With its delightful deep violet and gold flowers, the sweetly scented, two-tone 'Rhubarb and Custard' flowers of this choice Nemesia appear from early summer and will just keep coming right up until November - that's six whole months of colour. The strong and heady perfume is wonderful on a warm summer's day, so be sure to grow in a place where you can appreciate the fragrance. With a neat , semi-upright habit, 'Rhubarb and Custard' is perfect for taller containers and even hanging baskets where the flowers will tower over the edges and create a dense, floriferous display. Versatile, they make a lovely border plant too, especially when planted en-masse where they'll create a real impact. Easy to grow Nemesia thrives in cool or hot weather and tolerates a little frost too, so stays in bloom much longer than many summer plants. Supplied as 6 x plug plants, ready to grow on before planting out.
Also known as Stokes' aster, 'Blue Star' does just what its name suggests - it's a star performer for your garden. Large, pale blue, cornflower-like flowers are produced over a low mound of attractive green leaves, making it an ideal plant for late summer containers or for added colour in autumn in your beds or borders. Recommended by the RHS as a 'Plant for Pollinators' because the flowers are produced through the spring and summer and are a favourite with butterflies and bees. Easy to grow and hardy in the UK down to -15°C (5°F), Stokesia is a reliable 'doer' and the frilly blue flowers are produced in abundance through the summer and autumn. Superb when combined with yellow flowers for contrast, Stokesia is a great plant for cut flowers too, so you can bring their colour into your home. An evergreen perennial, Stokesia provides garden colour all year round, and we supply a collection of 6 plug plants ready for you to pot up and grow on before planting out.
Astilbes are fascinating plants with flowers completely unlike anything else it the garden. Originating from central America, they thrive is a sheltered, sunny spot. 'Astary Rose' is a smaller variety of Astilbe. This incredibly attractive dwarf perennial grows to just 30cm tall, but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for with its exceptional flowers. Between June and August the dark green, glossy serrated leaves give rise to a mass of dense triangular panicles of soft pink flowers that look like frothy clouds of candy floss. The flowers are delightfully fragrant and 'Astary Rose' is Recommended by the RHS as a 'Plant for Pollinators' with the blooms being an irresistible magnet for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. The flowers are good for cutting and are certainly an unusual addition to vase arrangements. They dry well too, and provide winter interest if left on the plant, especially when there's a frost. Astilbe prefer dappled shade over full sun although they will tolerate a bright spot. Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. Although not fussy about soil, they do require good drainage so that their fleshy roots don't rot. Great at the front of a flower border, they are an interesting choice as an edging plant. Also ideal in containers, try planting different varieties together for a lovely, light and foamy effect. Supplied as 3 x established plants in 9cm pots, ready to plant. Reaching a height and spread of 30cm (1ft).
With so many Coreopsis varieties flowering in yellow colours, 'Sunstar Rose' is a refreshing change with its bright magenta pink flowers edged in white. The flowers of this gorgeous perennial are daisy shaped and begin to open from June, continuing until the first frosts of autumn. Borne in abundance above narrow, dark green leaves, they cover the plant in wonderful, bright colour and with their long, straight stems they're great cut flowers. Bees and butterflies love their nectar and birds will feast on the seeds, making these ideal plants for bringing wildlife into your garden. Also known as tickseed, Coreopsis in a native of North American prairies and is extremely rugged, easy to grow and drought tolerant and resistant to mildew. Grown in patio pots and in flower borders, you'll be treated to month after month of vivid colour with almost no maintenance, just regular deadheading to keep the flowers coming until autumn. Supplied as an established plant in a 9cm pot, ready for planting and reaching a height and spread of 40cm (16in).
A beautiful, small-flowered, hardy perennial plant, which thrives in cool, shaded places which are often difficult to find plants for. Producing stunning and unique star-shaped flowers of cornflower blue edged in a pale lilac, each with a bright white central eye. Looking like a two-tone forget-me-not, the blooms of 'Starry Eyes' are produced above a mound of heart-shaped, evergreen leaves. A really delightful and unusual little perennial which is also known as Navelwort, Omphalodes forms small, low clumps about a foot across, flowering year after year in April and bringing early spring colour with the daffodils. Easy to grow, and requires little maintenance once established, you'll receive an established plant in a 9cm pot. A real little gem, and not often sold.
'Shooting Star' is one of the most desirable perennials to grow in a shady spot, making a large clump of slender leaves that are topped with 30cm stems holding achingly-beautiful pink flowers with swept back petals between March and April. The flowers even pack a fruity perfume that will infuse the air on a still, warm day. Closely related to bedding primulas, this is a choice plant for growing in light or even full shade, as long as the soil is fairly moist (but not soaking wet). Why not try planting it in borders, rock gardens or under trees and shrubs? A tough plant that heralds from North America, it will die back to ground level in summer but will remerge every spring. Note - this product dies back underground from August, but will shoot away again next March.
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).
Enjoy the star-like, brilliant red flowers year after year. These delicate perennials are tougher than they look and will keep flowering for a long period.
A beautiful border plant beloved by bees and butterflies. Mixture contains three colours: rose, white and maroon. Plants are lightly fragrant, long flowering and may also be used as a cut flower
A fantastic new Verbascum! Strong, erect spikes literally packed with very large 2in. flowers of brightest, dazzling two-tone yellow. A glowing, valuable back of border, cottage garden plant. Remove spent stems to encourage a second flush of flowers. Height: 150-180cm (5-6ft)
The perfect plant for that hot, dry spot in your borders or rockeries. Dwarf, shiny, deep green, almost metallic-looking succulent foliage bursts into bloom from mid May. Plants are covered with spectacular lilac-purple flowers flowers with large white centres, flowering until the first frost. Loved by butterflies. Height: 10-15cm (4-6in)