A native of British meadows and fields, this gardeners' favourite is loved by butterflies & bees. Relive childhood memories of golden fields of corn, peppered with the bright blue cornflowers and the gentle hum of busy pollinators on a bright summer's day. Quick and easy to grow, this colourful British favourite is ideal for naturalising and will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Also known as Batchelors Buttons, 'Blue Ball', is a showy annual is a slender, dainty plant with sky-blue flowers. Perfect for punctuating wild gardens or meadows with colour. Ideal too to get kids interested in gardening or for time-strapped gardeners who want results without the effort! A hardy annual, cornflowers will grow and flower in the same year (or the following year if sown late in the year). Excellent as a cut flower, you can add a bunch to a vase or use them in mixed bouquets. 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, March-May or August-October, directly where they are to flower. Flowers July - September. Supplied as a pack of approx. 180 seeds. Native grown seed not taken from the wild.
Fabulous semi-double blooms in joyous shades of yellow, peachy orange and red are what make these mixed-colour nasturtiums a must-have for bringing vibrant colour to your summer garden. The showy, saucer-shaped flowers are streaked with darker flushes in their centres and stand bold and upright above rich green, bushy foliage. One of the easiest and most satisfying annuals you can grow, they are guaranteed to add impact wherever you plant them. 'Jewel Mixed' nasturtiums are robust and long-flowering, from early June until the first frosts in October. They look fabulous when trained up a trellis or fence, tumbling out of window boxes and containers, or cascading over the sides of hanging baskets. Plant them as groundcover in a mixed border or rock garden, where they will add pleasing contrast to other flowers and foliage. They will also look great when cut for your vase - ideal for natural arrangements. A worthy addition to a kitchen garden, nasturtiums are loved by bees and butterflies, so are good for pollination. They will attract hover flies, which prey on aphids, so make a great companion for brassicas, pumpkins, radish, tomato and potatoes - even roses - to help control pests. When they die back they will replenish the soil, adding nutrients and minerals to help other plants thrive. Being native to South and Central America, which were known as the Indies, the flowers were once commonly called 'Indian cresses'. Indeed, the leaves and flowers are edible, with a pleasant, slightly peppery flavour reminiscent of watercress. Mix them into your salads and garnishes for a pop of extra colour and flavour, or add last minute to a stir-fry. They are rich in vitamin C, too. An inspiring choice for children's gardening; the seeds are large, easy to sow and quick to germinate. With such a cheerful profusion of edible, bright flowers as a reward, what better way to encourage the next generation of horticulturalists! Supplied as a packet of 35 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in pots, from February to May, or outdoors from April to June directly where they are to grow. Nasturtiums will flower most prolifically in a sunny position in free-draining soil. They are drought tolerant but appreciate an occasional watering in warm weather. Regular dead-heading will encourage continuous flowering.
Beautiful five-petalled, softly coloured blooms and intricately marbled leaves are what make this nasturtium a superb choice to complement any garden scheme. The pretty salmon-orange flowers have darker veins flushing from their centres and stand above foliage that forms attractive, globe-shaped mounds. A winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Alaska Salmon Orange' is noted for its reliability and good performance. This hardy annual is easy to grow and versatile, with a long flowering season from early June until the first frosts in October. They look fabulous when trained up a trellis or fence, tumbling out of window boxes and containers, or cascading over the sides of hanging baskets. Plant them as groundcover in a mixed border or rock garden, where they will add pleasing interest amid other flowers and foliage. They also look great as a cut flower in a natural arrangement. A worthy addition to a kitchen garden, nasturtiums are loved by bees and butterflies, so are good for pollination. They will attract hover flies, which prey on aphids, so make a great companion for brassicas, pumpkins, radish, tomato and potatoes - even roses - to help control pests. When they die back they will replenish the soil, adding nutrients and minerals to help other plants thrive. Being native to South and Central America, which were known as the Indies, the flowers were once commonly called 'Indian cresses'. Indeed, the leaves and flowers are edible, with a pleasant, slightly peppery flavour reminiscent of watercress. Mix them into your salads and garnishes for a pop of extra colour and flavour, or add last minute to a stir-fry. They are rich in vitamin C, too. Supplied as a packet of 25 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in pots, from February to March, or outdoors from April to June directly where they are to grow. Nasturtiums will flower most prolifically in a sunny position in free-draining soil. They are drought tolerant but appreciate an occasional watering in warm weather. Regular dead-heading will encourage continuous flowering.
