These flowers open very early, between February and April, displaying short conical spikes of deep blue flowers, that hang to one side of the stem and which gradually expand as the spike extends, so that after flowering has finished the spike may be eight inches tall. It is ideal outside in a well-drained sunny spot and excellent in a pot or under glass where you can enjoy much earlier flowers and the wonderful scent. ... Learn More

Although this exceptional, rarely-seen plant has a name that tells us that it is the scilla that looks like a scilla, which is true, it is somehow not very helpful. Feathery, neat spikes, packed with pale mauve-pink flowers, open above rich green, glossy, strap-shaped grassy blades in late summer. Yes, late summer! How many scillas bloom in any season other than spring? This attractive, bone hardy, easy-to-grow plant, is yet another that will stump your gardening friends. Few good seeds collected. ... Learn More

Narrow strap-shaped leaves and pale stems bear short racemes holding nodding, bowl-shaped, ivory-white flowers. It is native to south western Russia, the Caucasus, and Turkey, and strangely, despite its name, it is not native to Siberia. It is completely hardy and if you need something to cover ground or a rockery it has a tendency to spread, both by bulb offshoots and self-seeding. A worthy RHS AGM winner ... Learn More

These delicate, short-stemmed plants opens their star-like palest blue flowers with deep blue stamens, from March to August, but they are usually at their best in April and May, and are usually found in the wild on dry, grassy slopes. In cultivation they make perfect plants for low grass in shade or on a moist rockery. The plant occurs from Portugal north through Spain, France, Great Britain and Ireland. ... Learn More

This truly amazing plant, slowly creeping along like a dense and solid green rippling carpet, produces wonderful shapes and forms. Although related to our pinks and carnations, it is reputed to be the only Australian alpine totally hardy in the UK. ... Learn More

Probably the most diminutive, slow-growing and intriguing, ground covering plant one can grow. In early summer, the prostrate, slowly-creeping cushion makes tiny half inch stems which carry one golden seed each, whilst any weeds in its path are stifled. A gorgeous substitute for a miniature lawn or even in a bonsai garden ... Learn More

Open flowers with rays of purple flowers adorn this low-growing perennial, and are followed by lovely fluffy seed heads reminiscent of dandelion clocks. A charming addition to a rock garden or container display in well drained soil and a sunny location, where it will provide plenty of interest throughout the summer, and gently self-seed if lucky. ... Learn More

Clusters of strong-smelling yellow flowers are shown on a sturdy erect stem amid elaborately-edged deeply veined leaves not dissimilar to the common nettle. More commonly found on the European mainland, this unusual looking plant likes to stand in shade and once established is likely to pop up places you might not expect to find it. To add to its bizarre and interesting features, this is also one of the few plants to be pollinated by wasps. ... Learn More

This most attractive, drought-resistant dwarf alpine makes a very low mound of radiating stems each of which is clad lengthwise with long-snouted yellow snapdragons. A perfect plant for the front of the rockery or in a small pot. ... Learn More

Non-invasive clumps of small blue and white "snapdragons" in close packed spikes. An easy trouble free plant to grow, which will spread slowly by self-seeding. ... Learn More

One of the fifty fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, this low growing perennial has spear-shaped leaves and stems spreading along the ground which then turn upwards at the tips. A quite spectacular plant, it bears dense sprays of sizeable, hairy, tubular, bluish-purple helmet-shaped flowers, which are produced in summer. ... Learn More

Dark blue trumpet-shaped flowers are held on upright stems over a mass of tiny lanceolate deeply veined leaves. This is an excellent plant to occupy a corner in a rock garden, or for solo display in a container and will appreciate well drained soil in a sunny position. ... Learn More

Startlingly gentian-blue flower open on this bright, drought-tolerant gem that comes not just from the Havana area of Cuba but also the rocky pinelands of the Caribbean area, including South Florida. This dazzling blue "Skullcap" is a dependable choice for well-drained locations in full to part sun. Once you have planted it, it will cheerfully spread around and reseed itself in a localized area, and should never be invasive, so some will always return, even after you think it's gone. ... Learn More

From the dry mountains of Iran comes this dwarf gem. Upwards-pointing, pale blue-violet tipped white flowers open from June until August on short stems above compact clumps of foliage. It is definitely a non-running plant and possibly one for the alpine house as it does self-seed. ... Learn More

Securinega suffruticosa is a deciduous shrub growing to 1.5m. It flowers from Aug to Sept, and the seeds ripen from Sep to Oct. The flowers are dioecious, individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant, so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The plant is not self-fertile. This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism,(USE AT OWN RISK) where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs where it is used in the treatment of contusions and nervous paralysis. ... Learn More