Attracts Wildlife

Dahlia 'Honka Pink' brings starry orchid-style blooms in clear pink to summer borders and cutting gardens, with bold flowerheads held on sturdy stems. Whether planted in drifts or dotted through mixed beds, the blooms add instant impact and keep coming through the warm months.

Once established, this clump-forming dahlia typically reaches 60–70 cm, producing plenty of long stems for cutting. Regular picking and deadheading encourages a steady succession of flowers from midsummer into autumn.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, or plant outside once the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and enrich the planting area with compost for best results.

Water during dry spells, especially while buds form, and feed every two to three weeks through the flowering period. Taller plants benefit from discreet staking, and removing faded blooms keeps the plant productive and tidy.

Perfect for borders, patio pots and cutting gardens, dahlias are also pollinator-friendly in single-flowered forms. Lift and store the tubers after the first frosts in colder areas to enjoy an even better display the following year.

Allium stipitatum 'White Giant' brings a poised, architectural note to late spring borders—tall, confident stems topped with dense, starry white spheres that float above fresh green foliage. It is a quietly glamorous choice for contemporary planting schemes and classic cottage-style gardens alike, and it cuts beautifully for arrangements.

Plant in autumn in a sunny, well-drained position and allow the bulbs to naturalise into handsome clumps. As the flower heads rise in May and June, they provide an elegant vertical accent among perennials and grasses, while also offering welcome interest to pollinators.

• Colour & form: star-shaped white flowers in rounded heads
• Height: 110–150cm; a refined, statuesque presence
• Where it shines: borders, pots, and as a cut flower

Triteleia ‘Queen Fabiola’ is a quietly glamorous choice for early summer: slender stems topped with neat, starry blooms in a refined violet-blue, each flower finishing in a subtle trumpet tip. Light on its feet and wonderfully composed, it slips beautifully into pots and sunny borders, and makes a particularly graceful cut flower.

Plant the bulbs in spring, allow them to establish, and you’ll be rewarded with poised clumps that return year after year. Best in a sheltered position with well-drained, sandy soil, it is an easy-going bulb with a distinctly elegant presence.

• Colour: Violet-blue
• Flowering: June–July
• Height: 40–60cm
• Perfect for: Containers, cutting, pollinator-friendly planting

Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (best known as ‘Autumn Joy’) is an iconic late-season perennial that brings structure and changing colour to the garden just as other summer flowers begin to fade. It is prized for its succulent foliage and long-lasting flower heads.

The plant forms a sturdy, upright clump of fleshy, glaucous green leaves. Large, flat flower heads emerge in summer like broccoli florets, starting pale green, turning starry pink, and finally maturing to a rich rusty-red and copper in autumn.

Plant in full sun to prevent the stems from becoming leggy, in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. This variety is exceptionally drought-tolerant and performs brilliantly in sandy or rocky soils where other plants might struggle.

Water sparingly once established; this plant resents "wet feet" and over-feeding, which can cause it to flop. Leave the dried flower heads on the plant over winter—they look beautiful frosted and provide shelter for insects before being cut back in early spring.

A brilliant choice for extending the season, ‘Autumn Joy’ provides vital nectar for late-flying butterflies and bees. It looks spectacular planted in groups or alongside ornamental grasses and purple Asters for a classic autumn display.

Narcissus 'Avalanche' is a beautifully mannered daffodil, carrying generous clusters of small blooms—crisp white petals poised around a neat yellow cup, with a light, pleasing scent. It is particularly elegant threaded through the front of borders, tucked beneath deciduous shrubs, or gathered in pots by the door for a refined spring welcome.

Flowering reliably from March to May and reaching around 35cm, it forms tidy clumps over time and looks wonderfully at home in both traditional cottage planting and smarter city courtyards. Plant in autumn and allow it to settle; the display improves year on year.

• Colour: White with yellow
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 35cm
• Bulb size supplied: 12/14cm
• Best for: borders, containers and underplanting

Canna 'Mixed Colours' brings a bold, tropical feel to summer planting, with a cheerful mix of yellow, orange, red and coral tones flowers held above lush, paddle-like foliage. It’s perfect for patio pots and sunny borders where you want instant impact from midsummer into autumn. Their broad leaves also add a strong, architectural texture even before the first flowers open.

Fast-growing and dramatic, cannas create height and structure in mixed planting, often reaching about 50–70cm. They look brilliant with dahlias, salvias and ornamental grasses, and the strong stems help fill gaps in new borders.

For the best display, start rhizomes into pots in spring and grow on somewhere warm and bright. Plant outside once the risk of frost has passed, in a sheltered spot in full sun or light shade, and firm the soil well. Space plants so each clump can expand.

Cannas love rich, moisture-retentive soil and regular watering. Keep compost evenly moist in containers and feed every few weeks through summer to support flower production. Mulching the ground helps conserve moisture and keeps roots cool in hot spells.

When autumn frosts blacken the foliage, cut stems back and lift the rhizomes to store frost-free over winter in barely moist compost. Replant next spring after the last frosts and you’ll be back to tropical colour, lush leaves and fresh blooms.

Narcissus 'Bridal Crown' is a quietly luxurious double daffodil, cherished for its creamy-white blooms warmed with soft yellow and, most notably, its delicious fragrance. Flowering through mid-spring, it brings a refined brightness to borders, gravel gardens and smart pots by the front door—equally lovely gathered for a simple, scented vase indoors.

• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 50cm
• Best for: Borders, containers and cutting gardens
• Character: Double flowers, beautifully scented

Plant in generous drifts for a classic spring display, or tuck into containers where the perfume can be enjoyed at close quarters. As a fully hardy perennial, it will return each year, building into a handsome, clump-forming presence with time.

Allium 'Silver Spring' brings a composed, architectural note to the late-spring border. Each tall stem is topped with a crisp white globe, the individual florets finished with a subtle purple‑pink eye—fresh, modern, and quietly striking among grasses, perennials and shrubs.

Equally at home threading through a cottage scheme or punctuating gravel planting, it also makes a refined cut flower, holding its form beautifully in arrangements. Plant in autumn and allow it to settle; by its second season it will be hitting its stride.

• Flower colour: white with soft pink‑purple detailing
• Best for: borders, gravel gardens, naturalising and cutting
• Style notes: elegant globes for height and structure without heaviness