With its stiff, arching yet compact foliage and conveniently tidy growing habit, the Blue Fescue is an ornamental grass that won't leave you feeling blue! When grown in the sun its evergreen foliage is a beautiful silvery-blue colour, while its spiky, midsummer flowers have a green tint. Festuca glauca plants are easy to grow, forming neat clumps which rarely need maintaining. This grass looks great in rockeries and gravel gardens and the hardy perennial can also be grown alongside complementary Mediterranean-style plants in borders and containers.
Description for Berberis x lologensis 'Apricot Queen' not available
The amazing 'bulletproof' nature of hardy geraniums makes these plants excellent for new gardeners or those looking for low-maintenance solutions. Geranium 'Dreamland' is perennial and has an exceptionally long flowering period, from May right through to September, boasting beautiful pale pink blooms with magenta veins, that look almost cushion-like, above dark green foliage. Perfect for controlling weeds in beds and borders, performing just as well in patio containers and filling gaps between paving or in gravel gardens. Height and spread: 40cm (16).
A worthy cottage garden stalwart and RHS AGM winning perennial, Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' has eye-catching semi-double scarlet blooms throughout summer. The attractive open-faced flowers are produced on slender stems above clumps of scalloped foliage and the plants are well suited to be placed at the front of herbaceous borders. Height and Spread: 60cm (24).
This superb Bumper Plant Collection combines a fabulous mix of well loved cottage garden classics. Hardy herbaceous perennials are perfect for filling borders with summer colour that will return year after year. Undemanding and easy to care for, this reliable collection will make an impressive display in sunny borders.
Gunnera manicata is famed for its giant evergreen leaves, which can reach 1-2 metres across! This Giant Rhubarb may not be suitable for smaller gardens, due to its sheer size, but it looks impressive and is ideal for waterlogged soil. A planting near water shows the leaves off to their best with spectacular reflections. An attention-grabbing addition to your garden, Gunnera manicata is durable and architectural and holds an RHS AGM. Height: 2.5m (8'). Spread: 4m (13').
A delightfully fragrant Narcissus, Daffodil ?Butterfingers? has large yellow trumpets which are encompassed by creamy white outer petals making it an ideal choice for your spring borders. Perfect for cutting too as the blooms will sit atop long straight stems. A large flowered variety that will impact yours beds and borders in a spectacular way. Height: 45cm (18). Spread 15cm (6).
This upright flowering cherry tree has a neat, columnar habit giving rise to the common name 'Flagpole Cherry Tree'. In late spring, this RHS AGM variety becomes smothered in delightful white-pink blossom, which has a delicate scent and is highly attractive to bees.
Erica carnea 'Pink Spangels' is a versatile evergreen Heather variety that provides outstanding ground cover thanks to its spreading habit. Between February and April an abundance of nectar-rich soft pink flowers are borne, attracting pollinating insects to your garden. This variety will flourish in nearly any well drained soil and can even cope with light shade. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 45cm (18).
Honeysuckle japonica 'Halliana' is a popular climber for its white and buttery yellow blooms from late spring into summer. The tubular flowers produce a sweet and irresistable perfume that lingers on the summer breeze. The rich, green foliage remains semi-evergreen in sheltered areas, providing a show of winter greenery.
Ever wondered if there is an easier way to plant bulbs? These innovative pre-planted bulb trays prove that there is! Simply place the biodegradable cardboard tray into your container or border and cover with compost.
As you might expect from a plant called 'Melting Fire', this Heuchera's semi-evergreen foliage is curled with firey tones of red and purple. In June and July, Coral Bells sprouts additional flowers that appear to rise out of the fire. The tall spikes that bear these blooms add structure and interest to sunny borders and patio containers. Coral Flower's unusual colouring and long season of interest make the hardy perennial a great addition to any cottage or wildlife garden. Height: 40cm (1'4). Spread: 40cm (1'4).
Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guinness' is a striking variety of Columbine. From the shape of its flowers, it is easy to see why it is sometimes dubbed 'Granny's Bonnet', although the black blooms with white corolla are certainly more fashionable than the average pensioner's headwear! Indeed, these unusual colours give the plant the alternative name of Aquilegia 'Magpie' and you will certainly want to collect several of these hardy perennials which are attractive to beneficial garden insects such as bees and butterflies. After it has flowered in the late spring, the green foliage and appealing seedheads of Aquilegia 'William Guinness' remain an attractive addition to sunny or partially shady gardens throughout the season.
The tropical blooms of Lily 'Primrose Hill' are simply breath-taking! Enormous, gleaming white flowers are streaked with pale gold, each petal boasting a pale lilac edge. This tall tree lily makes a majestic focal point in the garden ? its stems reaching
This vigorous hosta is one of the most striking cultivars with its white-margined foliage. Throughout mid-summer spikes of trumpet-like lavender-coloured flowers appear. Ideally suited to lightly-shaded locations around the garden and moist soil, it makes useful ground cover, however protect from slugs to maintain a good-looking plant. Ht. 60cm, spread 1m. Supplied as a mature plant in a 2 litre pot.