Attracts Wildlife

Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) 'Hollandia' is a quietly dramatic classic—velvety scarlet blooms, a crisp pale halo, and that unmistakable dark, inky eye. Perfectly poised at the front of a sunny border, and equally handsome in pots where you can admire the detail up close.

Plant in autumn for a refined early-spring display, then enjoy generous stems for cutting—beautiful slipped into small vases, or gathered into a more abundant arrangement with tulips and ranunculus.

• Flower colour: Red with white centre and dark (purple-black) eye
• Form: Bowl-shaped flowers on neat, clump-forming growth
• Best for: Pots & containers, front of border, cottage and Mediterranean-style planting, cutting gardens

Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ is an enduring favourite for a reason: statuesque stems topped with richly coloured, globe-shaped flower heads that bring poise and rhythm to late spring and early-summer borders. The grey-green basal foliage forms early, then quietly recedes as the blooms take centre stage—ideal for weaving through perennials and ornamental grasses.

Equally at home in generous pots, this fully hardy allium is particularly useful where soils are heavy; simply ensure excellent drainage and enjoy a refined, architectural display that also suits the vase.

• Colour & form: deep purple, globe-shaped flower heads
• Best for: borders, containers and cutting
• Wildlife: pollinator friendly; noted for deer resistance
• Season: plant in autumn for flowers in May–June

Agapanthus africanus 'Dokter Brouwer' brings generous drumstick heads of blue‑lilac trumpets above neat, strap-shaped foliage in midsummer. It’s a simple way to add structure and cool colour to sunny borders, gravel gardens and large patio pots.

This variety stays compact enough for containers, yet still feels architectural. Plant it in a warm, sheltered spot and you’ll get sturdy stems that hold their shape in wind and rain, giving you weeks of colour and a lovely cut‑flower option.

Agapanthus enjoy sun and a fertile, moisture-retentive soil that drains freely. In pots, use a loam-based compost and avoid overpotting—slightly snug roots often encourage better flowering. Try pairing with ornamental grasses, salvias or lavender for an effortless summer look. Once established it copes well with short dry spells, but flowers best with regular moisture.

Water well while the plant is establishing, then keep it evenly moist through summer, especially in containers. Feed monthly with a high‑potassium fertiliser and remove spent flower heads if you’d like a tidier display. The nectar-rich blooms are also a magnet for bees.

In colder areas, give evergreen agapanthus extra winter protection: mulch the crown, wrap containers, or move pots to a frost-free place until spring. Divide crowded clumps in spring to refresh growth and create new plants for other parts of the garden.

Allium 'Gladiator' is a statuesque choice for adding modern architecture to late-spring planting. Each bulb sends up a tall, upright stem topped with a perfectly rounded globe of soft lavender-purple flowers—clean, contemporary and wonderfully composed among grasses, nepeta and early roses.

Its grey-green foliage forms a neat base before the flowerheads rise above the border, lending height and rhythm without fuss. An elegant performer in mixed planting, and a fine option for large containers where drainage is assured.

• Large, spherical flowerheads in refined lavender-purple
• Excellent for borders and statement containers
• Pollinator friendly and notably resilient to deer
• Supplied as premium bulbs: 18/20cm

Dahlia 'Topmix Mixed' brings a compact mix of colours ideal for pots and bedding displays 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 30–40 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.

Dahlia 'Myama Fubuki' bears large, creamy white dinnerplate flowers that bring a calm, luminous presence to summer and autumn planting while pairing beautifully with almost any colour scheme.

The blooms are generous and softly layered, sitting on strong stems that make the variety equally useful for feature planting and cutting gardens.

Grow in a sunny, sheltered site with rich, free-draining soil, planting once frosts have passed and giving the stems early support as plants begin to bulk up.

Deadhead often for continuous flowering and lift tubers after the first frosts in areas where winter temperatures fall low enough to damage them.

Allium cristophii (Star of Persia) brings a composed sense of theatre to the late spring garden. Each stem carries a broad, shimmering head of rosy‑violet, star-shaped flowers—architectural without being overbearing, and particularly handsome rising through fresh greens at the front of a border.

