to shades of pink, on strong, straight stems with glossy foliage. Prefers soil that is not too limey.
Unlike many other Peruvian lilies, 'Mona Lisa' is known to come true from seed. It makes a wonderful cut flower (if you can bear to remove it from the garden!), with large heads of dark-red, speckled flowers with tinges of green on strong, straight stems with glossy foliage. Prefers soil…
Japanese anemones are best grown in a position where there is space for them to spread. They can be invasive but this is weighed against their attractiveness and usefulness in the garden. 'Hadspen Abundance' is a medium-sized plant with dark green lobed foliage on strong, straight stems which support pink…
Japanese anemones are best grown in a position where there is space for them to spread. They can be invasive but this is weighed against their attractiveness and usefulness in the garden. 'Prinz Heinrich' is a medium-sized plant with dark green lobed foliage on strong, straight stems which support very…
This spectacular, spring-flowering anemone is a Mediterranean species with dark-green leaves and bright, cup-shaped blooms in pink, purple or red, usually with a white eye. It is happiest in a sunny position in free-draining soil, either towards the front of a border, in containers or naturalised in grass.
Japanese anemones are best grown in a position where there is space for them to spread. They can be invasive but this is weighed against their attractiveness and usefulness in the garden. 'Pretty Lady Emily' produces very pale-pink, double flowers with a rich yellow centre.
The finely divided, ferny, deep-purple, almost black leaves of this unusual plant make a lovely contrast with other plants, particularly those that have predominantly light-green foliage. The flat heads of tiny flowers are white with small pink bracts. Please note that not all plants produced from the seeds offered will…
Although a perennial, antirrhinums are usually treated as annuals. These seeds were collected from particularly tall, velvety-red plants. Since other antirrhinums are grown in the garden I cannot guarantee that all will breed true.
The seeds of this unusual variety of antirrhinum were collected in the Rif Mountains, Morocco. The plant has a rather lax, sprawling habit and bright, purplish-red blooms, Although a perennial, antirrhinums are usually treated as annuals, but you can try cutting them back from late autumn to early spring.
Although usually perennial, antirrhinums are generally treated as annuals. This is a mixture in many colours and heights, from medium-sized to dwarf (usually distinguishable early in their lives by small leaves, and tending to a trailing habit, making them a useful in hanging baskets). A children's favourite! NOTE: Separate colours…
Beautiful spurless, double, salmon-pink blooms on wiry stems - a very special aquilegia! These seeds were taken from plants away from other aquilegias, but it is still possible that there has been some cross-pollination. However, in my experience this variety tends to breed true.
This unusual little wild columbine with brownish-red skirts and soft-yellow centres originates from Mount Konsai in Japan and is very hardy. Much recommended. (Externally sourced seeds.)
Unusual chocolate-brown petals with contrasting yellow-green stamens make this little aquilegia a stunning addition to the garden. Works well at front of border of in rockeries. Highly recommended!
It's not possible to guarantee that these seeds will come true, but they were gathered from such a pretty pink plant that I decided to save them separately from the other plants in the garden. If they fail to produce pink flowers, they will reward you with a lovely selection…
A mixture of single, double and ruffled plants or seeds in a variety of colours - dark-purple, blue, white and pink. I'm also offering packets containing seeds from specific plants, but there may be some cross-pollination.
Note: Plants, when offered, may be bare-rooted, depending on season.
The pretty little soft-red, globe-shaped flowerheads on stems 8-12in/20-30cm tall rising above low-growing rosettes of evergreen foliage are a magnet for pollinating insects. These tough plants are easy to grow and tolerate quite harsh conditions and poor, sandy soil.
Italian arum 'Marmoratum', Variegated Cuckoopint, Lords-and-Ladies
Beautiful plant for shade!
The boldly marbled, arrow-shaped leaves appear in autumn and last right through most of the year. Seedlings may look unpromising at first, but as the plants grow the leaves develop their beautiful markings. Plant under trees to light up dark areas. When plants are on offer they are usually self…
Growing this delicious and exceedingly healthy vegetable from seed might seem a strange idea, since there is a long wait before even crowns can be harvested. Seed-grown asparagus means another year's wait, but the plants will tend to be stronger and healthier than those from bare-rooted crowns that may have…
This very pretty aster has a compact form, generally needing no support. From late summer it is studded with hundreds of rich, pinkish-purple flowers with yellow centres. It continues to flower even past the first frosts, providing welcome colour at the back end of the year. A very good cut…
A wonderful cut flower, this aster has tall, strong, straight stems and is self-supporting on all but the most exposed sites. The flowers, which appear from late summer and well into autumn, are about 3.5cm across, a lovely warm-pink with a yellow centre and are very attractive to pollinating insects.…
An exquisite, deep-red variety of the traditional cottage garden plant.
NOTE: Seeds, when offered, have been collected exclusively from this variety, but since there are other astrantia in the garden there is the possibility of some cross-pollination.
