With rich ruby red flowers combining with a deliciously seductive chocolate aroma, Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Spellbound' is a most attractive choice for a sunny border. It is loved by pollinating insects too, so it's a great choice for a wildlife garden. The Chocolate Plant likes to grow in moist, well-drained soil and is best grown among other perennials which will support its stems. It is usually grown as an annual in the UK, but it can be kept over winter if it is grown in a pot and kept in frost free conditions. Height and Spread: 60cm (24).
How did this happen, a flower that smells like chocolate? Combine the scent of chocolate, attractive velvet-soft burgundy coloured petals, neat foliage and drought resistance and you've got the perfect plant. Chocolate Cosmos or to give it it's full name, Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Dark Secret' will make a real feast for the eyes (and nose)in patio containers, mixed borders or as a bedding plant. It's happy with semi shade but loves the warmth of full sun too. Height and Spread: 50cm (19).
Salvia nemorosa 'Salvatore Deep Blue' makes a lovely focal point at the front of sunny borders. This compact hardy perennial sends up spires of dense, tiny blooms in dark indigo purple.
Lathyrus latifolius 'Rosa Perle' bears a stunning display of delicate pink-lilac flowers throughout the summer, adding as much interest to your garden as annual sweet peas but without the scent. The perennial, everlasting sweet pea is an excellent climber that will come back year after year and is perfect in traditional cottage gardens, on trellises and pergolas, in borders and growing through shrubs and trees. Lathyrus latifolius 'Rosa Perle' is quick-growing and very simple to maintain. Height: 2m (6'). Spread: 1m (3' 3).
The 'chocaholics' amongst you will love the sumptuous, velvety flowers of this cosmos. Bred in the UK, its a compact, bushy plant that will be full of deep marooncoloured flowers from July to October, each one giving off the fragrance of chocolate. An ideal plant for patio containers or sunny garden borders. Ht. 30cm. Supplied as plug plants.
Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus' bears indigo flower spears protruding from mounds of fragrant foliage, creating a solid drift of colour. These compact plants are ideal for the front of cottage garden borders and wildlife gardens, where they will attract bees and butterflies but not unwelcome deer or rabbits. To prolong the flowering period of Salvias, they should be given a quick trim in midsummer. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 45cm (18).
Description for Salvia nemorosa 'Ostefriesland' not available
Native to Mexico, Commelina tuberosa has Intense blue flowers throughout the summer months, and will soon form a clump of these strikingly coloured flowers. A hardy perennial, the Dayflower will add interest and colour to your borders for many years to come.
This upright shrub bears scented pink flowers in summer, followed by bright red hips through autumn. Ht. 1.5m. Supplied as bare root plants.
Aster novi belgii 'Rosa Perle' or more commonly known as Michaelmas Daisy, or New York Aster is a vibrant and informal flowering perennial that is great for providing late summer / early autumn colour to borders. The daisy flowers have lavender-pink petals with yellow centres and are great for many types of garden styles, including cottage, contemporary and priarie. The plant has masses of flowers when in bloom and it is a superb plant for attracting bees and butterflies. Height and Spread: 50cm (20).
Rarely seen, this stunning pink Tuberose represents a breeding breakthrough. Fully double, deep pink flowers with the most extraordinary fragrance are carried on sturdy flower spikes above linear green foliage. Its beguiling aroma is at its richest during warm summer evenings. Polianthes tuberosa 'Pink Sapphire' makes a charming border plant and a sensational cut flower. Height: 120cm (48). Spread: 15cm (6). Supplied as tubers.
Intense, fiery orange flowers top the upright stems of this vibrant hardy perennial. The flowers persist throughout summer, followed by intriguing, spiny seedpods in autumn which split open to reveal silky threads.