True to its name, this giant among sunflowers is one of the tallest you can grow, with huge, long-lasting daisy-shaped blooms measuring up to 60cm (24in) across and reaching a height of up to 360cm (144in). Having the best record-breaking potential, this heirloom variety is the obvious choice for nurturing children's interest in gardening as well as for indulging your competitive streak - even if just to impress the neighbours as the enormous flowers stand tall well above fence height! Originating in North and South America, sunflowers were worshipped by the ancient Incas as a symbol of their sun god. They reached Europe by the sixteenth century, since when they have been grown in abundance by generations of gardeners and commercial growers for their impressive proportions as well as their highly nutritious seeds and oil. Capable of bringing a touch of sunshine to your garden even when days are dull, they are brimming with optimism and the joys of summer. With enormous dark hearts fringed by glorious bright yellow petals, the flowers soak up the sun and redistribute its goodness in the form of large seeds, which you can roast and eat as a snack, scatter over salads or use in your baking - but don't forget to save some for the birds! When the flowers have reached their peak, hang them up to dry naturally and they will provide a welcome autumn and winter buffet for our feathered friends. However tall they grow, the sturdy, slightly prickly upright stems shouldn't need staking, even in exposed positions, although for peace of mind you may want to provide some support, particularly if you are growing for a competition. The immature flowerheads will follow the sun through the day but once the petals have opened, the flowers will remain facing one direction Supplied as a packet of 25 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors or outdoors. For best results, sow the seeds outdoors, directly into their flowering position, to allow the roots to establish firmly with uninterrupted growth. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well-draining soil. If necessary, add plenty of well-rotted manure or compost to the ground before planting. Sow from March to May either indoors for planting out in June to July, or outdoors directly into their growing position. These hardy annuals will flower from June to September, in the same year as sowing.
Large-flowered Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, this wonderful mix of coloured cup-shaped blooms are abundant. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
Large-flowered Blue Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking in a deep shade of violet-blue. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
Large-flowered Yellow Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking in a deep shade of golden-yellow. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
A native of British meadows and fields, this gardeners' favourite is loved by butterflies & bees. Relive childhood memories of golden fields of corn, peppered with the bright blue cornflowers and the gentle hum of busy pollinators on a bright summer's day. Quick and easy to grow, this colourful British favourite is ideal for naturalising and will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Also known as Batchelors Buttons, this showy annual is a slender, dainty plant with sky-blue flowers. Perfect for punctuating wild gardens or meadows with colour. Ideal too to get kids interested in gardening or for time-strapped gardeners who want results without the effort! A hardy annual, cornflowers will grow and flower in the same year (or the following year if sown late in the year). Excellent as a cut flower, you can add a bunch to a vase or use them in mixed bouquets. Never before has it been so important to protect pollinators such as bees, and this wildflower is ideal to encourage them into your garden. Bees are invaluable for pollinating a whole range of plants and especially useful for kitchen gardens to enable the formation of many fruits and vegetables. Take a look at our bee book for more details on these fascinating insects. Growing to 60cm (24in) Sow outdoors, March-May or August-October, directly where they are to flower. Flowers July - September. Supplied as a pack of 70 seeds. Native grown seed not taken from the wild.
Large-flowered White Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking elegance in pure white. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
Velvet trumpets of pinky purple make this woodland native a must-have for wildlife gardens. Becoming rarer in the wild, foxgloves make very striking garden plants. Their beautifully dappled blooms attract pollinating insects and are a favourite of our native bumble bees. Quick and easy to grow, digitalis is ideal for naturalising and will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Known commonly as foxgloves, this architectural plant will punctuate borders with spires of bloom. Perfect for filling wild gardens or meadows with colour, they'll self-seed with abandon! A hardy biennial, plants will grow a rosette of bright green, furry leaves in the first year, and produce a magnificent spike of spotted trumpets in their second year. Never before has it been so important to protect pollinators such as bees, and this wildflower is ideal to encourage them into your garden. Bees are invaluable for pollinating a whole range of plants and especially useful for kitchen gardens to enable the formation of many fruits and vegetables. Take a look at our bee book for more details on these fascinating insects. Growing to 60cm (24in) Sow outdoors, April-July, directly where they are to flower. Flowers May - July Supplied as a pack of 900 seeds. Native grown seed not taken from the wild CAUTION: Toxic if eaten.
Large-flowered Striped Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking in silvery lilac and dark striped petals. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
This high yielding organic cauliflower produces reliable, top quality, uniform curds that can be cut from midsummer onwards. The well protected, firm, pure white heads of Cauliflower 'Goodman' are quick to mature on vigorous plants that can be cropped just 80 to 90 days from transplanting. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 60cm (24)
Otherwise known as the spring starflower, Ipheion uniflorum produces exquisite star-shaped blooms in early spring. Each stem bears a single, sweet-scented flower (reflecting the Latin uniflorum - single flower), with six pointed petals and colours varying through shades of pale silvery-blue to lilac. The narrow leaves appear before the flowers and, being a close relation to alliums, give off an onion-like aroma when crushed. This small, herbaceous perennial is perfect for mixing with other low-level, spring-flowering bulbs in rock and alpine gardens, borders, beds and containers, and is also good for underplanting shrubs and roses. It naturalises easily, rewarding you with more profuse displays year after year. Easy to grow, the bulbs will thrive in full sun or partial shade, preferring a sheltered position with moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Supplied as a pack of 50 bulbs, size 4/5 ready for planting in the autumn.
Our own special, hand selected strain of these very large flowered primroses in almost every colour of the rainbow. Returning year after year, Primula 'Special Giant Flowered Strain' makes the perfect spring flowering primrose for bedding and patio containers. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 20cm (8). Culinary note: Primula flowers are edible.
Possibly the smallest and quickest flowering sunflower available. The dwarf multi-flowering plants of Sunflower Choco Sun produce their first blooms in eleven to twelve weeks from sowing. Ideal for adding interest to containers and fun for children to grow.