This lovely astrantia produces masses of the usual pincushion blooms, which are pink with green tinges. But it really comes into its own in early spring, when the young foliage has strong white and green variegation. The white changes to cream and then yellow as the season progresses, and eventually…
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.
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 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,…
This lovely campanula bears drooping, tubular bells an inch or more long, coloured soft pink fading to white at the tips, in mid-summer. The leaves, which form an attractive basal rosette, are rich-green, heart-shaped, slightly glossy and serrated.
Long fruits with a rich, sweet flavour. Fully ripe, red, fruits are sweeter than those that are still green. If it is necessary to harvest green peppers at the end of the season, they can be placed on a warm, sunny window sill to ripen.
A blocky-shaped fruit with a mild, sweet flavour. Fully ripe, red, fruits are sweeter than those that are still green. If it is necessary to harvest green peppers at the end of the season, they can be placed on a warm, sunny window sill to ripen.
A small, medium-hot chilli with a thin skin which dries easily, but for fresh chillies all year round, keep a a pot indoors by a warm, sunny window during the winter. Prune the plant in spring to encourage new, bushy growth. It is possible to keep chilli plants for a…
This very attractive grass, 12 inches high and 12-18 inches in diameter, forms a soft tussock of very narrow, chestnut-red leaves in spring. These fade somewhat as the season progresses and in summer many delicate flower/seed spikes are produced. The soft, rounded 'cushion' of this grass was a magnet for…
A very attractive and useful hardy, semi-evergreen shrub with masses of soft peach flowers in Spring. Easy to grow and well worth trying. Flowers are nectar-rich so attractive to bees. Also makes a good hedging plant.
Chrysanthemums have never been my favourite plants, but this one is an exception! A very hardy variety, this compact plant has dark-green, lobed foliage which contrasts well with the deep-pink, narrow-petalled flowers that appear from summer right through to late autumn. Chrysanthemums are good companion plants as they contain the…
This pretty thistle is a native of Japan. It produces small, fluffy, globe-like blooms in shades of pink above mid-green foliage from late summer to autumn.
So reminiscent of English cottage gardens! Masses of soft, double flowers in reds, pinks, mauves and white. This variety produces tall plants. Make a lovely cut flower.
A dynamic flowering houseplant native to South Africa, Clivia miniata is a rewarding plant to grow. Equally attractive when in its dormant stage, with broad, arching, spear-shaped leaves, but coming into its own when the flowers, which last for weeks, put on a show! Highly recommended.
More dainty than the related delphinium, larkspur produces pink or deep blue blooms freely throughout the summer months, on tall stems with finely cut, feathery foliage. Quite variable in height. A good cut flower, if you can bear to remove it from the garden, where it always looks so beautiful!…
A hard to find Corydalis with unique chocolate brown spring foliage which fades to green by summer. The leaf edge is nicely serrated and very pale lavender flowers are borne in early summer. If grown in shade with ample soil moisture, it will not go summer dormant. Grows 12-16in high…
For best effect plant en masse as close to each other as 9 inches or so apart. Soil should be reasonably fertile, but if it is too rich, tall, lanky plants may result. As with most cosmos varieties, a good cut flower.
A mixture of white, pinks and muted-red flowers - some striped - on stems a metre or more high, clothed in finely divided foliage. Although the recommendation is to plant 18in apart, for best effect plants can be as close to each other as 9 inches or so and planted…
A wonderful addition to the cosmos family, this variety has deep-red, fully double flowers. For best effect plants should be as close to each other as 9 inches or so and planted en masse. Soil should be reasonably fertile, but if it is too rich, tall, lanky plants may result.…
A wonderful addition to the cosmos family, this long-flowering variety has stunning pink, semi-double flowers. For best effect plant en masse as close to each other as 9 inches or so apart. Soil should be reasonably fertile, but if it is too rich, tall, lanky plants may result. As with…
The plant from which these seeds were sourced has grey-green leaves with delicate, feathery flower spikes which turn from cream to a deep pink as the year progresses.
I don't know where this variety of crocosmia came from... it seems to have appeared out of nowhere, but was probably given to me by my mother or one of her gardener friends. It has possibly been sitting there, sulking for years, but this year the hot bed has been…
A stunning plant with flame-red sprays of flowers which open sequentially and are borne on arching stems above long, strap-like foliage. Flowers are followed by attractive tapering seed heads.
A delightful autumn-flowering woodland plant, with leaves shaped a little like ivy, though more tapered, strongly patterned with silver-green markings. The flowers are pink and sometimes delicately scented, usually appearing before the foliage. Looks wonderful naturalised under trees.