As the colour softens, the seedheads remain beautifully sculptural, lending quiet structure well into summer. A natural choice for gravel gardens and contemporary planting schemes, and a superb subject for cutting and drying.

• Large, starry flower heads in May–June
• Excellent for cut flowers and long-lasting dried arrangements
• Pollinator friendly and notably deer resistant
• Fully hardy perennial—returns with increasing presence over time

Hosta 'White Feather' is a distinctive foliage perennial whose leaves emerge creamy white in spring before gradually developing green veining and more colour as the season progresses.

The effect is luminous in shady borders and pots, where the bright young foliage helps lift darker planting combinations. Pale lavender flowers appear in summer above the clump.

Plant in partial shade in moisture-retentive but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid hot, exposed spots, especially where the white young foliage could scorch.

Water regularly during dry periods and protect emerging shoots from slugs. Mulching each year helps keep the soil cool and fertile while the clump establishes.

Dahlia ‘Playa Blanca’ is a striking white cactus variety that brings texture and brightness to the summer garden. Its name, meaning "White Beach," perfectly describes the clean, fresh look of its spiky, incurved petals that radiate from a tight centre.

The plant is a vigorous grower, producing straight stems that are ideal for cutting. The unique cactus form, with its rolled, quill-like petals, adds a modern, architectural element to floral arrangements and garden beds alike.

Plant in full sun to maintain the snowy whiteness of the blooms, in soil that is rich in organic matter. Good drainage is vital, as dahlia tubers can rot in cold, wet ground.

Support the plant with stakes or netting to keep the stems upright during heavy rains. Deadhead frequently to promote a long flowering window, and lift the tubers in autumn to store them safely away from frost.

A brilliant choice for contemporary garden designs, ‘Playa Blanca’ offers a crisp, sculptural look that contrasts beautifully with soft grasses and broad-leaved foliage plants.

Narcissus cyclamineus 'Tete-a-Tete' is the little daffodil with impeccable manners: neat, bright and reliably cheerful in early spring. Its clear yellow blooms sit smartly above dark green foliage, making it a natural choice for pots by the front door, tidy path edges, or threaded through the very front of a border for a polished spring finish.

Planted in autumn, this dwarf, clump-forming perennial settles in quickly and returns year after year. It also lends itself beautifully to naturalising in grass, where small drifts look wonderfully effortless.

• Flower colour: Yellow flowers with deeper yellow trumpet
• Habit: Dwarf, clump-forming
• Best for: Pots & containers, front of borders, path edging, naturalising in grass
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy
• Skill level: Easy

Allium amethystinum 'Red Mohican' PBR is a wonderfully characterful allium, bringing late-spring height and an artful, lightly tousled silhouette to the border. Deep wine-red buds open to a clean white, then finish with playful elongated florets that give each globe a distinctly modern, slightly bohemian air.

Planted in generous drifts, it rises above emerging perennials to provide elegant structure in May and June, and it is a particularly fine choice where you’d like a little movement and pollinator interest woven through a planting scheme.

• Colour progression: wine-red buds opening to white with elongated florets
• Season of interest: May–June
• Style notes: tall, architectural heads with a softly untamed finish

Lilium 'Oriental Mixed' brings a fragrant mix of oriental lilies in a range of colours to summer borders and patio pots, with bold, outward-facing blooms that make a striking feature. The flowers are long-lasting and eye-catching, adding instant impact to planting schemes and bouquets alike.

Reaching an established height of around 90–120 cm, these lilies form sturdy stems and glossy green foliage, with multiple buds per stem. They flower reliably in mid to late summer and return each year in the right conditions.

Plant bulbs in spring or autumn in a sunny or lightly shaded position with well-drained, fertile soil. Work in compost and avoid waterlogged sites; lilies prefer moisture during growth but hate sitting in winter wet.

Water during dry spells while shoots develop and as buds form, then reduce once flowering finishes. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring and again as buds appear, and remove spent flowers while leaving stems and leaves to die back naturally.

Ideal for borders, containers and cutting gardens, lilies create a dramatic vertical accent and pair beautifully with perennials and grasses. Established clumps can be lifted and divided every few years if needed.