Fothergilla major is covered in an abundance of scented, white, fluffy bottlebrush flowers in May, just as the leaves are beginning to unfurl. This compact, deciduous shrub, a relative of the witch hazel, features dark green, shiny, textured leaves that turn to well-known vibrant orange and red shades as autumn approaches. Also known as Mountain Witch Alder, this shrub has a neat, slow-growing habit, making it a favourite for the edges of woodland gardens, cottage gardens and in mixed borders. Winner of an RHS AGM, Fothergilla major grows happily in partial shade but produces the best leaf colour when situated in a sunny position. Height: 2.5m (8?). Spread: 2m (6.5?).
Plant hardy perennial Astrantia major ?Venice? in cottage garden borders or in the damp areas surrounding a pond and enjoy these stunning, ruby-red pincushion flowers all summer long.
Also known as masterwort or Hattie's Pincushion, Astrantias are a clump-forming, hardy perennial which are a favourite of many garden designers, ideal for shady, moist areas of the garden. One of the darker varieties of red Astrantia, 'Claret' is ideal in any cottage-garden style, or they can also be grown in more contemporary garden styles where their colour can be fully appreciated. Its deep, ruby red, pincushion-like flowers are produced above dark green, lobed leaves and tend to have longer bracts to the flowers than other varieties making them ideal as cut flowers and as a perfect plant for a pot. Recommended by the RHS as a Plant for Pollinators, this striking variety will help you do your bit for the environment by encouraging wildlife into your garden Supplied as 3 x established plants in 9cm pots, ready for immediate planting.
Astrantia major 'Roma' is a hardy perennial with a difference: it thrives in damp, shady areas, meaning you can reserve all the space in your sunniest borders for fussier species while still incorporating this unusual Masterwort into your summer display. The plant's palmate foliage is a striking bright green colour, which complements its pink flowers perfectly. These blooms make it easy to tell why this variety is nicknamed Hattie's Pincushion, for their heads, which emerge in the summer, are an unusual, round, pincushion-esque shape. The wiry stems can be easily cut to make interesting additions to indoor displays if you decide that Astrantia major 'Roma' is too special to confine to your woodland garden! Height: 75cm (2'6). Spread: 45cm (1'6).
Often called Diplacus, Monkey Flower or Musk, Mimulus x cultorum 'Major Bees' is a fantastic plant for growing near ponds or in damp shady corners of the garden. It has exotic, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers, mottled with red markings, that bloom between June and August. As well as a being a plant for borders, they are also suitable for growing in planters, such as stone urns, that are in shaded areas. Height and spread: 50cm (20).
Astrantia major Censation™ 'Milano' is well suited to cottage garden and wildlife friendly garden borders, or in a pot on the patio or decking. It has attractive, raspberry pink flowers, on long stems.
Vinca major is an easygoing, hardy shrub: come rain or shine, sunlight or shade, its evergreen leaves will flourish. This foliage provides great ground coverage, leaving little room for weeds. Greater Periwinkle also boasts lovely, dark blue blooms. These flowers have a long flowering period, from April to September, even when placed in tricky, shady corners. The plant is therefore a great addition to beds and borders in cottage and woodland gardens. Height: 45cm (1'6). Spread: 75cm (2'6).
Astrantia major 'Moulin Rouge' is a recent introduction that brings a splash of colour to summer borders. The bright red, pincushion flowers perch delicately upon slender stems, swaying gently above loose clumps of foliage. The attractive leaves are gloss
Vinca major 'Variegata' is a great choice for low maintenance parts of the garden such a slopes or areas which are difficult to access.
Creeping stems bearing variegated cream and green leaves knit together to form an evergreen carpet, creating an attractive background to the pretty, violet-blue flowers which appear from spring to early autumn. Vinca major 'Wojo's Gem' is less assertive than vinca minor but equally vigorous, forming useful groundcover in virtually any garden conditions, perfect for those tricky spots where other plants refuse to grow.
Also known as Honeywort, this unusual annual bears rounded, blue-green leaves on slender, upright stems. From late spring onwards masses of nodding, rich purple flowers, surrounded by blue-purple bracts appear at the stem tips, which are highly attractive to bees.
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' is an aristocratic plant, bringing understated elegance to the front of sunny borders. Blue-green leaves spiral up each stem of this bushy little annual.