The cardoon, also called the artichoke thistle, is a member of the sunflower family. It is native to the western and central Mediterranean region. A robust plant, growing up to 2.4m/8 feet tall, it produces large, rich-pink thistle-like flower heads above divided, grey-green foliage. The immature flowers, called globe artichokes,…
The seeds or plants on offer are either from 'Bishop of Llandaff' or 'Bishop of Auckland'. Although they are not expected to breed true, all my own sowings have resulted in plants with black foliage and flowers that strongly resembe the parents. Although generally considered tender, dahlias will very often…
Although strictly speaking a perennial shrub, this dynamic plant is usually grown as an annual, but container-grown plants can be overwintered in a conservatory or heated greenhouse. HIGHLY POISONOUS!!!
May not always come true from seed, but seeds were exclusively from this variety and should produce a high proportion of dark-red to almost black blooms.
This pretty traditional cottage garden plant is long-flowering, producing masses of small, burgundy blooms with white edges. A good cut flower for posies.
With its low-growing mat of grey-green foliage studded and fragrant pink flowers with finely toothed petals, this is a perfect plant for an alpine bed or anywhere warm and tending to dryness. The foliage habit and colour can be a little variable, sometimes a little less or more grey-green and…
A most attractive (to pollinating insects as well as humans!), long-flowering annual. The umbels of blooms in soft shades of pink, blue, mauve and white are sweetly scented and make an excellent cut flower.
This delightful cottage garden plant is a cross between the common digitalis purpurea and a yellow flowered variety, digitalis grandiflora. The result is warm pink, speckled flowers that are larger than the traditional foxglove. This is a short-lived perennial that should come true from seed if common foxgloves are not…
This rare and most striking, foxglove originates from the mountains of Spain and is also found in parts of Africa. Generally a little shorter than most other digitalis varieties, the flowers are exquisitely coloured in shades of russet, burnt-orange and red, complemented by evergreen, narrow-leaved foliage. In the right environment…
A most unusual foxglove, and like most digitalis, usually treated as a biennial, although it can survive as a short-lived perennial. This variety produces flower spikes of densely-packed, chocolate-coloured, tubular flowers about 2cm in length, above basal rosettes of attractive, slightly glossy, dark-green foliage. It will happily self-seed in a…
This, the original, wild form of the traditional cottage garden biennial plant, will be familiar to all, with its tall spires of blooms in a variety of pink shades above rosettes of large, mid-green leaves. The flowers are much loved by pollinating insects, especially bumble bees.
The traditional cottage garden foxglove comes in many colours and this, with its warm, pale pink spikes, is one of my favourites! These seeds have been sourced from a commercial grower, so they should come true.
A lovely climber with attractive, divided, mid-green foliage and masses of small, tubular blooms in shades from deep-red to orange from late spring and well into autumn. If grown in a sheltered position it will sometimes survive a mild winter in the UK, but is more usually grown as a…
A very pretty plant for front of border, Erigeron produces masses of dainty, daisy-like pink and white flowers about 2cm in diameter in late spring and throughout the summer, above dark-green foliage.
An attractive culinary herb, fennel is a large plant with feathery leaves (these seeds will probably produce a mixture of green and bronze-leaved varieties) that looks well in ornamental beds. The flat umbels of small flowers are followed by aromatic seeds with a liquorice/aniseed flavour, Both leaves and seeds are…
The bronze-leaved variety of this attractive culinary herb. Fennel is a large plant with feathery leaves that looks well in ornamental beds. The flat umbels of small flowers are followed by aromatic seeds with a liquorice/aniseed flavour, Both leaves and seeds are traditionally used in fish recipes. The seeds also…
Related to saxifrage and having its origins in Chile, this beautiful perennial has lance-shaped, lobed basal leaves and pink, two-toned, 4-petalled flowers in racemes on erect stems.
Originating from South Africa, this diminutive relative of the iris is an unusual and attractive addition at the front of borders. It thrives in poor, dry soil but will tolerate most situations that are not too moist. Spikes of bright pink blooms, about an inch across, with dark central blotches,…
This majestic and very attractive plant produces a cluster of deep, brick-orange, down-pointing, bell-like flowers, above which is a top-knot of small leaves. The stems are thick, straight and clothed in bright green spear-shaped leaves. The plant has a foxy odour which is said to ward off vermin. Our fig…
A very unusual species Fuchsia, with masses of tiny pink flowers in summer and throughout the autumn. Has a rather lax habit, so best grown in a container where it can spill over the sides - or it can be supported with a light frame. Parentage: (Panache x F. splendens…
A very unusual geranium, with extremely narrow, star-shaped, deep pink flowers about an inch across and lobed, mid-green foliage.There may be some variation in plants produced from seed (when available), as there are other geraniums in the garden, but in my experience they tend to breed true.
