Pinks & Purples

Ranunculus 'Pink' brings a softly romantic note to spring displays, with neatly layered, rose-like blooms in a refined pink palette. Compact and clump-forming, it sits beautifully in pots and containers, and is particularly handsome in the cutting garden—best gathered as the flowers begin to open for the longest vase life.

Plant the corms in autumn in a sheltered position, with moist, well-drained soil. A simple, elegant choice for curated spring colour and charming indoor arrangements.

Allium sphaerocephalon is a wonderfully refined choice for extending the season with poise. Slender stems rise above neat, narrow foliage, each topped with a dense, rounded head in rich pink to red tones—an elegant punctuation mark through early to late summer.

Superb threaded through borders or planted en masse for a light, rhythmic effect, it also suits generous pots where its upright habit brings height without heaviness. A quietly hardworking perennial, it is also valued for being pollinator friendly.

• Bulb size: 8/10cm
• Height: 50–100cm
• Spread: 10–50cm
• Flowering: June–August
• Position: Full Sun, Partial Sun
• Soil & moisture: Clay; well-drained
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' is the sort of herbaceous peony that never goes out of fashion. From late spring into early summer, it produces generously double, rose-pink blooms with a gentle fragrance—sumptuous in the border, and utterly proper in a vase.

Plant bare roots in autumn and allow this clump-forming perennial time to settle; it rewards patience with increasingly impressive flowering over the years. Best in a sheltered spot with deep, fertile, humus-rich soil that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged.

• Flower: Double, rose pink, lightly fragrant
• Season of interest: May–June
• For: Borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens; charming beneath roses and shrubs
• Position: Full sun to partial sun, sheltered

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

Hyacinthus orientalis 'China Pink' is an impeccably mannered spring hyacinth, carrying dense, bell-shaped florets in a pale blush pink. Each compact spike rises above glossy, strap-like dark green leaves and brings that unmistakably rich hyacinth perfume—rather lovely by a path, at the doorstep, or in pots where the scent can be properly appreciated.

Plant in autumn for a poised display in early spring. The generous 14/15 bulb grade gives a satisfyingly full look in containers and makes an elegant underplanting beneath roses and shrubs.

• Colour: Pale blush pink
• Fragrance: Richly fragrant
• Perfect for: Pots & containers, borders, courtyard & city gardens
• Also suits: Underplanting roses & shrubs
• Pollinator friendly: Yes

Tulipa 'Ice Cream' brings a touch of theatre to spring planting, with a sumptuous, peony-flowered tulip that looks positively indulgent in a pot and wonderfully composed in the border. The blooms open in creamy white, framed by pink outer petals, creating a poised, patisserie-pretty effect that suits everything from generous drifts to a dedicated cutting patch.

Plant in autumn, tuck into a sheltered position, and let the upright stems rise through mid-green foliage for a refined April–May display. Fully hardy and pleasingly straightforward, it’s a natural choice for smart containers by the door, or for lifting the tone of spring borders with a quietly luxurious flourish.

• Flower style: Peony Flowered (double)
• Colour: Creamy white with pink outer petals
• Ideal for: Pots & containers, borders, cut flower garden

Narcissus 'Pink Charm' brings a soft note of colour to spring planting schemes, with creamy-white petals and a refined, cream trumpet finished with a poised salmon-pink edging. A large-cupped daffodil of excellent presence, it is equally at home threading through borders or gathered generously in pots by the door.

Plant in autumn and allow the bulbs to settle; come mid-spring, clump-forming stems rise to around 50cm, offering a composed display that pairs beautifully with tulips, forget-me-nots and fresh green foliage.

• Flower style: Large-cupped (trumpet form) with salmon-pink rim
• Season of interest: April–May
• Best for: Borders, containers, and naturalising in lawns
• Garden value: Pollinator friendly

Anemone coronaria 'Levante Wine Double' is a wonderfully refined spring-flowering anemone, with fully double blooms in rich wine tones—deep magenta-purple lifted with pale highlights and finished with a near-black centre. Held on neat, upright stems, it brings early-season polish to pots, borders and the cutting garden alike.

Plant the corms in autumn for a poised display from March to May, and let the clump-forming habit weave gently through spring planting schemes. Particularly handsome in containers by the door, where the velvety colour can be appreciated up close.

• Colour: Deep magenta-purple with white highlights and a near-black centre
• Flower form: Double
• Ideal for: Pots & containers, cutting garden, borders
• Season: Autumn planting for spring flowering

Tulipa 'Negrita' is a richly coloured Triumph tulip, prized for its refined, goblet-shaped blooms in a handsome purple-magenta. Flowering in late spring on strong, upright stems, it brings a composed elegance to pots by the door, smart spring borders, and tidy courtyard gardens.

Plant in autumn and allow the fresh mid-green foliage to do its quiet work through winter; come April and May, 'Negrita' delivers a confident, jewel-toned display that pairs beautifully with soft creams, deep plums, and fresh greens.

