With trademark large flowers and long lance shaped leaves Epimedium grandiflorum is a deciduous to semi deciduous species depending on the zone, and the coldness of the winter. The flowers are spurred and appear from late spring to early summer.…
This is an evergreen Epimedium with bronze tinted heart shaped foliage and small yellow star shaped flowers during spring. Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’ is suitable for use as a border plant and is often grown in partial shade beneath deciduous…
This interesting Chinese species, Epimedium acuminatum comes in a number of forms, the one we have growing has purple and white flowers. We actually consider this to be one of the best species for flowers that we grow at present.…
Epimedium koreanum is closely related to Epimedium Grandiflora. So it should really be called Epimedium grandiflorum ssp. koreanum. This is also one of a number of species known as ‘Horny Goat Weed’ or ‘Yin Yang Huo’, although this does seem…
Call them what you will Epimedium, Barrenwort or Bishop’s Hat, Epimediums are a plant that are wonderful shade loving plants. With around 20 species available for sale in the USA, plus many hybrids, the variety offered by specialist growers grows…
The Abyssinian Banana or Ensete ventricosum is used in landscaping for its ornamental foliage. Tolerant of much cooler climates than species such as ‘mussa’ makes this an ideal plant to help create a ‘tropical look’ in the garden. Originating from…
Echium are used as an ornamental plant in gardens around the world. However not all species are garden worthy with some being regarded as weeds (E. plantagineum). Originally from North Africa, Southern Africa, Europe, the Canary Islands and Madeira, hence…
If you are looking for a standout plant for a dry area in the garden Echinops ritro ‘Veitches Blue’ is one to consider. Echinops ritro is the most widely grown species, magnificent steely blue flowers in summer on a tall…
Echinacea are known as ‘purple cone flower’ however these plants do come in purple as well as white and yellow (yellow is difficult to find). They are native to the USA, particularly the eastern and central regions. Blooming in late…
Dymondia margaretae is an excellent ground cover plant originally from South Africa. A member of the daisy family with attractive foliage and yellow daisy like flowers, this is perhaps the toughest of the genus. A slow spreading low growing ground…
Doryopteris cordata or ‘Antenna Fern’ is a small growing tropical to sub tropical fern suited to grow in pots or containers. The foliage is tiered with the lower foliage being a mound of compact fleshy leaves with the ‘Antenna’ being…
Also known as Leopard Bane, Doronicum are an early flowering perennial with bright yellow, daisy like flowers. Foliage is a good mid to deep green with the flowers appearing above it in spring. Although these plants will grow well in…
Dierama plants, species and cultivars are readily available for sale online, including plants such as Dierama pulcherrimum, reynoldsii and guinevere which are all clump forming perennials that grow from corms. Originally from South Africa they are reasonably drought tolerant once…
Brazilian Ginger or ‘Blue Ginger’ is a Dichorisandra thyrsiflora is a tropical to sub tropical plant grown mainly for is blue flowers. Attractive glossy dark green foliage and a good upright habit, the flowers form as terminal clusters in fall.…
The Bleeding Heart Plant One of the ‘must have’ plants for semi shade or a woodland garden is Lamprocapnos spectabilis the ‘Bleeding heart Plant’, a very showy perennial for moist areas in part shade. And yes you will also find…
A varied group of plants Dianthus include what we call carnations, however these versatile plants have a lot more to offer the gardener than florists flowers. Varieties such as Dianthus gratianopolitanus or ‘Cheddar Pink’ have an interesting history, the name…
Although Delphiniums are sometimes characterised as blue flowering giants, many other colors are available. Easily grown from seed, these wonderful plants are best suited to cooler zones. Also known as Larkspur. These highly hybridised plants with tall flower spikes, especially…
Wonderful landscaping plants, Cycads are grown for the foliage, the texture that they add to the garden, as well as the large decorative flowers or fruit that will appear on mature specimens. They are actually fairly easy to grow given…
How to Grow Corydalis Spring flowering corydalis with bright flowers are an excellent plant for shaded areas. They are a large group of woodland plants, ferny foliage and related to the bleeding heart plant, so similar growing conditions. Some species,…
Also known as Tickseed, Coreopsis is a long flowering plant that is known for its ability to thrive in poor soils as well as being drought tolerant. Finely cut foliage with flowers from early summer to fall. Masses of sunny…
You can call them Chrysanths, ‘Mums or Chysanthemums, any gardener will know what you are talking about. Wonderful flowers in fall, easy care and you can make even make Chrysanthemum tea. One of the all time garden favourite plants are…
The beauty of Cosmos is that is such a prolific flowering plant. Flowers come in a range of colours, and the fine ferny foliage is attractive as well. The two common varieties are “Cosmos sulphureus” and “Cosmos bipinnatus” and these…
Ceratostigma willmottianum – The Chinese Plumbago With lots of cultivars around, Ceratostigma willmottianum is a wonderful low maintenance plant. Masses of blue flowers from spring through summer and good fall color. This is a frost hardy plant that has the…
Cardamine are a native to Europe through to Asia. Cardamine are a woodland plant with Cardamine quinquefolia and Cardamine enneaphylla the two most widely used species in the garden. Not all Cardamines are recieved well by gardeners, some are a…
Commonly called ‘Bellflowers’ Campanula are a varied group of plants perhaps best known for the ‘Canterbury Bells’ which are Campanula medium. However their is more to this wonderful group of plants than one species. And although some flowers are indeed…
Campanula ‘Birch Hybrid’ (dwarf bellflower) is low growing evergreen campanula growing to only 18cm (6″) high. Sometime referred to as the ‘Siberian Bellflower’ this is a plant that blooms profusely, and for such a small plant it offers value for…
If we say a plant is called Brunnera macrophylla many gardeners would shake their heads. However if we say Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, pictured right, then most will know exactly what we are talking about. As with many plants it is…
With daisy like flowers, in late in fall Boltonia asteroides comes to the fore in the garden. Five species in the Boltonia genus they are native to New England the eastern USA. The species and the cultivars differ greatly with…
With large glossy green leaves, Bergenia also have attractive flowers that rise above the foliage in spring. these wonderful plants are anything but gray and dull. The leaves are large, rounded and leathery, the plant is evergreen in most climates,…
Belamcanda chinensis is known as the Leopard Lily and is the only species in the genus. Attractive orange flowers spotted with crimson give it the name. Also known as the ‘freckle face lily’ and the ‘Blackberry Lily’ it hase recently…