Although a British native, Geranium phaeum is perhaps more commonly seen as a cultivated garden plant, particularly in colours singled out as particularly attractive such as this one. Flowering in spring, the blooms are a rich, dark, reddish-purple. The dark-green lobed foliage has splodges of maroon. It is a very…
Although a British native, Geranium phaeum is perhaps more commonly seen as a cultivated garden plant, particularly in colours singled out as particularly attractive. These appear in Spring and range from deepest-purple to near-white. The lobed or divided foliage varies in colour too, from mid to dark green, often with…
'Pulchrum' means 'beautiful', and well describes this gorgeous evergreen perennial, which comes from the mountains of South Africa, has large, grey-green, velvety foliage and produces sprays of saucer-shaped, pink blooms with red veins from late spring right through to late autumn. It is classified as a sub-shrub and can reach…
A delightful geranium, chiefly due to its rounded, velvety, deeply textured leaves. The standard variety has pinkish-white flowers with purple-red veining, but these are a soft mauve, also with strong veining, and I believe them to be a variety named 'Tschelda'. Loved by pollinating insects and much recommended to humans!
For such a small plant (generally considered to be an alpine variety), this exquisite geranium packs a punch! Masses of rich pink, round-lobed petals deeply veined in carmine and having a white edge adorn the plant during May and June, with flowering continuing more sparcely right into autumn, when the…
A very pretty low-growing hardy geranium. Bright magenta-pink flowers with a white eye and darker veining appear above finely divided foliage which has a tendency to trail. Although the plant is happy in full sun, it is useful for adding a touch of colour to areas in part-shade.
This delightful geranium is semi-evergreen, but will form a fresh rosette of lobed leaves in Spring, followed by small, white flowers, intricately veined in deep magenta-pink. It will continue to flower, though less abundantly, throughout the summer and into autumn. Happy in full sun or part shade. Since there are…
An extremely pretty form of geranium oxonianum - I am almost certain the variety is as named. The large flowers are mid-pink, sligtly toothed at the margins and with very striking deep-purple veining. The leaves are a rich, bright green, often with small, chocolate-coloured spots at their base. An unfussy…
Dwarf variety, producing a neat mound of hairy, rounded leaves, above which rise stems topped with bright orange-red flowers from late spring and throughout the summer. Lovely at the front of borders and also makes a good container plant.
The seeds offered are from a variety of gladiolus, but all were special... some multi-coloured, as ilustrated, and some plain, sometimes with a white streak, in delicious colours ranging from clear lilac through to deepest maroon - almost black. The flowers will have cross-pollinated, so seed will not come true…
A favourite with flower arrangers, but loved by pollinating insects too, with masses of tiny flowers in shades of pink and white on delicate, ferny foliage. Grow en masse for best effect.
Although this helenium has daisy-like, mahogany red flowers with a brown cone, these seeds will be variable - but whatever comes up should be attractive in the hot bed and you may even discover a gem!
The papery flowers of this quirky plant, which grows on tall, straight stems about 3 feet high, are perfect for drying. Butterflies love them! Very easy to grow, and a good introduction to gardening for children.
The flowers of this interesting, shade-loving plant are very soft, pale green, sometimes with a red margin and are leathery in texture. It is a haven for hibernating ladybirds, which can be found nestling in and around the flowers all winter.
There are many hellebores growing in the garden, in a variety of colours, from dark red (sometimes double) to pink, white and cream, some with intricate specking or streaking. Although seeds listed (when available) are saved and offered separately from different coloured plants, it cannot be guaranteed that they will…
As its common name suggests, the large, trumpet-shaped blooms of this stunning plant last only a day, but during the flowering season they appear in abundance. I believe that this variety, which is deepest red with a yellow throat, is as named, but it was (one of the few decent…
This lovely plant flowers for many months - even through the first frosts! Rich red, six-petalled, bowl-shaped blooms appear on straight stems above light-green, sword-shaped foliage from summer onwards. Although they do well in my relatively light soil, Schizostylis are probably happiest in moist, heavy soil as long as it…
This sweet-scented, short-lived perennial attracts bees and other pollinating insects and is therefore perfect for naturalising in a wildlife-friendly garden. The loose heads of small flowers range in colour from almost white, through pale lilac to mauve. A perfect plant for the informal cottage garden. Also a good cut flower.
Sprays of coral-red, bell-shaped flowers appear in late spring on wiry stems above plump mounds of evergreen foliage. An excellent cut flower and very attractive to bees and other pollinators. Good ground cover.
This delightful plant, which is usually treated as an annual in the UK, produces creamy flowers with dark burgundy centres on stems clothed with dark green, lobed leaves. Each flower only lasts a day but in the right conditions it will bloom profusely, followed by very attractive seed pods, throughout…
An unusual and decorative addition to the front of the border, this variegated form of hawkweed (usually considered a weed!) produces a low rosette of intricately blotched, dark red-brown and blue-green leaves, above which nod small, yellow daisy-like flowers on tall, wiry stems. It is for the foliage that this…
This drought-tolerat plant produces dense heads of deep-pink flowers in late-summer/early autumn, above sturdy stems clothed in grey-green, fleshy leaves. The weight of the flower heads tends to cause the stems to bend and sprawl, so some support is recommended earlier in the season to prevent this. Attractive to pollinating…
This unusual and most attractive sedum ariety forms clumps of grey-green, fleshy leaves and the flowers are a mixture of cream and pink. It is much loved by bees and other beneficial insects.
