
Salvia glutinosa
One of the few primrose-coloured salvias, medium height and prefers part shade. Combines well with perennials in the summer border or between roses.
The true "bleeding heart", for well drained soil in a protected shady garden, native to China. Protect emerging shoots in early spring from pets and snails, cut back after flowering for a second flush of growth.
The true "bleeding heart", for well drained soil in a protected shady garden, native to China. Protect emerging shoots in early spring from pets and snails, cut back after flowering for a second flush of growth.
Data sheet
One of the few primrose-coloured salvias, medium height and prefers part shade. Combines well with perennials in the summer border or between roses.
I spotted this dwarf poker in the UK years ago, where I was struck by its compact form and abundant hot-orange pokers. It is winter dormant and makes a good grassy mound of leaves when not in flower.
Old fashioned variety from Dennis Norgate with double red fragrant flowers, strong bushy grower with long enough stems to pick, without being fragile like many of the modern carnation varieties.
An interesting variety which changes its foliage coloration throughout the season. Leaves begin as green then gradually turn golden in autumn with attractive red tints. Best in a dry rock garden or pot.
Native to Mexico where it is now extinct in the wild. Otherwise known as chocolate cosmos, the flowers have a scent like chocolate. Best in fertile, well drained soil in a perennial border.
Perennial verbena, more leafy and bushy than Verbena bonariensis, a good summer border plant with rich colour. Cut back foliage to avoid harbouring mildew in autumn.
A branching form of Russells lupin with white and cream flowers. Provide good drainage and dry off in summer, looks wonderful with white roses.
Upright evergreen ornamental grass, close relative to 'Karl Forester', however with cream and green linear markings on each leaf. Useful for variation of visual texture in grass plantings, attractive upright seedheads.
Lower growing to waist high with soft foliage and improved autumn colour, one of the better panicums. A nicely clumping contained grass that looks good in groups amongst echinacea and summer perennials, wont self seed and lasts a long time. However needs decent fertile soil to flourish.
Semi double almost black from our own breeding, vigorous and strong grower compared to others. Gravelly soil and full sun with some lime.
One of the best deciduous geraniums with rich purple violet flowers and large palmate foliage,very long lived and forms a good sized 60cm across clump. Loves fertility and prefers heavier soil type, not in pots. Flowers in summer, after the early season geraniums.
An Hosta sieboldiana selection with large, very blue leaves. An excellent bedding or specimen plant for under deciduous trees with Helleborus.
Old fashioned perennial flowering in summer, with cobalt blue spikes and ground covering habit. Easy amongst geraniums, Dianthus, and helianthemums.
Leafy plant from saxifragaceae family, useful for ground cover in dry shade where acanthus and euphorbia can take over. Good drainage and neutral to alkaline soils preferred.
Fantastic perennial unlike anything else. Large yellow sombrero-shaped daisies on 1.8 metre stems with large blue grey leaves. Focal point for the back of a mixed border or a feature in a prairie garden.
Evergreen rosette-forming penstemon with a tidy appearance and tall spikes of apricot flowers from summer to autumn.
The true "bleeding heart", for well drained soil in a protected shady garden, native to China. Protect emerging shoots in early spring from pets and snails, cut back after flowering for a second flush of growth.