An enduring favourite of the British gardener, sweet peas are surely one of the most rewarding and prettiest annuals you can grow - and this specially selected blend offers the very best in terms of all-round display and fragrance. 'Incense Mixed' includes top-performing varieties specifically chosen by a group of sweet pea experts for their exquisite scent. The large, ruffled blooms offer a medley of pastel shades in hues of white, pink, cream and lavender. Growing on long stems, they are perfect for cutting, so you can enjoy their pretty colours and perfume both indoors and out. For all their delicate appearance, these cheerful sweet peas are very easy to grow and will reward with a continuous succession of beautiful blooms from May to October. The more you pick them, the more they will flower. Dead-heading those that are left on the vine is one of the most relaxing pastimes of the summer garden, and will prolong the flowering season. For the best blooms, all they require is a sunny position but they do like their roots to be cool; try planting some low-growing annuals at their bases to provide some shade. 'Incense Mixed' will thrive in a variety of situations including containers, beds and borders, and are best grown up a trellis. Keep them well watered and they will reward you from late spring well into autumn. What's more, their flowers will attract bees and butterflies, which will then pollinate your fruit and vegetables - making them a great companion plant for your kitchen garden. Supplied as a packet of 35 (approx.) seeds ready for sowing indoors into pots of compost from January to March or September to October, or outdoors from April to May, directly where they are to flower. They will flower from May to October, growing to a maximum height of 180cm (72in) and spread of 45cm (18in).
Colourful and compact, these 'Festival Mix' dwarf lupins have been specially blended to combine glorious jewel-like tones ranging from soft white and pale lemon-yellow to darker hues of pink, cerise and purple. The beautifully bold, candle-like blooms rise up through starry mounds of lush green, palmate leaves and are perfect for bringing joyful colour and structure to your summer garden. Members of the legume family, the petals on the tall flower spikes have a pea-like structure, giving off a delicate, peppery aroma that will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Reaching a height and spread of 60cm (24in), their compact habit means that they don't need staking, so they are an ideal choice for patio containers or small-space gardening. For an informal look, try planting in clumps or drifts through other flowering perennials such as iris, delphiniums or geraniums - or even ornamental grasses. An eternal cottage garden favourite, they will also look good in contemporary schemes as well as making a fabulous cut flower for your vase. 'Festival Mix' lupins are easy-to-grow hardy perennials that will thrive in a light but moist, well-draining soil, preferring a sunny position that has some shade during the hottest part of the day. An early sowing will bring flowers in the same year, usually between August and September. In subsequent years they will flower from May to July. Supplied as a packet of 30 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in a seed try from January to March, or outdoors into a seed bed from April to June, for transplanting into their final flowering position from May to October.
True to its name, this giant among sunflowers is one of the tallest you can grow, with huge, long-lasting daisy-shaped blooms measuring up to 60cm (24in) across and reaching a height of up to 360cm (144in). Having the best record-breaking potential, this heirloom variety is the obvious choice for nurturing children's interest in gardening as well as for indulging your competitive streak - even if just to impress the neighbours as the enormous flowers stand tall well above fence height! Originating in North and South America, sunflowers were worshipped by the ancient Incas as a symbol of their sun god. They reached Europe by the sixteenth century, since when they have been grown in abundance by generations of gardeners and commercial growers for their impressive proportions as well as their highly nutritious seeds and oil. Capable of bringing a touch of sunshine to your garden even when days are dull, they are brimming with optimism and the joys of summer. With enormous dark hearts fringed by glorious bright yellow petals, the flowers soak up the sun and redistribute its goodness in the form of large seeds, which you can roast and eat as a snack, scatter over salads or use in your baking - but don't forget to save some for the birds! When the flowers have reached their peak, hang them up to dry naturally and they will provide a welcome autumn and winter buffet for our feathered friends. However tall they grow, the sturdy, slightly prickly upright stems shouldn't need staking, even in exposed positions, although for peace of mind you may want to provide some support, particularly if you are growing for a competition. The immature flowerheads will follow the sun through the day but once the petals have opened, the flowers will remain facing one direction Supplied as a packet of 25 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors or outdoors. For best results, sow the seeds outdoors, directly into their flowering position, to allow the roots to establish firmly with uninterrupted growth. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well-draining soil. If necessary, add plenty of well-rotted manure or compost to the ground before planting. Sow from March to May either indoors for planting out in June to July, or outdoors directly into their growing position. These hardy annuals will flower from June to September, in the same year as sowing.