NOTE: Depending on season, plants, when available, may be trimmed back and/or barerooted for shipping.
As both latin and common names suggest, this leguminous plant is used to make dye, which is achieved by steeping and fermenting the foliage. It is an attractive shrub which is usually hardy and grows to a height of 1-2m. The smooth, slender branches produce small, light green, pinnate leaves,…
An abundance of the familiar Morning Glory flowers, but with bold stripes in deep pink and white, although it is possible that not all seeds will come true. Some of the seeds may be cream or light tan in colour; this is perfectly normal and will not result in different…
An abundance of the familiar Morning Glory flowers, but in a vibrant crimson colour with a white eye, although it is possible that not all seeds will come true. Attracts butterflies and other pollinating insects.
An unusual woodland iris with dingy yellow/brown flowers with a purplish tinge, arising from stiff, sword shaped foliage. The flowers are followed by large green seedpods that open to reveal neat rows of bright red seeds. Don't be put off by the name - any smell is only apparent when…
A gorgeous, tall and robust bearded iris, 'Rosy Wings' is dusky-rose with deep magenta falls. It flowers profusely, the blooms rising on strong stems, contrasting well with the light-green, sword-shaped foliage.
NOTE: Depending on season, plants, when available, may be trimmed back and/or barerooted for shipping.
Masses of very delicate pink, 'pincushion' flowers (very like scabious), about an inch across, on tall, thin, branching stems. This plant has a very long flowering season and is much loved by howerflies and bees. Taller plants may benefit from light support. Please note that a dark-red variety is also…
Masses of very delicate, deep-red, 'pincushion' flowers (very like scabious), about an inch across, on tall, thin, branching stems. This plant has a very long flowering season and is much loved by hoverflies and bees. Generally not as tall and robust as her pink sister, and seed is in shorter…
This lovely, low-growing ground cover plant has a spreading habit, but is relatively easy to keep in check. The heavily marked foliage is delightful, and the plant has the added bonus of pink flowers. Best grown in shade or part-shade and will happily tolerate both dry and wet soils.
This delightful sweet pea was discovered only in 1998, in Turkey. The flowers are no more than an inch across, yellow and orange with distinctive deep red veins. The leaves are attractive - small and reddish-green. The plant grows to only 3ft or so, making it a useful feature in…
A collector's item! This very unusual small but robust, scrambling perennial sweet pea is native to the Pyrenees and forms a dense mound of attractive, grey-green foliage bearing tendrils and many small, pale-pink, unscented blooms from June well into summer. A deceptively robust plant that will do well in relatively…
This mixture of sweet peas in pink, red, blue, mauve and maybe occasionally pale yellow (lathyrus chloranthus). Something of a Jamboree bag, but will no doubt produce some attractive plants and all will complement each other!
One of my favourite sweet peas... the highly-scented flowers are smallish, with dark-pink banners, pale pink (sometimes almost white) wings and a greenish-white keel. Very limited stock, unfortunately!
A delightfully sweet-scented heirloom variety of sweet pea, usually described as a chocolate maroon flake, and an Eckford introduction from 1891. NOTE: Since other sweet peas are grown in the garden I cannot guarantee that all will breed true, but in my experience most should do so.
A lovely small perennial sweet pea with small, coral-red blooms and rounded foliage. Ideal for growing over small structures or permitted to climb through medium-sized shrubs. Just a few small plants available. The blooms are unscented, but very attractive.
A variant of the blue chickling pea. the centres of the small, white flowers are sometimes flushed with sky-blue and pink (see inset). A small plant by sweet pea standards, it looks lovely tumbling out of hanging baskets. I usually cut the plants back to within a few inches of…
King Tutankhamun's pea, Indian Vetch, Chickling Pea, Grass Pea
Limited stock
My favourite sweet pea, despite the fact that is has no scent. Rumoured to originate here in the UK from seeds found by Harold Carter, the Egyptologist, in Tutankhamun's tomb, the small flowers are a delicate clear sky-blue, with pink centres. A small plant by sweet pea standards, it looks…
The stems of this most unusual-looking plant resemble bamboo and are a feature in the winter garden. However, they should be cut back hard in spring to encourage new, bushy growth. The flowers are small, appearing as nodding bunches surrounded by dark-maroon bracts, followed by reddish-brown berries which are not…
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…
Although this pretty plant has both purple and pink varieties, and seeds are available on this website as a mix collected from both colours of plant, I am offering here seed collected only from pink plants. I cannot guarantee that all will come true, but it is likely that more…
This versatile little annual, which is native to North Africa, but easy to grow in our climate, should be better known! The blooms, which are a striking fuchsia-red with bright yellow lips - looking rather like miniature snapdragons - keep coming for many months in summer. Seldom exceeding 12 in/30…
Like the more familiar blue and white variety, Linum usitatissimum, Scarlet flax produces a profusion of small flowers with a satiny finish, but - as is obvious from the name - they are a rich red. A very worthwhile annual to grow.
