RHS Award Winners

Welcome the new gardening year with the quintessential harbinger of spring, the Common Snowdrop. Galanthus nivalis brings delicate beauty to the late winter garden when little else is stirring. Its nodding, milky-white bell-shaped flowers, each tipped with a distinctive green V-shape on the inner petals, are a truly welcome sight. Winner of the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, this hardy little bulb is perfect for naturalising in lawns, underplanting deciduous trees, or creating enchanting drifts in woodland settings. For a classic winter display, pair them with the golden yellows of Winter Aconites or the rich purples of early Crocus.

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

Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’ is a quietly exquisite wood anemone, treasured for its soft lavender-blue spring flowers with a cool, greyish-cream reverse. Held neatly above finely cut, mid-green foliage, it creates that effortless woodland charm—natural, refined, and wonderfully at home beneath shrubs and deciduous trees.

Rhizomatous and fully hardy, it will settle in gently and broaden into a graceful drift over time—particularly in humus-rich soil that stays moist yet well-drained. An elegant choice for dappled shade, and a most becoming underplanting for spring displays.

• Colour: Lavender-blue with greyish-cream reverse
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 20cm
• Position: Dappled shade (Partial Sun)
• Planting time: September–December

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

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

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 'Globemaster' is the sort of bulb that brings instant composure to a planting scheme. In late spring, tall, steady stems carry magnificent, perfectly rounded heads of rich violet-purple, each globe composed of countless starry florets. Rising above grey-green foliage, it adds architectural rhythm through borders and naturalistic drifts, while offering a welcome pause of structure amongst softer perennials.

A refined choice for cottage gardens and smarter city courtyards alike, and particularly valuable where you’d like planting that quietly supports pollinators.

• Flowering: May–June
• Height: 80cm
• Bulb size supplied: 18/20cm
• Position: Full Sun, Partial Sun
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil; improves with added grit on clay

Delivery: Order Today, Receive in September!

Muscari 'Night Eyes' is a particularly handsome grape hyacinth, sending up compact, bell-shaped flower spikes in rich violet-blue, each neatly finished with a crisp white tip. The effect is beautifully refined—ideal for threading through spring borders, edging paths with precision, or dressing pots where detail matters.

Plant in autumn and allow it to settle in; it will return reliably each spring and, in the right place, will naturalise into charming drifts. Its early flowers are welcome to bees and other pollinators, and it makes an elegant companion to tulips, narcissus and early perennials.

• Deep violet-blue bells tipped in white for a clean, tailored look
• Excellent for naturalising, edging and spring containers
• Fully hardy and straightforward to grow
• Pollinator friendly
• RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM)

Paeonia 'Coral Sunset' is a beautifully mannered herbaceous peony, prized for its scented, semi-double blooms and effortlessly sophisticated colouring. The flowers open in a poised coral-pink, then mellow with age to softer, creamy tones—an elegant transition that brings a flattering light to late spring and early summer borders.

With deep green foliage and a neat, clump-forming habit, it settles into the garden with quiet assurance and becomes more impressive with each passing season. Plant in a sheltered spot with fertile, humus-rich soil and allow it the time it deserves—peonies are wonderfully long-lived once established.

• Fragrant, semi-double flowers with a refined colour shift from coral-pink to cream
• Fully hardy and well-suited to UK gardens
• Excellent for borders in cottage and courtyard settings
• Pollinator friendly when in bloom

Tulipa 'Prinses Irene' is a Triumph tulip of impeccable taste: warm orange blooms, each petal finely marked with a central purple flame for a look that is both spirited and composed. It sits beautifully in smart pots by the front door, brings polish to spring borders, and cuts with ease for simple, handsome arrangements.

Plant in autumn into fertile, well-drained soil and give it a sheltered position to keep stems looking their best. With a poised height of around 35cm, it makes an elegant mid to late spring statement without ever feeling overbearing.

• Colour: Orange with purple
• Flowering: April–May
• Ideal for: Pots & Containers, Borders & Beds, Cut Flowers
• Supplied as: Bulbs (size 12/14cm)

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

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.

Narcissus 'Dutch Master' is daffodil season at its most polished: generous, golden-yellow trumpet blooms held on sturdy stems above fresh green, strap-like foliage. Flowering through mid-spring, it brings a crisp, confident note to borders and patio pots, and is particularly effective when allowed to naturalise in relaxed drifts through grass or beneath deciduous trees.

