Autumn Bulbs

Also known as Rosy Garlic, Allium roseum is a charming and carefree wildflower that brings a touch of the Mediterranean countryside to any garden. It produces loose, delicate clusters of pretty, bell-shaped, soft pink flowers on slender stems. Unlike the formal globes, these have a relaxed, informal habit that is perfect for naturalising in gravel gardens, sunny banks, or wilder parts of the garden. It multiplies readily, creating larger and more impressive drifts each year. It's a low-maintenance and subtle beauty that provides a gentle wash of colour and attracts pollinators in droves.

A truly regal and timeless beauty, 'Jeanne d'Arc' is one of the largest and most impressive of the spring-flowering crocuses. It stands out for its exceptionally large, goblet-shaped flowers of the purest, shimmering snow-white. Each pristine bloom has a classic, elegant form and is held on a strong stem, creating a bold statement in the garden. Upon closer inspection, a delicate, faint purple blush can be seen at the very base of the petals, adding a touch of sophisticated detail to its otherwise immaculate appearance. A vibrant orange stigma glows from the centre, attracting early pollinators. As a Dutch Crocus (Crocus vernus), it flowers slightly later than the botanical types, bridging the gap to early tulips. It is an outstanding choice for naturalising in lawns, where its large white flowers create a breathtaking display against the green grass.

As one of the tallest and latest-blooming alliums, 'Summer Drummer' provides a spectacular grand finale to the season. Its sturdy, towering stems can reach impressive heights, each topped with a large, dense globe composed of countless tiny, star-shaped florets. The flowers are a beautiful mix of deep purple and crisp white, creating a frosted, shimmering effect from a distance that catches the late summer light. Their sheer size and architectural stature make them an unmissable focal point in the back of the border, standing tall and proud like sentinels in the garden. The substantial globes retain their shape long after the colour fades, providing striking structural interest that carries the garden's form well into autumn, looking magnificent when touched by frost.

Prepare for a botanical firework display! Allium schubertii is one of nature's most spectacular and architectural creations. It produces an enormous flower head, up to a foot wide, with an explosive, open structure. The bloom consists of dozens of tiny, pinkish-purple, star-like florets, each borne on a pedicel of a dramatically different length. Some are short, clustered at the center, while others radiate outwards on long stems, creating a stunning, starburst effect. When the flowers fade, the resulting seed head is an even more impressive architectural skeleton that looks like a tumbleweed. It is a sensational centerpiece for a gravel garden or sunny border and makes an absolutely magnificent dried flower that will last for years.

A fantastic variety for the front or middle of the border, 'Ostara' is prized as much for its foliage as for its flowers. It produces handsome rosettes of broad, grey-green leaves that remain attractive throughout the blooming period, solving the common allium problem of withering leaves. The flowers themselves are beautiful 4-inch globes of an intense reddish-purple, held on sturdy, relatively short stems. It blooms a little earlier than many large alliums, providing a fantastic pop of long-lasting colour. 'Ostara' is a superb all-rounder, offering a compact, tidy habit combined with a bold and beautiful flower.

A flower of exquisite beauty and elegance, 'Obdam' is a world-class Double daffodil, celebrated for its huge, gardenia-like blooms. The flowers are incredibly full, packed with multiple layers of broad, silky, ivory-white petals that create a perfect, sculptural rosette. As the flower matures, a cluster of shorter, creamy-yellow petaloids can sometimes be seen in the very heart of the bloom, adding a touch of depth. The fragrance is sweet and delightful, though not overpowering. 'Obdam' is a very late-flowering variety, extending the daffodil season with its opulent, long-lasting display. It is a robust and reliable performer, perfect for adding a touch of pure luxury and romance to the garden and for creating breathtaking bouquets.

