Attracts Wildlife

A particularly enchanting and detailed Hellebore, 'Double Ellen Pink Spotted' offers intricate beauty for the late winter garden. Like its siblings in the 'Double Ellen' series, it produces large, gorgeous, fully double flowers that nod gracefully from strong stems. The base colour of the ruffled, layered petals is a soft, creamy pink. Each petal is then exquisitely decorated with a fine freckling of deep, magenta-purple spots, with the spotting often being more concentrated towards the centre of the bloom. This creates a wonderfully detailed and captivating effect. The leathery, dark green foliage is evergreen, providing a handsome backdrop for the flowers and year-round garden presence. This variety is perfect for a special spot in a shady border or a container where its unique, speckled beauty can be admired up close.

A truly charming and beautiful Hellebore, 'Double Ellen Pink' is celebrated for its romantic, fully double flowers that bring a soft flush of colour to the garden at the end of winter. Each large, downward-nodding bloom is packed with layers of ruffled petals in a lovely shade of clear, soft pink. The colour is pure and gentle, without any heavy veining or spotting, giving the plant a very elegant and refined appearance. The flowers are held on strong stems above the handsome, evergreen foliage, creating a beautiful display for many weeks from late winter into spring. This variety is perfect for adding a touch of gentle colour to shady corners, woodland gardens, or containers, where its early blooms can be appreciated up close. It is a reliable and graceful performer that is sure to win hearts.

A truly sophisticated and beautiful Lenten Rose, 'Double Ellen Green' is prized for its unique and elegant flowers. In late winter and early spring, it produces large, exquisite, fully double blooms. The flowers are composed of many layers of ruffled petals in a gorgeous shade of fresh, chartreuse or lime-green. Some flowers may have subtle, deeper green veining or a fine picotee edge of reddish-purple, adding to their complexity and charm. The nodding or outward-facing blooms are held on strong stems above handsome clumps of leathery, evergreen foliage. It brings a cool, refined elegance to the shady garden at a time when colour is scarce and provides a vital nectar source for early-pollinating insects. A must-have for any hellebore enthusiast or woodland garden.

A fiery and compact variety of Blanket Flower, 'Kobold' (which is German for Goblin) is a tough, reliable, and exceptionally long-flowering perennial. It forms a neat, low mound of grey-green, lance-shaped leaves. From early summer right through to the first frosts, it produces a continuous supply of vibrant, daisy-like flowers. Each bloom is a dramatic bi-colour, with flame-red petals that are tipped with brilliant, golden-yellow. The prominent, reddish-brown central cone is also attractive. This is a shorter, more compact version of the species, making it ideal for the front of a hot, sunny border or for container planting without the need for staking. It thrives on neglect and is extremely drought-tolerant, making it a superb choice for a low-maintenance garden.

The ultimate red Oriental Poppy, 'Beauty of Livermere' is a truly magnificent and dramatic perennial that commands attention. It produces enormous, single, bowl-shaped flowers, up to 20cm (8 inches) across, with huge, silky petals of the most intense, pure, blood-red. The sheer vibrancy and size of the blooms are breathtaking. At the base of each petal is a large, jet-black blotch, which creates a bold and dramatic central eye. This is contrasted beautifully by a boss of purplish-black stamens. The flowers are held high on strong, bristly stems above a substantial clump of coarse, hairy, grey-green leaves. It puts on its unforgettable, flamboyant display in early summer before entering its summer dormancy. For a splash of pure, unadulterated drama, no other poppy can compare.

A tough, resilient, and charming evergreen perennial, Thrift or Sea Pink is a familiar sight in coastal areas. 'Splendens' is a particularly fine selection, forming neat, dense, tussock-like cushions of fine, grassy, deep green foliage. From late spring into early summer, these tidy mounds are topped by a profusion of slender, leafless stems, each carrying a perfect, globe-shaped flower head. The flowers are a vibrant, deep rose-pink and are held well above the foliage, creating a delightful 'drumstick' effect. This plant is incredibly tolerant of salt spray, wind, and poor, sandy soils, making it an essential plant for coastal gardens. It is also perfect for rockeries, gravel gardens, or for edging a sunny, well-drained border, where it will provide long-lasting colour with minimal fuss.

Crocus chrysanthus 'Gipsy Girl' is a bright early-spring species crocus with golden-yellow goblet flowers and distinctive bronze-brown striping across the outer petals. The markings are especially striking while the flowers are closed, before the warm yellow centres open in sunshine.

Compact, fully hardy and easy to naturalise, it is an excellent choice for gravel gardens, lawns, the front of borders and containers. Plant in generous groups for the strongest late-winter and early-spring display.

• Flower colour: Golden yellow with bronze-brown outer striping
• Form: Cup shaped
• Best for: Naturalising, rockeries, borders and containers
• Pollinator friendly: Yes
• Growing skill: Easy