Category Archives: Plants & Seeds
Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’
Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ is covered in scented flowers from June to October, attracting butterflies to your garden in droves. This Butterfly Bush variety is extremely compact and won’t seed about your garden. This hardy deciduous shrub is ideal for borders, low hedges and patio pots. Height and Spread: 60cm (24).
Campanula carpatica ‘Blaue Clips’
Ground cover plants don’t get prettier than the easy to grow Campanula carpatica ‘Blaue Clips’. Clumps of heart shaped foliage form the backdrop to the violet blue campanula blooms that appear during late summer and the compact habit makes ‘Blaue Clips’ a perfect choice for the fronts of borders or dotted in rockeries to soften
Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’
The subtle shading of green and gold are the highlight of Carex ‘Evergold’. The slender evergreen leaves will bring graceful movement to both sunny spots or shaded areas of the garden. Carex ‘Evergold’ is perfect for rock gardens, edging for borders, patio pots and even planting in gravel. Height and Spread: 50cm (19).
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ produces elegant sky blue flowers in spring above neat clumps of foliage. The big heart-shaped leaves are a sparkling silver colour that will brighten up even the shadiest borders. This hardy perennial makes good groundcover and can be grown alongside hardy ferns for a woodland feel. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 60cm
Campanula takesimana
Campanulas have been popular choices for garden planting for many years but the Korean Bellflower is an undiscovered gem. Campanula takesimana features arched stems of glossy toothed foliage which bear the large bell-shaped flowers. The pendant blooms are flushed with pink with the added interest of deep maroon freckles inside each flower. Light shade is
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Sea Heart’
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Sea Heart’ produces particularly thick leaves, reducing the risk of scorch. Elegant pale blue and pink flowers, similar to Forget-Me-Nots, are produced during spring. The shining, silver foliage features unique grey-green veining. Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’ is an excellent low maintenance ground cover plant for cottage garden borders and shady woodland areas. Height: 30cm
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Heart’
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Heart’ produces particularly thick leaves, reducing the risk of scorch. Elegant bright blue flowers are produced during spring, forming a stunning garden display. The silver heart-shaped leaves form thick clumps of foliage with a radiating shine. Brunnera ‘Silver Heart’ is an excellent low maintenance ground cover plant for cottage garden borders and
Aster novi-belgii ‘Karminkuppel’
Fantastic double purple, daisy-like blooms with contasting yellow centres adorn this herbaceous perennial from August through to October. Aster novi-belgii ‘Karminkuppel’ looks spectacular paired with golden grasses, Rudbeckia and Japanese Anemones, working well in prairie style borders, cottage gardens and wildlife gardens. Michaelmas daisies have unbeatable late season performance and attract bees and butterflies. Height:
Allium stipitatum ‘Mount Everest’
Just as the snow settles on top of Mount Everest, so this Ornamental Onion is crowned with large globes made up of pure white flowers in June and July. Allium stipitatum ‘Mount Everest’ is a hardy bulb that will produce stunning results with little maintenance, even in dry soil. Height: 1.2m (4’0); Spread: 15cm (6).
Aquilegia caerulea ‘Mrs Scott-Elliott’
Mrs Scott-Elliott’ is a particularly attractive form of Aquilegia which is suited perfectly for use in cottage gardens and even in woodland planting schemes. The blooms are dignified and elegant and they appear in spring and early summer, held on tall, slender stems. These wonderful Columbines will self-seed and therefore naturalise to form a pastel
Astrantia major ‘Roma’
Astrantia major ‘Roma’ is an easy-to-grow clump-forming hardy perennial that will thrive in sun or semi-shade in any garden soil – even heavy clay! Its long flowering period from June to August can be extended should the dying flower heads be cut back, alternatively leave them on a while longer for a dried flower display.
Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Yellow Star’
Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Yellow Star’, as its name suggests, is loved for its unusual yellow blooms which appear atop slender yet strong stems in spring and early summer. Granny’s Bonnet is a much-loved herbaceous perennial which gradually spreads and naturalises. It is a great plant to complement cottage garden settings and is loved by beneficial garden
Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’
This exotic and hardy African Lily has flower head made up of many small florets in pure white, rising above strong grassy foliage. Agapanthus Africanus ‘Albus’ is an outstanding perennial for your borders or any sunny position in the garden. African Lilies are also perfect in patio pots; especially those of aged terracotta. Low maintenance
Aquilegia vulgaris ‘William Guinness’
The hardy Aquilegia vulgaris ‘William Guinness’ is an eye-catching Columbine which looks great in borders; cottage gardens and even along shady woodland edges. The spring flowers have black-purple petals and white centres, making it stand out from the crowd. Aquilegias, which are also known as Columbines or ‘Granny’s Bonnets’ attract pollinating insects and have a
Arabis caucasica ‘Snowcap’
Hundreds of pure white, sweetly scented flowers smother this dainty alpine perennial in spring. Arabis caucasica ‘Snowcap’ forms tidy cushions of evergreen, grey-green foliage and its spreading habit makes it perfect for rock gardens, wall crevices, patio containers or as a groundcover plant. Drought tolerant and easy to grow, Arabis are the ultimate low-maintenance perennial.
Ajuga reptans ‘Rainbow’
When you take one look at the foliage of this Bugle, it’s easy to see why it’s been christened Ajuga reptans ‘Rainbow’ or ‘Multicolour’. Its bronze, cream, pink and yellow leaves provide interesting, dense, fast-spreading and low-growing ground cover. Blue flower spikes are added to the explosion of colour in May and June, attracting bees
Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Angel Kiss’
Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Angel Kiss’ produces stunning white flowers in spring that age to the palest pink. The shining evergreen foliage changes to a rich shade of claret over the winter, making it brilliant for providing striking ground cover. Commonly known as Elephant Ears, this hardy perennial is a true cottage garden favourite, needing very little
Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’
Anemone Japonica Honorine Jobert (Windflower) is one of the tallest anemones and is perfect for hiding unsightly sheds or fences with its delicate tall white blooms. It’s a freely spreading perennial that comes into its own in August to September when most other plants are starting to die back. Whilst it prefers fertile soils it
Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’
Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’ produces candy pink flowers from March onwards that appear striking against the dark foliage, which changes from rich green to purple-black through the winter months. This hardy evergreen perennial makes great ground cover and the delightful blooms attract pollinating insects, providing food early in the year. Height: 25cm (10). Spread: 30cm (12).
Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Cristata’
An unusual fern, Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Cristata’ is a variant of the British native Hart’s Tongue Fern. Each glossy leaf has numerous divisions at the tip to form a bushy habit. As with all ferns, this evergreen perennial relishes a damp, shady spot but will also tolerate dry shade once established. Easy to grow and thriving