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…
A dynamic plant that deserves to be better known! Red-orange flowers appear from June and continue flowering right through until early autumn, above beautiful bronze-green foliage. It has a bushy, dwarf habit, making it good plant for containers. If sown early, under cover, it should flower in the first year.
A lovely addition at the back of the hot bed, this tall, robust, long-lived perennial is a traditional cottage garden plant that has been grown and enjoyed for many generations. Rich red clusters of flowers on tall stems. There is a tendency for the plants to lose their lower leaves…
This tomato variety produces masses of small, deep, purplish-red to mahoganiy-brown, sweet and juicy fruits. Perfect for the simplest of tomato salads - just slice or quarter and sprinkle on balsamic vinegar, a pinch of salt, plenty of freshly ground pepper and perhaps a little finely sliced red onion scattered…
Like other beefsteak tomatoes, this heirloom variety produces large, frequently irregular-shaped fruits, but is unusual in that it has potato-leaved foliage. The tomatoes can vary somewhat in colour, usually a rosy hue, sometimes green-shouldered, but they are renowned for their exceptional flavour.
Medium-sized beefsteak-type tomatoes growing on sturdy vines. A wonderful, full flavour... an essential ingredient for authentic Mediterranean-style recipes and salads!
The small, golden yellow fruits are sweet and juicy. It's just as well that they fruit prolifically, because it is difficult to pass by the greeenhouse in summer without snacking!
This short-lived perennial is more usually grown as a biennial, and can be permitted to gently self-seed. The flower spikes are similar in shape to the more widely-known Lysimachia clethroides, but instead of white, the blooms are a rich burgundy colour, contrasting well with small, slightly crinkly, grey-green leaves. Attractive…
False Lily-of-the-Valley has beautiful, heart-shaped, mid-green leaves, which are shiny and textured with deep veins. Slender spikes bearing waxy, creamy-white blooms appear in Spring and early Summer, followed by green berries, which later turn translucent red. Prefers shade and nitrogen-rich soil, making this a good plant for underplanting in woodland…
This lovely plant deserves to be better known! Originating from South America, it is spectacular when given the right conditions. It is happiest growing in a hot, very sunny situation in well-drained soil, where it can be allowed either to creep over the ground or be trained up a brick…
Mina Syn. Ipomoea lobata Syn. versicolor 'Exotic Love'
Mina Lobata, Spanish Flag
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Recently re-classified as a member of the Ipomoea genus (Ipomoea versicolor) and sometimes referred to as Quamoclit lobata, but still more widely recognised as Mina lobata... whatever you prefer to call it, this stunning half-hardy annual climbing plant is a must! Attractive foliage is followed by spikes of flowers that…
A beautiful perennial well known as a medicinal herb and for flavouring Earl Grey tea. The masses of pale-mauve blooms are very attractive to butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects, The foliage is scented.
A fascinating plant! Clusters of waxy, bell-shaped flowers in shades of cream, pink and green appear in early summer, dangling on tall, slender stems. As the seed pods develop the flowers turn upwards. In some European countries the plant is more likely to be found in the vegetable plot than…
This unusual tobacco plant first appeared in the garden in the summer of 2011. Height is variable, but can reach 1metre or more, with many branching stems bearing masses of narrow, tubular flowers which are greenish-yellow, with small, usually red-tinged, lips.
Like her more common blue/white sister, this cottage garden annual, in shades soft pinks and occasional white, is a must! Everything about it is pretty, from the buds, through flowers to seed pods. The finely cut, bright-green foliage is bedecked with flowers throughout the summer, which develop into seedpods, often…
The blooms of this (sometimes short-lived) perennial variety of evening primrose are scented in the evenings, the fragrance being reminiscent of a combination of lemons and lilies. It has a rather more lax, open habit than the more common Oenothera biennis. The flower buds are a soft creamy-yellow, darkening to…
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…
A low-growing plant with dark, bronze-red leaves and small yellow flowers followed by upright seed capsules, this variety of oxalis, which is perennial, can be invasive more due to self-seeding than its creeping habit, but if kept in check is a valuable addition to the garden. It grows well in…
This gorgeous paeony, with its blue-green foliage and large, soft creamy-yellow flowers and rich golden stamens, followed by interesting seed pods that are crimson red inside with blue-black seeds, is a much recommended herbaceous perennial. Note: Seeds harvested August 2018. They will be supplied in damp compost or vermiculite to…
These lovely poppies, which have pink petals and a black centre, will, unlike many others, come true from seed. All the oriental poppies are gorgeous, with their huge, papery blooms, and are much loved by pollinating insects.
