Often called Princess Lilies, Peruvian or Inca Lilies, Alstromeria's stunning displays make it one of the most popular summer flowering perennials of all time. Often seen in expensive bouquets, Alstroemeria also make spectacular additions to any garden. Their gorgeous, delicate blooms come in one of the widest and brightest ranges of colours imaginable. Flowering from early June onwards, Alstroemeria will go on right through until early Autumn and just get better and better every year. Once planted, these bare-root beauties will quickly establish and go on to produce strong stems that will grow up to 2-3ft tall this year. Completely covered in flowers along their top half, Alstroemeria are perfect for cutting and creating the most stunning indoor display.
Without doubt, the toughest and hardiest of all ornamental bananas in the UK, it is grown for its dramatic and tough leaves, and, once mature, its amazing and long-lasting golden-yellow flowers - hence its name. From high up in the Chinese mountains of Yunnan, it is naturally very tough, and is exposed to temperatures well below freezing. It forms a much thicker and sturdier trunk-stem than other bananas, which is very tough and hardy. Even if leaves are damaged by frosts, more and new leaves emerge in spring, as well as numerous 'pups' round the side. The flower is in fact its last hurrah, as the 6 month epic flower display is a sign the plant will die - but fear not, you will have plenty of established pups round the side in a clump, each of which will grow and develop to maturity too. It is thus best regarded as a clump forming perennial. It is also much shorter and less vigorous than other huge banana plants too at around 4-5ft tall maximum, making it ideal for large pots in small gardens - grow in full sun or shade, it makes a great talking point. Note - it does not produce any edible banana fruit, or even tiny ornamental ones. Very easy to grow, and a great, exotic-looking patio focal point.
Hostas are one of the best perennials here in UK gardens, forming mounds of attractive, often colourful foliage, which is topped with sprays of bell-shaped flowers in summer. Growing virtually anywhere, and particularly valuable for those awkward shady spots, they are available in a wide range of colours and forms to suit any garden.Also known as Plantain Lilies, Hostas are great for filling gaps in beds and borders, and they also look fabulous planted up in patio pots and containers seperately for a more formal look. Their attractive foliage creates interest all year round and their stunning, often fragrant flowers really wow in the summer.They love the sun but will perform just as well in the shade - they're a great choice for planting underneath trees and shrubs in dabbled shade, acting as great groundcover plants. We've put together a great collection for you, featuring three of the best types (and some holders of the RHS Award of Garden Merit) in a good selection of colours to give the best display in your garden, whether in the border or in pots. This collection includes a mixture of 3 varieties: Hosta 'Blue Angel'(AGM): forms a clump of wavy-edged, large blue-grey leaves. Bell-shaped, pale lavender-white are produced from June. One of the largest and most reliable of the Blue hostas. H75-80cm (30-32in) W90-120cm (35-47in). Hosta fortunei var. albopicta: has broad, creamy-yellow, heart-shaped leaves with contrasting green margins. Mauve flowers are borne on leafy stems in July. H45-55cm (18-21in) W80-100cm (31-39in). Hosta 'Wide Brim' (AGM): heart-shaped, puckered dark green-blue leaves with a cream margin. Pale lavender flowers in June-July. H40-45cm (16-18in) W80-100cm (31-39in). Please note that we reserve the right to substitute varieties, depending on seasonal availability.
This tropical, architectural beauty will add that holiday feel to your patio for years to come! With its spectacular fan-shaped foliage, Phoenix canariensis will provide an incredibly dramatic impact to your garden. Amazingly, this superbly exotic plant thrives in the UK and is winter hardy to -6°C! Abundant across the Canary Islands and Spain, it's perfect for patio pots and will provide a stunning centrepiece for your garden. Your palm will grow rapidly to form a thick trunk, with the distinctive, deep-green leaves fanning out above to form wonderful shadows on your patio this summer. You'll truly feel as if you've been transported to the Canary Islands! As soon as your palm arrives, you'll be able to achieve an instant Mediterranean feel - we supply an established plant 1.2m tall (inc pot), ready to be placed wherever you want for immediate results, no need to wait! Please note: While your palm tree will be tolerant of dry conditions when fully established, in very hot, dry weather it will need to be watered every day along with the rest of your plants.
Hardy ferns are a hidden gem of the gardening world and should be grown much more widely. Graceful and airy, with a whole range of colours, textures and sizes available, there is a fern for every garden and every gardener! We've hand-picked a select trio of ferns which we think are really special - they're all hardy and will stand out in your garden with their unique leaf colouring. Some of the best to grow, these ferns will reward you with colourful foliage interest, and are perfect together as a small fernery in the border or in a large pot, or even in mixed planters. They all prefer cool, fertile soil that doesn't dry out and are best in light shade where their colours really shine. This collection includes three plants in 9cm pots, one each of: Athyrium otophorum var. okanum (AGM): Yellow green, glowing foliage with contrasting red veins and stipe. Very good in a pot and prefers shade. A deciduous fern, so leaves die back in the winter before emerging again next spring. H45cm (18in). Dryopteris erythrosora (AGM): The buckler fern, this striking deciduous fern has triangular-shaped fronds, which are copper-red when young and slowly mature to dark green. H40cm (16in) x W60cm (24in). Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Ursula's Red': The painted lady fern, the newly emerged fronds of this beautiful fern have rich purple-bronze tones. This two-tone effect fades as the fronds mature - the purple tones diminish, and they become greener with a silver dusting. Striking in a large pot and placed on a shady terrace. H40cm x W120cm.