• Colour: deep purple-magenta
• Flower form: goblet-shaped (Triumph Group)
• Best for: borders, pots & containers, city gardens
• Stems: upright and sturdy

Anemone coronaria 'Levante Fucsia' lights up the border with vivid fuchsia-pink double blooms, combining the bold colouring of classic coronaria anemones with the fuller, ruffled form of the Levante series.

Its showy flowers are excellent for cutting and add instant colour to pots and front-of-border displays, especially when planted in generous drifts.

Plant in fertile, free-draining soil in full sun or light partial shade. Soak the corms before planting and avoid positions that remain cold and wet for long periods.

Water while the plants are actively growing and remove spent flowers to keep the display going. In heavy soils, lift and store the corms dry once the leaves have died back.

Tulip 'Angelique' is a study in quiet luxury: a fully double, peony-flowered tulip in soft shell-pink, with a subtle green flush at the base. Poised and romantic in borders, it is equally impeccable in generous pots by the door, and makes a beautifully refined spring cut flower.

Flowering late in the tulip season, Tulipa 'Angélique' is a particularly elegant way to carry your spring display through to its grand finale.

• Style: fully double blooms with a silky, layered finish
• Colour: soft pink and white, with gentle green at the base
• Best for: pots, borders, cutting garden and courtyard gardens
• Seasonal note: plant in autumn for flowers from March to May

Tulipa ‘Queensland’ is a wonderfully refined tulip, prized for its double, fringed flowers with a beautifully textured finish. Planted in autumn, it rises in mid-spring with an upright, composed habit—equally at home in smart patio pots, the front of a border, or gathered for the vase.

For the most polished effect, plant generously in groups, and pair with cool whites, soft greens and early-season foliage for a quietly luxurious spring display.

• Flower form: Double, fringed
• Ideal for: Pots & containers, front of borders, cutting gardens
• Season of interest: April to May
• Supplied as: Premium tulip bulbs

Tulipa 'Apricot Beauty' is a beautifully mannered Single Early tulip, admired for its cup-shaped blooms in soft apricot-salmon pink, gently warmed with a hint of orange. In the spring garden it reads as quietly luminous—equally at home in smart pots by the front door as it is threaded through a border among fresh greens and early perennials.

Plant in autumn for a mid-spring performance, and allow the stems to rise to an elegant, upright finish. A refined choice for gardeners who prefer their colour nuanced rather than brash.

Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Plus Edge' brings a quietly luxurious finish to spring planting schemes. Each crisp, saucer-shaped bloom is held neatly above finely cut foliage, creating a poised display in pots and at the front of the border. Exceptionally pretty in a vase, this refined selection earns its place in the cutting garden with elegant, long-stemmed flowers and a clean, contemporary look.

• Colour: White petals with pink edging and a dark centre
• Perfect for: borders, containers and cut flowers
• Habit: clump-forming perennial with mid-green foliage
• Position: best in a sheltered spot

Why you’ll love it

• Refined spring presence with smart, single blooms and a polished silhouette
• Made for pots—ideal where you want colour close to the house
• Cut-flower favourite for fresh, crisp stems indoors

Ranunculus ‘Elegance Milka’ is a particularly refined choice for spring—bearing richly coloured, double purple blooms held above neat, mid-green foliage. It’s a beautiful option for pots and sheltered borders, and a dependable performer for cutting when you’d like something elegant and saturated in tone.

Plant in autumn and you can look forward to flowering from April through June, with tidy, clump-forming growth that sits comfortably in mixed containers or a well-drained bed.

• Colour: Purple
• Flower form: Double
• Ideal for: Pots & containers; cut flowers
• Season of interest: Spring flowering (April–June)
• Height & spread: 40–60cm x 20–30cm

Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Bordeaux' (Mistral Series) brings a deliciously rich, bordeaux-toned flourish to early spring, with poised, single blooms held above fresh mid‑green foliage. Elegant in pots by the front door, quietly confident through the border, and particularly fine for cutting, this is a refined choice for gardeners who favour depth of colour and a well-mannered silhouette.

Plant the corms in autumn for spring interest; in colder pockets, a sheltered position will help this half-hardy anemone perform at its best.

• Colour: deep magenta‑purple
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 25–30cm
• Spread: 10–15cm
• Type: corm (single)

Ranunculus asiaticus ‘Elegance Rosa Striato’ is a wonderfully refined choice for spring colour, with rose-pink blooms brushed and striped with deeper magenta. Part of the coveted Elegance Series, it brings a tailored, couture finish to pots, and a gracious lift to the front of borders.

Planted in autumn in a sheltered spot, these top-size corms produce clump-forming plants with mid-green foliage and beautifully bowl-shaped flowers—ideal for cutting when the buds are just beginning to loosen.

• Colour: Rose pink with magenta striping
• Flowering: March to June
• Height: 30–45cm
• Best for: Cutting, containers, beds & borders

Paeonia 'Red Sarah Bernhardt' is a handsome, traditional peony with indulgently full, double blooms in rich deep pink-red tones. It brings a wonderfully composed grandeur to the border, with lush mid-green foliage and a generous, clump-forming habit that looks elegant from spring onwards.