This is a mixture of Field, Ladybird (black-eyed), white-eyed and possibly other similar poppies. Most will be red, but there may be the occasional deep pink or pastel variety. They look lovely planted in drifts towards the front of the border.
The picture really doesn't do justice to the colour of this opium poppy, which is a true, rich red with a black centre. The seeds were gathered from a plant that appeared well after the other types in the garden had been and gone, so hopefully cross-pollination will have been…
Harvested from deep-coral-pink plants with a darker eye and occasional fringes, but although common varieties growing near these were removed as soon as identified, it cannot be guaranteed that all these seeds will breed true - however, a very reasonable proportion should do so.
This delicate species pelargonium/geranium, which is a hybrid between P. lobatum and P. fulgidum, is very difficult to propagate and is therefore always in short supply. It has small, bright green leaves and clusters of small, rich vermillion flowers with a darker, almost black, splash on each petal. Like most…
This very dainty species pelargonium/geranium, which originates from Africa, has circular, crinkled, silver-grey-green leaves about an inch across and clusters of small, deep magenta - almost black - flowers on fine, long, wiry stems. Like most pelargoniums, it is frost tender, but it will sit happily on a sunny window…
A native of western USA, the bright, pendulous, vermillion flowers of this beautiful penstemon variety adorn tall, slender stems above lance-shaped, deep-green foliage from August. Best grown toward the front of the border, where it can be seen in all its glory!
Spikes of pretty, pinkish-white blooms contras beautifully with maroon-tinted foliage. Flowering over many months, this is a lovely addition to the garden!
Soft spikes of tiny pink flowers on straight stems from May and well into the summer, above broad, deeply veined, grey-green leaves. Makes good ground cover. Spreads by underground runners but these are not far beneath the surface, so are easily removed in open ground as required.
An interesting shrubby perennial with strong, v-shaped markings (looking rather like bats), which are dark brownish-red - sometimes almost black - on a bright green ground. In the autumn delicate spikes of bright-crimson flowers appear on thin, wiry stems. Although it is recommended to grow in part or full shade…
Both strikingly attractive and delicious, Borlotto beans, with their soft-red and creamy-white markings, sweet flavour and creamy texture, can be used both in casseroles or as an addition to salads. (There is no need to soak fresh beans before cooking, but if you intend to dry and store your crop,…
This lovely plant has tall, erect stems clothed in red-tinged, mid-green foliage at the top of which appear large, loose globes of pink, sweetly scented flowers. It blooms for months and makes a wonderful addition to flower arrangements. As the flowers mature the perfume is reminiscent of caramel. Grow en…
Perennial phlox does not usually come true from seed, so although these seeds come from the white and pink varieties illustrated, they could produce plants of almost any hue within the range from white to dark-pink. All very pretty, though, and they make a great cut flower!
Familiar to many as an ingredient in dried flower arrangements, with its rich orange lanterns, many do not know that the small red fruit contained in within the husks is edible and has a higher concentration of vitamin C than lemons! However, the rest of the plant is poisonous, so…
Although invariably referred to as American pokeweed (P. decandra Syn. americana), the variety seen in UK gardens is almost certainly Indian pokeweed (P. asinosa Syn. esculenta). Both look very similar, but P. acinosa has vertical, upright inflorescences, whilst P. americana has lax, dangling, flower stems, with single, spherical fruits on…
Auriculas, which are members of the primula family, do not breed true and come in many colours. Lovers of the plants gain much pleasure from crossing them in the hope of coming up with particularly attractive forms. They are not easy to grow from seed but are well worth the…
Whorls of pink or soft red flowers clothe erect stems, at the base of which are rosettes of toothed leaves. This primula can grow to 2 feet high, but will usually be a little shorter.
All the pulmonarias are lovely shade plants, and no less this, the common type. Blue flowers, turning mauve and then pink, adorn rather hairy stems up to 12 inches tall growing from a rosette of green foliage specked with white.
NOTE: Plants, when offered, may, depending on season, be trimmed right…
This unusual pulmonaria is low-growing and mat-forming, making it a good choice for ground cover in moist, shady areas - lighting them up just when a little colour is so welcome! The leaves are mid-green and unspotted, above which masses of coral-red flowers appear on short, hairy stems in early…
This delightful climber deserves a place in every garden! Throughout the summer and into autumn, near-black, tubular flowers with dark-pink bracts dangle amongst wiry, twining stems with toothed, heart-shaped, dark green leaves. For best effect, I plant three or four in a 9 inch pot. Despite its exotic appearance, the…
A stunning and exotic specimen plant with large palmate leaves, coloured from dark green to red-bronze. The creamy-yellow flower spikes, whilst attractive, are not as interesting as the spiky maroon-red seed pods. In warmer climates ricinus can grow to the size of a small tree up to 15ft high, but…
This rudbeckia mixture will produce double blooms in soft but warm shades of amber, copper and burnt rose, with a distinctive cone at the centre. The blooms stand on tall, wiry stems and make good cut flowers. A stunning addition to the hot bed! Prefers full sun but will tolerate…
This most unusual and attractive foliage plant produces dense clumps of deep-green leaves with striking, beetroot-red veins. The colouring is usually more pronounced at cooler times of the year. The flower spikes have insignificant blooms and are best removed to encourage more foliage and to prevent self-seeding.
