In early summer strong erect stems display heads of stunning, brilliant orange flowers which bloom for many weeks, making it a constantly-producing amazing cut flower. A protected location such as close to a south or west facing wall is preferable, where it is capable of freezing to the ground in extreme cold, and then re-growing vigorously, and still blooming in late spring to early summer! Rich, well-drained soil with regular summer moisture will ensure constant flowering, but if allowed to go completely dry in summer, just as with other watsonias, it will die back, returning with the firs ... Learn More

A rare and seldom-seen plant, native to the Albanian Alps, forming a stunning low evergreen rosette of long shiny leaves, with crinkled or scalloped edges. Taller stems arise, bearing spikes of sizeable, deep-blue tubular flowers during the summer. To thrive it is imperative that it has a rich and gritty soil that stays evenly moist. This unique and protected plant is endemic to the Gartnerkofel mountain of the Carnic Alps on the Austrian-Italian border where it was discovered in 1779 by Franz Xaver von Wulfen, after whom it is named. ... Learn More

A rarely-seen or offered scarcity, clusters of star-shaped purple flowers top a reed-like stem in the spring. Does best in full sun but thrives in a damp environment and will tolerate up to 5mm of water above the soil. A good pond marginal, it can tolerate some frost but prefers protection from severe conditions. ... Learn More

A rare and extremely beautiful plant bearing disproportionately large flowers which vary in the wild from pink to rose-purple. The leaves are long, spathulate, coarsely-toothed, and densely hairy, whilst the short stems are covered with an attractive grey-white downy pubescence. In the wild it is strictly protected and occurs in small populations in Colorado (western counties) and Wyoming (south-central counties) where the plant's existence is threatened, and where it grows in sub-alpine and alpine meadows. These very few fertile seeds were collected from un-hybridised, alpine-house and garde ... Learn More

Another member of the lovely Rain Lily clan, this variety produces slightly smaller than usual, gloriously bright yellow, star-shaped, upward-looking flowers, above grass-like foliage that will not crowd out neighbouring plants. It performs best in full sun and will tolerate poor soil. ... Learn More

White flowers, varyingly marked with thin red lines, open on tiny stems over unobtrusive, thin, thread-like foliage. Despite its small scale and size this vigorous plant grows well in almost any well-drained, fertile soil with a dry summer rest. Re-wetting in autumn will also produce new flowers. The miniature scale of this uncommon species from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is amazing, and it might do best in a trough or small pot where you are able to appreciate its beauty. ... Learn More

This quite exquisite plant has broad, overlapping, soft pink, upwards facing, starry flowers with yellow stamens and a tiny white throat. Native to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala, in the wild these flowers appear several times a year, especially after rain. The main display, in August-September, when the density of flowers almost makes its narrow foliage invisible, is quite fantastic. ... Learn More

This bizarre but lovely plant has white lily-like flowers, and two-pronged, greenish-yellow glands on each petal. Although it bears grass-like leaves, it is not a true grass, but surprisingly belongs to the trillium family, Melanthiaceae and has a wide distribution throughout North America ... Learn More

Zizia aurea is one of those natives that every garden should have. It is fairly easy to grow and, although short-lived, will self-seed and persist in many sun/soil situations. Zizia is an important plant to a number of short-tongued insects that are able to easily reach the nectar in the small yellow flowers. Golden Alexanders have a long bloom time, giving the garden some well-deserved early color for several weeks in late spring to early summer when many other plants have not yet flowered. Also called Golden Zizia, Golden Alexanders will tolerate a lot of shade but prefer full sun or lig ... Learn More