An exquisite botanical crocus, 'Blue Pearl' is cherished for its delicate beauty and luminous, pearlescent colouring. The flowers are not a strong blue, but rather a magical, soft, silvery sky-blue on the outer petals, which are often shaded with a deeper blue at the base. As the flower opens, it reveals a contrasting creamy-white to soft-yellow interior, with a base that glows a distinct bronzy-yellow. This complex and subtle combination of colours gives the bloom an iridescent quality, especially when it catches the low morning or evening light, making it shimmer like a precious pearl. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, a testament to its beauty and reliability. 'Blue Pearl' is one of the earliest to flower, and its gentle, glowing presence is a truly enchanting sight after a long winter, perfect for intimate plantings in pots or rockeries.

A truly unique and captivating variety, 'Red Mohican' is a guaranteed conversation starter in any garden. It shares the distinctive oval shape of its drumstick relatives but with an unforgettable twist. The main body of the flowerhead is a tight globe of deep maroon-red florets, from which erupts a whimsical crest of longer, sterile florets, creating a striking tuft or "mohawk" at the top. This playful, bi-level structure provides fascinating texture and form. Plant them where they can be admired up close, such as along a pathway or at the front of a border. Their quirky personality shines when planted in clusters, where their collective crests create a delightfully punk-rock effect that adds rhythm and a touch of rebellious fun to your planting scheme.

Announcing its arrival with truly impressive stature, 'His Excellency' stands as one of the tallest alliums available. Reaching heights of over 4 feet, its thick, sturdy stems are topped with huge, 8-inch globes of lilac-pink flowers. This variety blooms a little later than 'Globemaster', helping to extend the allium season further into summer. The enormous flower heads are packed with starry florets, creating a ball of colour that adds a powerful and architectural element to the back of the border. Its sheer size and regal posture make it a standout specimen that draws the eye from across the garden, earning its distinguished name with every bloom.

With a striking and unusual form, Allium 'Forelock' brings a wild, windswept elegance to the garden. It builds upon the classic drumstick shape with a dramatic flourish. The main bloom is a dense, elongated oval of burgundy florets that gradually lightens to a soft green at the base. Bursting from the top is a spectacular, trailing crest of long, thread-like purple florets that resemble a lock of hair caught in the wind. This tufted "forelock" gives the bloom an incredible sense of movement and drama. It’s an ideal choice for adding a sculptural, artistic touch to borders and gravel gardens. The two-toned effect and unique silhouette make 'Forelock' a standout specimen that bridges the gap between cultivated formality and untamed natural beauty.

Arguably one of the most famous and spectacular novelty tulips ever bred, 'Ice Cream' is a true showstopper that never fails to turn heads and start conversations. Its unique structure is a marvel of nature. The flower begins with a sturdy base of raspberry-pink outer petals, often streaked with green, which form a protective 'cone' around the central bloom. Then, as it matures, the magic happens: a dense, tightly packed mound of the purest white inner petals begins to emerge from the top, looking for all the world like a perfect scoop of vanilla ice cream sitting in a cup. The contrast between the colourful base and the pristine white centre is breathtaking. This is not a tulip for the impatient gardener; it requires warmth and sunshine to encourage the 'scoop' to fully emerge and unfurl, but the reward is more than worth the wait. It is the ultimate feature plant for a pot or a prime position at the front of a border where its extraordinary form can be fully appreciated.

An absolute treasure for the early spring garden, 'Minnow' is a delightful Tazetta daffodil prized for its diminutive size and abundant charm. Despite its small stature, it makes a big impact by producing multiple tiny flowers on each stem, creating a lively bouquet effect. Each delicate bloom features creamy-white, slightly reflexed outer petals surrounding a small, neat, buttery-yellow cup. This RHS Award-winning variety is not only visually charming but also sweetly fragrant. It is an excellent perennialiser, returning reliably year after year and gradually spreading to form larger, more impressive clumps. 'Minnow' is the perfect choice for rock gardens, the front of borders, and small pots, where its tiny, perfect blooms can be admired up close.

