A superb prostrate form of Heather with lime green foliage that turns incredible bright golden-yellow, literally glowing, as the weather begins to warm. Erica carnea f. alba 'Golden Starlet' has been awarded a prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, undoubtedly because of its unique, neat, compact habit and pretty white, urn-shaped flowers from February to April. With good tolerance to any soil conditions, whether that be acid or alkaline, together with its ability to withstand sun or part-shade, this Heather is a very versatile addition to any garden environment. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 45cm (18).
Treat your garden to this deep burgundy foliage bonanza that is 'Crimson Curls', the leaves are deeply lobed and very curly (an ideal partner to Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade' and 'Peach Flambé', also available). From May to July wiry sprays of little white flowers emerge. Great in sun or shade locations, preferring moist soil. Ht. 30cm, spread 45cm. Supplied in a 2 litre pot.
Hostas are one of the better known shade-loving plants, they thrive where many other plants would struggle and even succumb to the adverse conditions. Hosta fortunei 'Albomarginata' will be very happy in moist, damp, dark areas but dry shade isn't a problem too. The bold, colourful leaves have deep ridges and a creamy white edge and form a backdrop to the spikes of flowers which emerge in summer. The plants are robust, clump forming and easy to maintain. Height: 55cm (22). Spread: 100cm (39).
Hosta undulata var. undulata or 'Mediovariegata' is an RHS AGM winning hardy perennial that strikes a rare balance between flowers and foliage. In July and August, its lavender-blue, funnel-shaped blooms look stunning on their tall stems, particularly when the plant is featured in a patio container or at the front of a border. However, the leaves over which they tower are equally attractive, with a creamy-white centre and an unusual, twisted growth habit. This foliage also provides good groundcover in cottage and woodland gardens. Indeed, to achieve the brightest colours, a shady setting with plenty of trees is an ideal setting for this understated Plantain Lily. Height: 45cm (1'6). Spread: 45cm (1'6).
Damp, dry or shaded areas are not the ideal place for a great many plants but Hostas are the ideal solution. They are easy to grow and will provide ground cover in the shaded border or you can make a feature of them in a container if you have areas of the patio that don't catch the sun. Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans is clump forming and has strong blue-green foliage with deep ridges that give texture to the display and during the summer months you can expect stems of pale lilac flowers too. The Giant Blue Hosta is a worthy RHS Award of Garden Merit holder and is the perfect plant for moist, damp, dark borders or difficult, dry shady borders.. Height: 100cm (39). Spread: 120cm (48).
Erigeron seciosus 'Pink Jewel' produces semi-double, bright pink daisy flowers from May to July, adding a burst of summer colour to your garden. This tough little variety performs reliably year after year, even thriving in difficult coastal locations. This Fleabane is perfect for scattering throughout a rockery or for filling gaps at the front of a perennial border, as well as making superb cut flowers. The early summer blooms will also help to bring pollinating insects to your garden.
With seemingly hundreds of deep blue blooms on enormous flower heads, Agapanthus 'Regal Beauty' is a showy, evergreen perennial that makes a real feature plant for borders and patio containers. It quickly forms large clumps of strap-shaped leaves, which are followed by flowers in late summer. This African Lily is best grown in a sheltered and sunny position, and requires some winter protection, but adds a wonderful exotic feel to your garden. Height: 1m (39). Spread: 50cm (20).
Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' bears stunning flower spikes all around the stem and is guaranteed to bloom in its first year of planting, maintaining a colourful appearance in your garden over many years. This delightful F1 hybrid Digitalis is the perfect choice for brightening up your cottage garden border. Height: 120cm (48). Spread: 45cm (18).
Pretty coppery-red petals form an elegant skirt around spherical brown centres. Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty', also known as Sneezeweed, is an upright herbaceous perennial which blooms throughout summer and is great for bringing late season colour to the garden. This RHS AGM variety looks stunning grown with Asters, Rudbeckia and ornamental grasses for a prairie style theme, or makes a warm addition to cottage garden borders. Hardy and reliable, Heleniums flowers are also excellent for cutting. Height: 90cm (36). Spread: 60cm (24).
Geranium oxonianum 'Claridge Druce' is a clump-forming, evergreen Geranium bearing a succession of rose pink flowers from late spring to autumn. This hardy Geranium has a particularly vigorous spreading habit, and so is useful as a weed-suppressing ground cover. Pollinating insects love its nectar-rich blooms, and ?Claridge Druce? is a well-known variety that will happily self-seed, forming new clumps throughout your borders in coming years.
Hollyhocks are heirloom cottage garden perennials, well-loved for saucer-shaped blooms that attract butterflies and make a dramatic cut flower. Hollyhock 'Chater's Double Mixed' delivers architectural spires of ruffled, doubled blooms, which add height and structure to summer borders and provide a riot of colour. The edible flowers of Alcea rosea ?Chater?s Doubles? can even be added to salads for an attractive, tasty treat.
A popular herbaceous perennial, Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria' has dramatic purple-black leaves and tall contrasting spikes of vibrant red flowers from late summer through to autumn. Preferring a damp spot in the garden, Cardinal Flower is ideal for bringing late season colour to herbaceous borders and pond-side plantings, and the flaming red colour adds an exotic touch to the garden. Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria' has been awarded an RHS AGM for its superb garden performance.
Cornus canadensis or Creeping Dogwood can be planted in woodland gardens to prevent weeds from growing at the base of other, larger shrubs. It provides equally good ground cover in sunny borders, where its small, white flowers will stand out against rosettes of green, oval leaves in the late spring and early summer. These cross-shaped blooms are succeeded by scarlet berries, making the hardy perennial a colourful and practical choice of plant. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 1m (3'3).