Bananas have become very popular in the last few years, for their large architectural leaves as opposed to their fruit! The Red Abyssinian Banana is a relative newcomer, and brings with it a stunning colour addition - the huge paddle shaped leaves that can reach 75cm long in a season are heavily veined burgundy red, and in full sun the leaf edges have a very red tinge. Grow in large heavy pots for stability, in full sun and warm spots, and feed and water well in June-August when they grow quickly. Borderline hardy, so in late Autumn, allow leaves to die back and cut stem to 20cm tall, and bring somewhere frost free till following May. Keep dry, and new leaves should quickly emerge next year. Supplied as a 30-40cm tall plant in a 1L pot, ready to plant out. Please note that plants may a bit taller in summer when sent out as growth is rapid.
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.
Bananas have become very popular in the last few years, mainly for their large architectural leaves and this trio are no exception. Wonderfully exotic and great for adding architectural impact to gardens, this group of Banana plants will look especially impressive. With huge, paddle shaped leaves spreading gloriously from a central trunk, they'll create a unique, tropical jungle look to your garden while you sit back and enjoy the warm summer sun. Easy to grow, they'll add impact to your garden very quickly with you barely having to lift a finger! Just keep them well watered and well fed. Musa basjoo is frost tolerant to -6C and the golden Lotus banana to -5C. The red banana is borderline hardy, so they're best grown in pots and moved indoors over winter What you get: 1 x Japanese Banana (Musa basjoo, does not produce bananas, grow for its tropical foliage only). With large, fan-like leaves spreading out through the air will create wonderful shadows on your patio. Hailing from Japan, it loves sunshine, but it is hardy to -6C when protected - perfect for the UK climate! Grows to 1.5m.1 x Red Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', does not produce bananas, grow for its tropical foliage only). With lovely purple stems and red-purple leaf veins and edges when planted in full sun. Leaves reach 75cm long each year - best grown in hot, sunny spots in large pots.Grows 1m tall 1 x Golden Lotus Banana (Musella lasiocarpa, does not produce bananas, grow for its tropical foliage only). Produces fabulous, paddle-shaped leaves and a striking yellow flower which can last up to 6 months.
A lovely mix of the more compact Gladioli species, which gets best results from planting in Autumn or early Winter, unlike the bolder and brasher cousins. Unlike them too, they have a lovely blended palette of pinks, reds, whites and blush colours, often weith the characteristic fuchsia pink lipstick marking on the petals, making them something quite different and unqiue. Forget big and bold showy Gladioli, these are understated beauties, plant them in groups of 5 or 10 mixed in to borders, for Summer colour. Good for cut flowers too, despite being shorter stemmed. Supplied as a pack of 50 mixed bulbs, size 7/8 ready to plant out in autumn.
Musa 'Tropicana' is a dwarf form of banana plant that can easily be kept as an indoor house plant due to its compact, yet fast-growing nature, bringing a lush, tropical feel to your home. The perfect miniature tree, 'Tropicana' has a symmetrical growth habit and a slightly wavy edge to its huge leaves. Although it is unlikely to produce fruit in the UK, it will grow into a handsome specimen indeed! A conservatory is an ideal place to grow your Musa, as it will provide humidity, brightness and plenty of room to grow - just what this plant desires in order to thrive. Your banana can also be grown outside during the summer in a sheltered location to prevent wind damage to the paddle-shaped leaves and then brought back into the house when cold weather threatens. As well as looking gorgeous, your Banana is also a useful houseguest, as according to a NASA study they will help keep the air in your home clean by filtering out pollutants and improving the oxygen content. Supplied as an established plant in a 12cm pot, plants will reach approx 1-2m high. Note The decorative pot in images is for display purposes only and is not supplied.
Anyone can find space for houseplants, and as we spend more time at home it's incredibly important that we can still get up close and personal with plants which have been proved to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Also known as Fishbone Prayer Plant, Ctenanthe has wonderful oval leaves that can become up to 30cm long and are wonderfully patterned two-tone grey-green on the top, with an underside of rich deep maroon. Perfect for a focal point in a bright spot in your home. Related to Calathea, Ctenanthe shares its fascinating and unusual habit with leaves that close upwards when light levels fall as if in prayer. Beautiful to look at, these leafy tropical houseplants also help to clean the air in your home. It has been found that houseplants can actually improve the environment in our homes, clearing the air, removing toxins and adding valuable oxygen to the air that we breathe. Supplied as a potted plant in a 12cm pot, growing to a height and spread of 75cm (2½ft).
