With a mass of pretty pale pink flowers from May right through to September, Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty' is a treasure for the cottage garden border. It loves a hot sunny position, is easy to grow and tolerates drought. This deciduous Shrubby Cinquefoil can be grown as a low hedge or grown in a container on the patio or even in a roof garden. Height and spread: 1m (39).
A wonderfully decorative shrub with black foliage and panicles of starry pink, citrus fragranced, blooms from early summer. Autumn sees the emergence of glossy black berries that are a useful food source for birds. Ideal for a patio container when young, then transfer to the garden when larger. Ht. 4-6m.
An all-round brilliant performer in almost any garden situation, boasting dark orange foliage in spring, changing to golden yellow in summer and fiery golden-orange shades in autumn. All summer long, large pink flowers provide an outstanding display and are particularly attractive to butterflies. Spiraea japonica ?Double Play Gold? is a deciduous shrub which looks superb planted on mass and individually, in borders and wildlife gardens. Easy to care for and very resilient, perfect for beginner gardeners and those looking for sudden impact. Height and spread: 90cm (3?).
From late spring, Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' produces violet blue flower spikes that really stand out against its thick mat of shimmering black foliage - which becomes even darker when grown in full sun. ?Black Scallop? is more tolerant of sun that many other Bugle varieties, and makes an excellent groundcover plant, thriving in almost any soil conditions. Use it to attract pollinating insects to your wildlife garden, or allow it to creep through rockeries or the front of borders. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 60cm (24).
Bergenia 'Dragonfly Sakura' is a sturdy evergreen with shining, rounded foliage that emerges a lush green and matures to a deep purple-black during the winter. It attracts pollinating insects into your garden with its delightful candy pink flowers in March. These Elephant?s Ears make delicate cut flowers, and Bergenia 'Dragonfly Sakura' is a hardy and low-maintenance perennial that is idea for the front of cottage garden borders. Height: 25cm (10). Spread: 30cm (12).
The arching, strap-like variegated foliage of Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' is particularly eye-catching, and this elegant sedge also produces small, white flower spikes in late spring. Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' is a hardy perennial grass with a clumping habit, making it a perfect choice for the front of border, rockeries and patio containers. It needs very little maintenance to keep it looking fantastic, is evergreen, and thrives in rich and fertile soil. Happy in light shade, it makes a very useful and charming addition to the garden. Height: 40cm (14). Spread: 60cm (24).
This enchanting plant emerges from the ground each spring, forming a clump of fresh finely cut leaves, followed by the most dainty white heart-shaped flowers born above the foliage and hanging along fine stems. Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' flowers through April and May, brightening a shady corner or woodland area. Also known as the Lyre Flower, Dutchman's Breeches or Bleeding Heart, this spring beauty likes to grow in moist conditions. Height: 120cm (48). Spread: 45cm (18).
A great choice for a splash of lemon yellow in a sunny spring border, Geum 'Banana Daiquiri' has an enchanting little flower with a swirl of yellow anthers surrounded by the most delicate lemon yellow petals, each one lined with almost-transparent veins. The flower grows on a tall fuzzy stem above the neat clump of semi-evergreen leaves. This little Avens looks good at the front of the border and makes a nice cut flower in a spring arrangement. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 35cm (14).
A real dazzler, Geum 'Fireball' is easy to grow in a sunny spot and comes back year after year with its fine display of fiery blooms. The ruffled orange flowers with scalloped edges are borne on thin stems above clumps of leaves and last from May right through to July. They contrast wildly with strong blues and purples. Loved by pollinating insects, Avens also make great cut flowers. Height and spread: 45cm (18).
Keeping the garden bright and lovely well into October, Helenium 'Double Trouble' has flowers of gold with narrow ruffled petals around a button-like centre. The flowers grow on tall branched stems and bloom from July until early autumn, providing a great source of nectar for wildlife and attracting pollinating insects and bees. Helen's Flower is a well-loved traditional cottage garden plant and looks great in a vase on the kitchen table too! Height: 80cm (31). Spread: 60cm (24).
Here's an amazing plant that can transform a damp, shady, neglected corner of the garden with its great beauty. 'Great' is an appropriate description as this is the largest of all the blue Hostas. It will slowly grow to form enormous clumps with grey-blue leaves up to 40cm (1'4) long. In early summer it produces white flowers on erect stems which grow up to 1m (3'3) high. Hosta 'Blue Angel' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its excellent garden performance. Plantain Lilies prefer moist soil and a shady location. Height: 90cm (3'0). Spread: 1.2m (4'0).
Indispensible plants for damp, shady corners. In the early summer months, candy-pink feathery plumes are sweetly fragrant and blend well with the ruby-red stems. Plants are easy to grow, clump forming and can even be grown in containers. Ht. 45cm. Supplied as bare-root plants.
Bamboo 'Asian Wonder' is a wonderful new type of ?umbrella bamboo?. This clump-forming Fargesia produces green canes that mature to crimson after 3 to 5 years establishment
White petals surround a central trumpet of vibrant yellow, edged with deep orange, combined with a musky fragrance. Ht. 40cm. Supplied as bulbs.
Description for Verbascum phlomoides 'Snow Maiden' not available