A vision of pure, bridal white, this allium brings delicate elegance and a fresh sparkle to the late spring garden. Often known as the Naples Garlic, 'Cowanii' is a select, more robust form that produces loose, airy umbels of pristine white, star-shaped flowers. Each floret features a subtle green eye, adding to its charm. Unlike the dense globes of other alliums, these blooms create a light, see-through effect, perfect for illuminating shady corners or weaving through bolder colours in a border. They are fantastic cut flowers, prized by florists for their long vase life and graceful appearance in bouquets. Plant them in generous sweeps to create a cloud of white that brightens the landscape and bridges the gap between spring bulbs and summer perennials.

The legendary and iconic 'black' tulip, 'Queen of Night' holds a unique place in the horticultural world. This Single Late variety is famed for its deep, sumptuous, velvety petals of a dark maroon-purple so profound that in shadow or on an overcast day, they appear almost black. The silky, single flowers sit atop tall, strong stems, giving them a dramatic and regal silhouette in the late spring garden. There is no other tulip that offers such depth and mystery. It is an essential ingredient for creating sophisticated and moody planting schemes, providing a stunning contrast when planted with pure white, soft pink, or vibrant lime green flowers or foliage. A drift of 'Queen of Night' is an unforgettable sight, bringing an element of chic drama and intensity that few other plants can match.

An icon of the spring garden, 'Negrita' is arguably the most famous and beloved deep purple tulip in the world. This Triumph variety boasts large, egg-shaped blooms of the most sumptuous and velvety shade of deep, royal purple. The colour is incredibly saturated and consistent, providing a sense of luxury and drama to any planting scheme. When touched by sunlight, the petals reveal a subtle, silky sheen and even richer violet tones. 'Negrita' stands on famously strong, weather-resistant stems, holding its noble blooms with pride through spring showers. Its reliability, intense colour, and classic shape make it a cornerstone of garden design, perfect for creating breathtaking mass plantings, as a dramatic counterpoint to lighter colours, or as a sophisticated cut flower.

An enchanting and award-winning variety, 'Golden Echo' is a unique Jonquilla daffodil that will capture your heart. Each stem carries one to three beautiful flowers that are wonderfully fragrant. The blooms feature pure white, slightly swept-back petals that provide a clean contrast to the long, elegant, golden-yellow trumpet. The most magical and defining feature is how the rich yellow of the trumpet appears to bleed or "echo" out onto the base of the white petals, creating a stunning, luminous, golden halo right at the flower's heart. This RHS Award-winner is a vigorous and reliable perennial that will happily naturalise, bringing its unique beauty and sweet perfume to the garden for many years.

Bring a splash of pure sunshine to your garden with this delightful and vigorous allium. 'Jeannine' is a superior selection of the classic Golden Garlic, prized for its larger, more numerous flower clusters. It produces cheerful, cup-shaped umbels of brilliant, canary-yellow, star-like flowers that are guaranteed to brighten any corner. This compact plant is perfect for the front of sunny borders, rock gardens, or for naturalizing in drifts under deciduous trees where it will multiply happily year after year. Its bright blooms are not only a visual treat but are also long-lasting and incredibly easy to grow, asking for little more than a sunny spot to put on their dazzling show. A reliable and rewarding choice for adding a long-lasting pop of vibrant yellow.

A true classic with an artistic flair, 'Helmar' is a Triumph tulip that commands attention with its dramatic, bicolour blooms. Each petal is a canvas of rich, buttery yellow, boldly and beautifully painted with deep, wine-red flames that lick up from the base. The pattern is sharp and defined, creating a stunning visual contrast that is both fiery and cheerful. Standing on strong, reliable stems, 'Helmar' is a robust performer, weathering spring conditions with ease. It is an excellent choice for adding a splash of vibrant, reliable colour to mid-season borders and is particularly effective in large, impactful drifts. It also excels in container plantings and serves as a long-lasting, show-stopping cut flower, bringing its painterly beauty indoors for all to admire. Its timeless appeal and strong performance make it a garden favourite.

A classic and historic variety, 'Pheasant's Eye' is one of the last daffodils to bloom, extending the spring season beautifully. It features elegant, pure white petals that are distinctly swept back (reflexed), surrounding a very small, cup-like corona. The tiny cup is bright yellow with a clearly defined, fine red rim, which gives the flower its common name. It is beloved for its strong, sweet, and spicy fragrance that can perfume the air. It is an outstanding choice for naturalising in meadows, orchards, or informal parts of the garden where it will return and multiply for decades. It holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit.