With its unusual and striking flowers, 'Banana Cream' is certain to attract a lot of attention. The huge blooms look just like banana ice cream! Beginning as large, globe shaped green buds that gradually become more pink, they burst open to bright banana yellow, petal packed double flowers. The petals are wonderfully ruffled and the flowers are so large that they have to be seen to be believed. The combination of the stunning yellow sitting on the green and pink cup is extraordinary! Once open, the flowers are long lasting, and the relatively compact size makes 'Banana Cream' ideal for growing in planters and window boxes as well as in spring borders. They are also excellent cut flowers and make stunning indoor displays. Supplied as 3 bulbs, size 11, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 35 cm (14 in) and width of 15 cm (6 in).
Indoor gardening is a great way to reconnect with nature and the range of plants that are suitable for your home is ever-increasing and we're delighted to be able to bring the latest must-haves to you. Also known as the Never Never Plant, Ctenanthe oppenheimiana has gorgeous silver and green striped oval leaves which have dark red undersides. Perfect for a focal point in a bright spot in your home. Related to Calathea and a member of the Prayer Plant family, Ctenanthe shares their fascinating and unusual habit with leaves that close upwards at night, showing off the dark red undersides. Beautiful to look at, these leafy tropical houseplants also help to clean the air in your home. It has been found that houseplants can actually improve the environment in our homes, clearing the air, removing toxins and adding valuable oxygen to the air that we breathe. Supplied as a potted plant in a 17cm pot, growing to a height and spread of 75cm (2½ft).
A real gem for winter gardens, producing long lasting floral displays from late October through winter into spring. Clusters of really fragrant, pale to deep pink, long-lasting flowers just seem to keep going and going in winter! A compact shrub at 2.5m tall or so after 10 years, it is easy to manage, and very hardy once established. Some flowers may get frost damage in extreme cold, but new ones appear quickly, and the plant is unharmed. Preferring a sunny spot, it can be grown in large pots. Because of its stunning fragrance and winter displays, plant it close to where you can smell it and see it regularly!
A striking combination of yellow petals and an orange centre, this double-flowered osteospermum certainly has the WOW factor. Perfect for all manner of container displays and border planting, this is a variety that can't be missed! With abundant heads of bloom to fill your pots, the cheery yellow blooms will be sure to attract plenty of wildlife into your garden as well as attention from your gardening friends! This wonderful combination of colour makes the perfect summer combination and the daisy-like blooms of 'Banana Shake' are produced in profusion for months on end. Ideal for pots and borders, osteos are sun lovers, opening in response to the sun and grow best in moist, well-drained soil. Flowering from spring to autumn, the uniform, compact plants will tolerate light frost as well as heat and drought, plus being easy to grow and needing very little in the way of aftercare, they're the perfect variety for your garden. Supplied as 6 x plug plants, ready to pot up and grow on before planting out.
The sheer brightness of colours in this French Marigold series opens up a whole range of colour theming opportunities in pots and borders. 'Bonanza' is a series of large anemone-flowered Marigolds, each flower to 5cm across, and is renowned for its easy natural branching habit, filling up space well. Plant about 20cm apart for a carpet of colour. Hot oranges, reds, and deep golden yellows and many with a mix of several shades in between - you can get hot, hot, hot with your plantings this year. They thrive in full, hot sun, but tolerate our rainy periods too. Supplied as 40 Pro Plug Plants, ready to grow on before planting out.
A super little scented winter treasure 'Wintersweet', as it is commonly called, produces stunning buttery yellow flowers in clusters, each with a lovely burgundy centre and veining detail. Producing a lovely sweet scent on bare stems, they are a joy to behold on cold winter days. An easy and fairly quick grower, it thrives in mixed shrubberies and borders, or larger pots, in sun or light shade, where you can bring them close to the house for maximum fragrance enjoyment. They also make a lovely long-lasting cut stem for the vase also. Supplied as an established plant in a 17cm pot to plant out all year - approx 20cm tall.