A cottage garden favourite with an extra dimension, 'Starlight Scentsation' is an exquisite night-scented stock. What a glorious flower to enhance those balmy summer evenings spent outdoors while their perfume becomes more intense as the dusk descends. Gloriously pretty, with petals in shades of white and palest yellow to the softest lilac pink, mauve and purple, they will dance in the half-light on slender stalks amid delicate grey-green leaves. Indeed, their heady scent and translucent, pollen-rich blooms seem to come alive at night, attracting a whole host of night-feeding bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths to your garden. This half-hardy annual germinates rapidly and with staggered sowings will perform all summer long, well into early autumn. Its dwarf, bushy habit makes it an ideal choice for the fronts of beds and borders - and perfect for patio containers, where a profusion of these gorgeous flowers can be enjoyed best close at hand. They make a fabulous cut flower too, so you can bring those pretty pastel colours and glorious fragrance indoors. The flowers are edible, with a delicately perfumed flavour. Pick them fresh as a garnish and for scattering over salads, or as a pretty decoration for desserts and cakes. They can even be candied to keep in your store cupboard ready for those sweet dishes. Easy to grow, these night-scented stocks will thrive in a sunny position in well-drained soil or compost, growing to a height of 30cm (12in) and spread of 20cm (8in). Sow outdoors from May to June, directly where they are to flower. The blooms will appear continuously from June to October, in the same year as sowing. Supplied as a packet of 700 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors directly into their flowering position.
Calendula 'Art Shades', otherwise known as English or pot marigold, is an enduring cottage garden favourite that looks equally at home in traditional or contemporary planting schemes, where the richly coloured flowers will add cheerful character to your beds, borders or pots. They make a great cut flower for your vase, too, and the dried flowers are also excellent added to pot pourri. This easy-to-grow hardy annual produces masses of frilly petalled, fully double blooms in shades of creamy peach, orange, gold and yellow. They are hugely attractive to many beneficial insects, so make a great companion plant for your kitchen garden. In fact, the petals are edible, with a slightly peppery taste, and make a colourful garnish or addition to salads. They can also be used instead of saffron for colouring rice dishes, or in soups, stews or curries - or even as a substitute for nutmeg, sprinkled over rice pudding. The ancient Egyptians used calendula as a rejuvenating herb and the flowers have been used for centuries in cosmetics and creams for their therapeutic properties. The seeds can be sown directly into their flowering position or started off in seed trays indoors. Either way, they will flower in the same year as sowing. Calendulas thrive in a sunny spot in well-prepared, fertile soil or compost. Once established, these robust little beauties will do equally well through a wet or dry season, and with regular watering and dead-heading will flower all summer long, well into the first frosts of autumn. Supplied as a packet of 200 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors in their flowering position or indoors into trays of compost. Growing to a height of 60cm (24in) and spread of 30cm (12in), sow or transplant outdoors from March to June and again from August to October, directly where they are to flower. Late summer and autumn sowings will flower the following year. Spring sowings will take 10-12 weeks to flower.
An opium poppy in jewel-like shades of rich velvet-plum, this hardy annual is best sown where it is to flower. The large bowl-shaped blooms rise tall on twisty stems atop attractive clumps of subtle, grey-green foliage. With gorgeous open, papery petals and exquisite pale yellow stamens, they will attract a variety of beneficial insects to your garden - a great companion plant to aid pollination and encourage wildlife. 'Lauren's Grape' will sit equally well in contrasting or complementary colour schemes - perfect for mixed beds, borders or containers, or scattering through wildflower areas. For pleasing displays, plant in groups or small drifts. Regular dead-heading will prolong flowering although the seeds pods are highly ornamental and provide great structure for fresh or dried flower arrangements. Remove the seed pods in late summer before they mature unless you want them to self-seed for an informal or wildflower look. The seeds can be used in baking. These poppies will thrive in full sun or part shade, in well-drained, preferably poor soil. Sow outdoors from March to May, or August to October, and you can expect blooms from June to September. Staggered sowings will ensure a longer flowering season. Supplied as a packet of 500 (approx.) seeds ready to plant outdoors directly into their flowering position. Grows to a height of 90cm (36in) by 30cm (12in) spread.
