Also known as the Barberry, Berberis are attractive deciduous shrubs with spiney branches and small, oval leaves and are noted for their foliage colour. Berberis thunbergia atropurpurea, the Japanese Barberry, is a handsome variety. It grows well in borders or pots and makes an excellent low-growing hedge. Thriving in a sunny or partially shaded location, it has dense, deep purple foliage and matching stems. The rich, dark colouring provides a wonderful contrast to the green shades of surrounding plants and it will make their flowers stand out to stunning effect. Recommended by the RHS as a 'Plant for Pollinators', during March and April, small bright yellow flowers emerge, attracting bees and butterflies. These are followed in late summer by glossy, bright red berries that are a rich source of food for birds. In autumn the foliage turns to intense bright red before falling. Berberis atropurpurea in completely hardy, drought tolerant and easy to grow and care for. Although it doesn't require much pruning, it can be trimmed after flowering in spring. It will also respond well to being clipped to shape for hedging or topiary. Supplied as an established plant in a 2 L pot, ready for planting, reaching a height and spread of 1.2 m (4ft).
A bright and contrasting mix of bright pink petals and a dark orange central cone, the Magnus will certainly stand out and liven up dull spots in the garden. Hardy Coneflowers that bloom from mid-summer until first frost and return year after year. Flowering from July to September, they will stand between 50cm to 1 meter tall. Each bloom has a central cone and horizontal petals, which makes these great as long-lasting cut flowers too. Also known by their Latin name of Echinacea, these classic, daisy-like hardy perennials are much suited to a traditional cottage-garden style setting, yet equally at home in drift plantings and gravel beds too, or just massed together in pots. Supplied as 3 x established planta in 9cm pots, ready to plant out.
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.
A spectacular addition to any garden design with it's deep reddish-purple leaves which turn a brilliant red-orange shades in the autumn. A vigorous grower;this deciduous shrub will be right at home in a garden border or container.
Description for Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Red Rocket' not available
A gorgeous dwarf shrub, that is perfect for small gardens, Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Admiration' has fiery, deep red foliage, with yellow edges on the leaves, and produces small pale green flowers in spring, followed later in the year by red berries. Japanese Barberry is suitable for both borders or planters, and is very low maintenance, once planted. The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded this plant its Award of Garden Merit. Best planted in full sun or partial shade. Height: and Spread: 60cm (24).
Native to North America and part of the Sunflower family of plants, Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern' has bold, pink giant daisy type flowers that look fantastic planted in mixed garden borders or priarie style meadow areas. Coneflowers are also great at attracting bees and butterflies to gardens. They flower in August, at the height of summer and are best grown in full sun, in well drained soil. Height: 90cm (36). Spread 50cm (20).
Planted in a line, Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Dart's Red Lady' , makes an attractive and very manageable low hedge, that is ideal for front gardens. It can also be planted as a lone specimen shrub, within a garden border.
Colourful deep pink flowers with contrasting orange cones are displayed above bushy plants. Highly attractive to butterflies. Ideal in full sun borders. Height: 120cm (47). Spread: 60cm (24).
A very pretty ground cover plant, spring to autumn flowering Vinca minor ?Atropurpurea' provides weed-suppressing perennial evergreen foliage and rich purple flowers. Vinca minor, or Lesser Periwinkle is easier to confine than it's larger and more boisterous cousin, Vinca major so an alpine or rockery position could be considered. Vinca minor is a versatile specimen as it enjoys full sun but would also be happy in dark and shady corners of the garden where other plants would struggle . Height: 20cm (8) Spread: 50cm (19). Supplied in 9cm pot.
Perfect for those challenging shaded areas beneath deciduous trees, or meandering through cottage garden borders! Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea' is a compact evergreen perennial that will seed freely once established, making superb groundcover.
Well known for its use in herbal medicine, the large purple daisy like flowers of this hardy perennial, provide a wonderful display in late summer. The weather resistant blooms of the coneflower make an attractive cut flower.