This pretty and rarely-seen high alpine plant makes small cushions of needle-shaped leaves with white, starry flowers on thin delicate stems. It thrives in the harshest of conditions often on almost bare rocky outcrops and serpentine soils, which harbour a distinct and unique flora rich in endemics. Minuartia laricifolia has two ecologically distinct subspecies with disjunct distributions. Subsp. laricifolia on siliceous rocks in the western Alps and eastern Pyrenees, and subsp. ophiolitica on serpentine in the northern Apennines. Few seeds collected. ... Learn More

A delicate and lovely woodland or shade area plant. This distant relative of saxifrages has tiny, fringed brown and green flowers on delicate stems over rosettes of dark green kidney-shaped leaves. Will self-seed in shady spots. ... Learn More

This rare and strikingly attractive, strongly aromatic plant, comes from the mountains of central and southern Europe and bears jaggedly cut, glossy green foliage, and creamy umbels turning lime green. In late spring it produces large numbers of yellowish-white, sweetly fragrant flowers, which in turn form large, intriguing heads of sizeable, twisted seeds.... And yes, what a brilliant name! ... Learn More

An exceptionally choice and rare dwarf plant with pink buds opening to deepest violet-blue flowers. Stems bear oblong-lance-shaped, linear leaves which are dark blue-green above and white beneath. One of the best-ever alpine house and show plants, this fabulous miniature semi-evergreen sub-shrub originates from the mountains of Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. ... Learn More

This fast growing annual or biennial is very attractive to bees and butterflies. It is a clump forming plant putting out several thin stems from the centre, each adorned with multiple powder-puff flowers in shades of white, pink and purple arranged in whorls along its length. Resembling oregano in appearance, it is a stalwart of the herb garden but is equally at home dotted through the herbaceous border. When crushed, the leaves release a lemon-like scent. ... Learn More

Whorls of purple pollinator attracting flowers sit upon aromatic foliage. A perennial plant sometimes grown as an annual. Also known as Bee Balm which, as the name suggests, attract bees en masse. Easy to grow but we recommend a sunny position with good ventilation and airflow with moderate moisture. ... Learn More

Clusters of cup-shaped magenta flowers open in summer, above compact rosettes of narrow, lance-shaped, hairy, gray-green leaves. This is an ideal subject for the rock garden or scree, and makes an excellent container plant for the patio, as this compact, mound-forming perennial is often grown as an annual! ... Learn More

This rare, hardy, exceedingly choice African mountain plant produces large, quite exquisite, iris-like flowers in a rich shade of cream with delicate markings and blotches whilst the few, thick, leathery leaves constantly discard bizarre brown web-like netting! ... Learn More

A valuable find from the South African mountains. Large, iris-like, bright yellow flowers held well above the thin strap-like leaves, but these are different from other moraeas as you will agreeably discover when you smell the overwhelming perfume! ... Learn More

With a fair resemblance to Moraea huttonii, large, iris-like, bright yellow flowers are held well above the thin strap-like leaves, but once again these are different from other moraeas as you will agreeably discover when you smell the sweet perfume! A valuable find from the South African mountains. Few seeds collected. ... Learn More

Some moraeas can be a challenge to grow, but not this dazzling one. A very drought tolerant species, this is long-blooming, vigorous, and gets bigger and stronger every year here in a well-drained corner of our African garden, bearing large, deep blue to violet, iris-like flowers with yellow nectar guides, on strong stems. It is equally happy whether in a pot or in a rockery. ... Learn More

From the mountains of South Africa comes this exotic, spectacular but hardy iris relative. Only one whippy strap-like leaf appears,but the strong erect stem produces a long succession of large, brilliant yellow, orchid-like flowers throughout early summer. Challenge your friends to name it. ... Learn More

These unusual plants flower without a leaf, displaying blue-violet flowers with yellow-orange nectar guides on the outer tepals. They will do best in a warm scree or rock garden, or even better in a pot where they will have perfect drainage and somewhere sheltered where you can enjoy them! ... Learn More

In late spring flowers of matt yellow-brown are suffused with blue and purple, the falls having a yellow spotted basal patch. One of the most versatile plants around, this African native can tolerate virtually any soil conditions from drought to moist soil and requires little maintenance. From the South-western Cape, it usually bears more than two leaves, the spiky foliage adding perfect texture and interest to formal settings and blooms are produced over a long season through the spring and summer. ... Learn More

A rare, exquisite, and long-lived Nepalese plant. A stout rosette of thistle-like foliage (but no relation) pushes up strong stems from which radiate leafy branchlets producing exotic, almost orchid-like, flared white flowers, which turn to bright pink inside after pollination. It will repeat flower from early summer until the frost, especially if dead-headed. A superb, hardy and valuable plant. ... Learn More