This attractive perennial is bushy plant growing to a height of around 24 inches/60 cm. It has intricately divided foliage and produces masses of small flowers with deep-burgundy centres surrounded by paler petals, borne on wiry stems. Attractive to butterflies and other pollinating insects and makes a good cut flower.
This traditional cottage garden plant is a must! Easy to grow, and making a wonderful cut flower, the blooms are coloured from white and cream to various shades of blue, on tall stems. As a bonus, both seed heads and foliage are attractive.
Native to southern Europe, this most unusual plant produces fragrant, pale-blue spherical flower heads, but is grown primarily for the seed heads which follow... these are silvery and surrounded by unusual maroon and green bracts. They make a wonderful cut flower and dry extremely well.
Not just any campion! Low-growing hummocks of furry leaves from which starry flowers in shades of pink raise their heads. Needs some TLC, but much recommended.
Contrasting strongly with the soft, grey-green, downy leaves, the mass of vibrant magenta blooms on this popular cottage garden plant will really hit you between the eyes! I have found that if stems are cut right back after the first flush of flowers in spring, the plants will bloom again…
Originating from South Africa, the harlequin flower is a very showy choice for containers in late Spring. All the flowers, which are not long-lived but appear in succession to provide a long flowering period, have a dark halo around a yellow centre, but the colour of the outside of the…
NOTE: Depending on season, plants, when available, may be trimmed back and/or barerooted for shipping. In this case they will look untidy, but will soon produce fresh foliage.
Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue' produces branching stems bearing mid-green, rather coarse, foliage. Clusters of red buds appear in late spring, maturing to pale blue and then white. The foliage is mid-green and rather coarse. Best planted where it will always be required, as it is difficult to completely remove once established.…
A diminutive version of the familiar lilac, with small leaves and loose, sweetly-scented clusters of tiny, purple-pink flowers in spring. More often than not, flowers continue to appear throughout the summer and into early autumn. Although best sited in full sun, it will generally cope well with part shade. More info...
NCG 227
Tagetes patula 'Disco Red'
French Marigold 'Disco Red'
Currently unavailable
For those who are not lovers of French marigold, this one is much classier and may make you think again! The single blooms are deep orange to burgundy - sometimes almost brown, with a striking yellow edge.
Deep pink flower spikes with purple bracts from early summer to autumn, on erect stems rise above crinkled rich green basal foliage. Cut back after first flush to encourage new blooms. Although it prefers moist, free-draining soil, this plant is drought tolerant.
This lovely plant has sprays of nodding, fluffy, pinkish-purple flowers with long stamens above intricately divided foliage, followed by attractive seed heads. A good cut flower.
This exotic bulb in shades of red, yellow, white and cream is happiest in full sun in moist, well drained soil (add grit to the planting hole if soil is heavy). Tigridia can endure the cold, but for complete safety, in all but the mildest areas it is advisable to…
A dynamic plant for the hot bed! A profusion of rich orange to vermillion flowers from late summer to autumn, on large, branching plants up to 6ft/2m. A good cut flower, although the hollow neck of the cut blooms can be a little prone to sudden collapse, particularly if deprived…
This ornamental clover is not only much loved by bees but makes a good cut flower. The flower spikes are soft to the touch and dusky-pink in colour. The foliage is interesting, in that it resembles that of peanut plants.
This sweetly vanilla-scented cottage garden plant has masses of small, white to pale-pink flowers on strong, straight stems clothed in attractive, finely divided, bronze foliage. Much loved by bees and other pollinating insects. Highly recommended.
Strictly speaking a short-lived perennial, but not fully hardy, so best treated as a half-hardy annual. Flowers are in shades including bright red, blue, rich peach and purple with a white eye. Plant en masse at the front of the border or in hanging baskets.
A much rarer form than the well known blue veronica, this variety is in pretty shades of pink. The spikes of tiny flowers appear from late spring until mid summer and make a good filler in flower arrangements. Cut plant back to 1 foot after flowering to encourage a new…
Although native to India, the Middle East and North Africa, this tender, drought-tolerant perennial can be grown successfully in the UK as an annual, but needs to be started early, under glass, to ensure a long growing season. The roots and seeds have been used for centuries to remedy many…