A true icon of early spring, 'Jetfire' is a small but mighty Cyclamineus daffodil with an electrifying colour combination. This RHS Award-winning variety is instantly recognisable by its bright golden-yellow petals, which are sharply swept back from the cup in the classic, windswept Cyclamineus style. Providing a stunning contrast is the slender, trumpet-like cup, which is a brilliant, fiery reddish-orange. The effect is dynamic, exciting, and full of energy. 'Jetfire' is one of the earliest daffodils to bloom, creating a welcome blast of hot colour when the garden is just waking up. It is an incredibly robust and reliable perennial that will naturalise with ease, forming larger, more impressive clumps year after year.

An incredible and justly famous heirloom, 'Avalanche' is a Tazetta daffodil that truly lives up to its name by producing an avalanche of flowers. Each robust stem carries a huge cluster of up to 20 fragrant blooms, creating a spectacular and long-lasting display from a single bulb. The individual flowers are charming, with pure white, slightly reflexed petals surrounding a small, neatly ruffled, lemon-yellow cup. The sweet, musky fragrance is powerful and can perfume a large area of the garden. This RHS Award-winning variety is vigorous, reliable, and a fantastic perennialiser, bringing increasing cheer and scent to the mid-spring garden year after year.

If you desire drama and theatricality in your garden, 'Rococo Double' is the star of the show. This tulip takes all the flamboyant characteristics of a Parrot tulip and doubles the impact. The blooms are a wild and wonderful spectacle of intense crimson-red, with each petal extravagantly frilled, curled, and twisted into an exotic form. The colour is not uniform; the petals are feathered and splashed with shades of plum, emerald green, and rich gold, creating a complex and fascinating display. It is the absolute antithesis of a simple, classic tulip, offering an explosion of texture and colour that is impossible to ignore. It’s a true conversation piece and a magnificent choice for anyone looking to make a bold statement. Despite its delicate appearance, the stems are surprisingly strong, holding the large flowers aloft with pride.

A truly beautiful and eye-catching Large-Cupped daffodil, 'Pink Charm' is celebrated for its distinct and lovely colouring. The flower features a perianth of broad, pure white petals that provide a perfect, crisp backdrop for the main feature. The cup is large and trumpet-like, opening a soft creamy-yellow but quickly developing a deep, coral-pink colour that is intensified by a beautifully ruffled and brighter pink rim. This strong and clear pink colour is what sets it apart from many other pink daffodils. Standing tall on strong stems in mid-spring, 'Pink Charm' is a reliable and striking variety that brings a touch of warm, romantic colour to the garden and makes a fabulous cut flower.

An exquisitely beautiful and graceful Triandrus daffodil, 'Ice Wings' lives up to its name with clusters of nodding, ice-white flowers. Each strong stem carries up to three blooms, each with distinctly swept-back, wing-like petals. This strong reflexing of the petals gives the flower an elegant, windswept appearance. The central cup is long and conical, perfectly matching the pristine white of the petals. It is a vigorous grower and a reliable perennialiser, forming lovely clumps that bring a cool, serene beauty to the mid-spring garden. Winner of the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, it's a fantastic choice for sophisticated container displays, naturalising under trees, or creating a calming drift of pure white in borders.

A charming and subtle species, Fritillaria uva-vulpis, the fox's grape fritillary, produces slender stems with one or two elegant, nodding, bell-shaped flowers in mid-spring. The blooms are a unique and beautiful dusky purple-maroon on the outside, with a distinct, tightly rolled rim of bright golden-yellow that looks as if it has been perfectly dipped in paint. The inside of the bell is a glossy, olive-green. This is a delightful and very easy-to-grow fritillary, perfect for naturalising in borders, rock gardens, or damp meadows where it will happily multiply over the years to form a beautiful colony.