Planted in autumn as a bare root, this perennial settles in quietly and rewards patience—taking a couple of seasons to reach its best. In May through July, the flowers are superb for cutting: generous, romantic heads that sit beautifully in a vase and lend a classic note to arrangements.

• Ideal for: borders and the cutting garden
• Flowering: May–July
• Height: 80–100cm (with a spread of 60–90cm)
• Position: sheltered; full sun or partial sun
• Soil: moist but well-drained loam; any pH
• Hardiness: fully hardy

Anemone coronaria ‘Levante Rosa Double’ brings a composed touch of romance to early spring—compact plants carrying rose-pink, semi-double blooms with a warm golden centre. Exceptionally pretty in pots by the door or terrace, and equally at home threaded through spring borders, this free-flowering anemone lends itself beautifully to cutting for small, elegant posies.

• Colour: Rose-pink with a golden centre
• Flowering: March–April
• Height: 25–40cm
• Best for: Pots & containers, spring borders, cut flower garden

Autumn planting, spring reward. Plant the corms from September to December in moist, well-drained soil. Choose a sheltered position in full sun or partial sun for the tidiest growth and best display.

Soft, pale rose-pink and beautifully composed, Ranunculus 'Elegance Rosa Chiaro' brings a couture finish to spring pots and early cutting beds. Each corm produces generously filled, double blooms held on sturdy stems above neat, mid‑green foliage—perfect for arranging, and equally handsome en masse in containers.

As a half hardy ranunculus, it appreciates a sheltered position and well‑drained soil. Plant in autumn for flowers from March through June, and enjoy a refined, romantic note that sits effortlessly with tulips, narcissi and delicate spring greens.

• Colour: Pale rose‑pink
• Flower form: Double
• Best for: Pots & containers; cut flowers
• Position: Full sun, sheltered

Ranunculus ‘Aviv Picotee Pink’ is a rather refined choice for spring, with soft pink petals finished with a crisp picotee edge in white. Neat, romantic and wonderfully well-mannered in pots by the door, it also makes an elegant cut flower—perfect for bringing a little spring composure indoors.

Plant the corms in autumn for flowering from early spring into early summer, choosing a sheltered position and soil that drains beautifully. At 30–40cm tall, it sits neatly at the front of borders and in containers, where the blooms can be appreciated up close.

• Colour: Pink & White
• Flowering: March to June
• Height: 30–40cm
• Spread: 15–20cm
• Planting months: September to December
• Best in: Borders, pots & containers, and for cutting

Tulipa 'Pink Impression' is a handsome Darwin tulip with generous, goblet-shaped blooms in a refined rose-pink. Held on sturdy, upright stems, it brings a poised, confident lift to spring borders and makes a particularly polished showing in generous pots.

Plant in autumn for a quietly sumptuous display through April–May. With its reliable form and good stem length, it is also a favourite for cutting—excellent for bringing a little spring ceremony indoors.

• Flower colour: Pink
• Form: Goblet-shaped flowers on strong stems
• Best for: Borders & beds, pots & containers, cutting garden
• Hardiness: Fully hardy

Allium 'Cameleon' is a charmingly compact ornamental onion, prized for its light, globe-shaped flower heads that subtly shift from soft pink to white as they mature. Airy and refined, it slips beautifully into pots, gravel gardens and the front of borders—adding a gentle, modern note without ever feeling fussy.

Plant in autumn and look forward to a neat display in late spring, with flowers held above fresh green foliage. A particularly elegant choice for pollinator-friendly planting where a softer palette is desired.

• Colour: Soft pink to white
• Flower shape: Globe
• Ideal for: Pots & containers, borders, rockeries & gravel gardens

Tulipa 'Blushing Parrot' is a beautifully theatrical parrot tulip, prized for its ruffled, painterly petals and softly shifting colour. Opening cream-white, each bloom gradually flushes with rosy pink and deeper edging as it matures—utterly charming in pots by the door and quietly magnificent in a spring border.

With strong, upright stems and a refined presence, it also makes an excellent late-spring cut flower—particularly when gathered just as the buds begin to show their first hint of blush.

• Ruffled, parrot-style flowers with a cream-white base and pink-red blushing edges
• Splendid in containers and front-of-border plantings
• Ideal for cutting in late spring

Cyclamen hederifolium is a quietly luxurious woodland cyclamen, admired for its ivy-shaped leaves brushed with silver marbling and its poised, pink, nodding blooms. Flowers often arrive ahead of—or alongside—the foliage, bringing a refined lift to late summer and early autumn, just as the garden begins to soften.

Equally at home naturalised beneath deciduous trees and shrubs or arranged in a handsome pot near the doorstep, it settles into a neat clump over time and returns with reassuring regularity.

• Seasonal flourish: pink flowers from August–October
• Foliage interest: green leaves with elegant silver marbling
• Placement: ideal for woodland edges, underplanting and containers
• Reliable character: fully hardy, easy to grow, and pollinator friendly