A special seasonal lucky dip perennial collection. Each collection contains a mix of 12 named plants specially selected from our nursery to give you a wonderful perennial garden. No need to worry about whether a plant is perennial or not as we've done that bit for you. Our dedicated team will ensure that you get a good selection of plants which will complement each other. A brilliant way to add colour to your garden for many years to come. Typically, premium potted perennials such as these sell at more than £5 per pot so not only will you have enough plants to fill a good sized border but you'll be making large savings. Note: We cannot guarantee the selection that you will receive due to seasonal availability. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
Also known as the Windmill Palm or Chusan Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei is evergreen and one of the hardiest palm trees you can get, easily surviving past -10°C so it is ideal for growing in the variable British climate! This is your opportunity to get your hands on one of the hardiest palms that we have. with its deep-green, tough, fan-shaped leaves producing wonderful shadows on your patio or lawn when mature, this exotic beauty will be a brilliant centrepiece wherever you decide to plant it, bringing an exciting feel of the tropics to your garden. As well as being suitable for planting directly into your garden in a warm, sunny spot, Trachycarpus is ideal for a large patio pot as it's compact and slow growing. This means that you can enjoy it regardless of the size of your garden, and if you move, you simply take it with you without worrying about losing your investment. Supplied as an established potted plant, approx. 60-70cm tall (including pot), Trachycarpus will grow around 5-10cm a year, ultimately reaching a height of 10m with a spread of around 1.5m. Winner of a prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be guaranteed that this is a garden-worthy plant that has been trialled and tested for its suitability to grow in UK gardens.
Ginger Lily will add an exotic look to your garden and create a wonderful display of scented blooms each year from late summer onwards. Zingy spikes of blousy flowers will tower above clumps of lance-shaped leaves, instantly transporting you to a tropical paradise! Don't forget to breathe in deeply as the heavily scented blooms carry a stunning sweet fragrance particularly in the early evening! Despite its exotic good looks, this plant is completely reliable in the UK - the tubers will over-winter successfully and thrive in a sun baked spot in a pot or planted directly in the soil. Top Tip - plant very shallow on surface of compost in hot sunny spot to get going, they love being baked to get started.
A sensational ornamental chard that will brighten up your vegetable plot or patio containers - and true to its name, 'Bright Lights' can also provide colourful contrast in herbaceous garden beds and borders. With dark green and bronze leaves and rainbow stems ranging from white and orange-yellow through to pinky red and purple, it is a real stunner, as well as being delicious to eat and packed full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fibre. A worthy winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this hardy biennial is easy to grow and slow-bolting. It will be ready to harvest in 4-6 weeks after sowing. Cropping prolifically over a long season, it is a true 'cut and come again' variety; the leaves will regenerate 1-2 weeks after harvesting the whole plant (leaving 2.5-5cm base), or remove just the outer leaves and allow the heart to grow on. The plants are robust enough to withstand light frosts and will continue to give good quality leaves until the colder winter weather sets in. This versatile veg has a lovely mild, sweet flavour when picked as baby leaves for salads and garnishes, developing an interesting and slightly bitter note when left to mature. Cook as you would spinach - lightly steamed or stir-fried to retain colour, flavour and nutrients. There will be plenty to pick all through the season, so any excess can be blanched and packed in an airtight bag for the freezer, where it will store well for up to a year for adding to soups and stews. Supplied as a packet of 150 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors from April to mid-July, directly into their cropping position in well-drained, fertile soil. Harvest mid-July to November and if protected over winter will produce an early spring crop. Alternatively, sow in containers of at least 25cm (10in) depth and diameter (will accommodate 3-4 plants), using a good-quality compost.
A highly attractive feature tree with the added bonus of producing glossy, versatile fruits in autumn each year! With deep green foliage and bright orange flowers in summer, it will look great in your garden for years to come. The leathery skinned, glossy fruits ripen in the sun each summer and have a wonderfully sharp flavour. The fruits can be used in cooking sweet or savoury and taste great when made into refreshing, fragrant pomegranate juice! They are super-healthy, and packed with antioxidants. Pomegranate bushes love hot summers and your bush will thrive in a sunny spot it is perfect for a patio pot. It is completely hardy and will easily tolerate our British winters.
Picking plump, juicy figs straight from a tree is one of life's greatest pleasures, especially when served up with some wafer thin slices of Parma ham and a drizzle of honey. Divine! Boasting masses of large, pear-shaped fruit with deep red flesh that are ready for picking in late summer and early autumn, Brown Turkey is perfect in a large pot or grown in the ground. Even before the fruit is ripe the large shrub or small tree adds a presence to the garden as branches are clothed with large, deeply lobed leaves. Despite originating from warmer climates, this amazing fig is incredibly tough, easily shrugging off temperatures down to -15°C in the UK. Extremely drought tolerant when established, figs do best in a brightly lit, sunny spot. Keep plants productive and compact by restricting roots by growing in large pots or planting in 60cm square planting holes, filling the base with a layer of gravel and line sides with paving slabs.
Peonies are a cottage garden must-have and are becoming increasingly popular as both a cut flower and a specimen plant in a large patio pot, where they add romance and glamour to any setting. These reliable perennial plants have huge, blousy flowers which fill the garden with colour and scent and can be brought into the home as cut flowers to brighten up the dullest windowsill. 'Sarah Bernhardt' is an outstanding herbaceous peony producing large, highly fragrant, rose-pink double-ruffled flowers on sturdy plants throughout summer. The plants themselves form an upright bush of dark green leaves, remaining attractive all season. Often available as smaller plants, we have been lucky enough to secure some premium quality, large bare-root herbaceous peony plants. Sold by specialist Paeony growers and RHS Exhibitors at much higher prices, you can secure yourself a classic English border plant that will flourish and delight for 30 years or more - simply getting bigger and better. Suppllied as a single bare-root for planting in autumn or early spring as the soil warms, where they can remain in active but slow growth. They really are very easy to look after and make very fashionable cut flowers every summer.