Blended to appeal to a wide range of insects, this colourful mix will attract wildlife including butterflies and bees, who feed on the pollen, and will also produce seed heads to providing food for wild birds. Quick and easy to grow, this mix is ideal for creating a natural-looking meadow to attract pollinating insects into your garden. Perfect to get kids interested in gardening or for time-strapped gardeners who want results without the effort! A collection of hardy and half-hardy annuals, these wildflowers also make ideal flowers for cutting so you can bring colour into your home too either in a vase or as part of a mixed bouquet. Never before has it been so important to protect pollinators such as bees, and this wildflower mix 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. This dazzling mix of some of our best-known annual flowers will give your garden a bright show of colour. The mix contains a selection of these varieties*: BorageCalifornian PoppyCanary GrassChinese AsterCoreopsisCorn CockleCorn MarigoldCornflowerCrimson CloverDillField PoppyFlaxGiliaLarkspurLavenderOreganoPhaceliaPhloxPurple Viper's BuglossVetchYellow MustardZinnia *NB, due to seasonal availability, we cannot guarantee all varieties will be included in each individual packet. Growing to 120cm (48in). Sow outdoors, March-May directly where they are to flower. Flowers June - October. Supplied as 0.5g seed to cover up to 0.5sqm. Native grown seed not taken from the wild CAUTION: Harmful if eaten
Blended to appeal to butterflies, this Colourful mix is easy to grow and quick to flower from seed. A rich and varied combination of colourful annuals that will brighten up any spare patch of garden. All of the annual flowers are a great source of nectar, providing food for butterflies and other pollinating insects all summer long. Quick and easy to grow, this mix is ideal for creating a natural-looking meadow to attract pollinating insects into your garden. Perfect to get kids interested in gardening or for time-strapped gardeners who want results without the effort! A collection of hardy annuals, these wildflowers also make ideal flowers for cutting so you can bring colour into your home too either in a vase or as part of a mixed bouquet. Never before has it been so important to protect pollinators and this wildflower is ideal to encourage them into your garden. Invaluable for pollinating a whole range of plants and especially useful for kitchen gardens to enable the formation of many fruits and vegetables. This mixture of easy-to-grow, hardy annuals will flower the same year as sowing. Growing to 90cm (36in). Sow outdoors March to May, directly where they are to flower. Flowers June to October. Supplied as a pack of 0.5g, sufficient for 0.5sqm
This amazing collection of stunning flowers will fill your garden with blooms all summer long and well into autumn.We've chosen shades of pink, purple and blue that perfectly compliment each other and their different heights mean that there's something for every part of the garden. Mixed together they create a magical cottage garden feel, and they're great for cutting too. Cornflower 'Blue Ball' a gardeners' favourite loved by butterflies and bees, this showy annual is a slender, dainty plant with sky-blue flowers. Perfect for punctuating wild gardens or meadows with colour. Grows to 75cm. 180 Seeds. Sweet Pea 'Galaxy' early flowering in luscious colours from reds to pinks to blues from late spring through to autumn, they'll produce a fabulous succession of beautifully fragrant stems that just keep on coming the more they're cut, so your vases can be as full as your garden with these prolific, long lasting star performers. Growing to 180cm. 35 Seeds. Cosmos 'Candy Stripe' exceptionally free flowering, giving a succession of white blooms with an edging of the deepest pink. With its delicate feathery foliage 'Candy Stripe' makes a lovely cut flower too. Its pollen rich, yellow centres are a magnet for bees on warm sunny days. Grows to 120cm. 100 Seeds. Lobelia 'Cambridge Blue' the perfect filler plant for pots, planters and tubs, or even large scale border plantings. Very easy to grow, its hundreds of sky-blue flowers will wind their way through the gaps in plants, filling them in with ease. A great little essential plant for all planting schemes, Grows to 15cm. 1500 Seeds.