Fully hardy and refreshingly undemanding, this is a dependable, free-flowering classic for gardens that favour clean colour and reliable performance year after year.

• Colour: Golden yellow
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 45cm
• Bulb size: 12/14cm
• Best for: Borders, containers and naturalising

Narcissus 'Jetfire' is a crisp, early-season cyclamineus daffodil, prized for its swept-back yellow petals and a vivid orange trumpet. Compact and clump-forming, it brings a refined spark to pots by the door, the front of borders, and drifts through grass where it will settle in beautifully over time.

With bright green foliage and a neat habit to around 20cm, ‘Jetfire’ is an easy choice for elegant spring colour in smaller spaces—equally smart in a terrace container as it is edging a path.

• Colour: Yellow with orange
• Flowering: March–April
• Height: 20cm
• Spread: 10cm
• Position: Borders, edging, grass, pots & containers
• Sun: Full-Sun, Partial Sun
• Soil: Loam
• Moisture: Moist but well-drained
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy
• Award: Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
• Wildlife note: Pollinator Friendly; Deer Resistant

Narcissus 'Minnow' is a delightfully refined dwarf daffodil, prized for its gentle colouring and generous flowering habit. Each stem carries several petite blooms: creamy-white petals framing a neat, pale-yellow cup which softens beautifully as the flowers mature. Perfect where details are best enjoyed up close—on the patio in pots, along a path edge, or threaded through grass for a natural, understated spring display.

• Colour & form: creamy white with a pale-yellow cup; elegant cup shaped flowers
• Excellent in containers: compact at around 20cm, ideal for pots and the front of borders
• Reliable performer: fully hardy and easy to grow, returning year after year

Plant in autumn, allow the foliage to fade naturally after flowering, and you’ll be rewarded with neat clumps that improve as they settle in.

Fritillaria pallidiflora is a quietly sophisticated fritillary, prized for its glaucous foliage and poised, nodding bells in soft greenish-yellow. Flowering from late spring into early summer, it brings a natural, woodland elegance to lightly shaded borders, tree-line planting and informal drifts where it can settle in and look entirely at home.

At around 50cm tall, the upright stems carry a refined cluster of bell-shaped blooms above cool-toned leaves—particularly handsome when threaded through ferns, early grasses and other spring bulbs for a gently layered effect.

• Colour: pale yellow with green tones
• Flower shape: bell-shaped, nodding
• Best for: borders, woodland edges, naturalised planting
• Pollinator friendly: Yes
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy

Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba’ is a quietly exquisite spring-flowering bulb, bearing pristine white, nodding bells on slender stems above grey-green foliage. It lends a refined, natural charm when threaded through grass, tucked into woodland-style planting, or placed neatly at the front of a border—an elegant alternative to the more familiar chequered forms.

Best planted in early autumn for a relaxed, naturalised effect, this fully hardy perennial settles in gently and rewards patience with an increasingly lovely showing year by year.

Why you’ll love it

• Pure white, bell-shaped flowers with a graceful, nodding habit
• Superb for naturalising in grass and weaving through spring borders
• Fully hardy and pollinator friendly
• Compact and refined at around 30cm tall

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Jan Bos' is a wonderfully classic spring hyacinth, prized for its richly coloured flower spikes in deep rosy cerise and a beautifully strong perfume. Compact and poised at the front of a border, it is equally at home in smart pots by the door, where its fragrance can be properly enjoyed.

With glaucous green leaves and an upright habit, it also makes a refined cut flower—just a few stems bring instant polish to a small vase arrangement. Plant in autumn and look forward to an elegant flourish from March into April.

• Colour: Deep pink-red
• Fragrance: Highly scented
• Best for: Borders, containers and cutting
• Flowering: March–April

Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’ is a spring classic: neat, glossy green foliage topped with a well-filled spike of softly scented, mid-blue bells. It brings a calm, composed note to the front of the border and is especially charming in pots placed by the door, where the fragrance can be properly enjoyed.

• Colour: mid-blue with a gentle violet cast
• Fragrance: softly scented
• Best for: pots and containers, edging paths, and drift planting for a serene wash of colour
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy

Bulb size: 15/16. Plant in autumn for a polished display in March and April.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is an enduring favourite: a herbaceous peony of great poise, producing sumptuous, fully double white blooms with the faintest greenish nuance and a refined perfume. In early summer the flowers rise above handsome, deeply divided dark-green foliage, bringing quiet luxury to borders and cutting gardens alike.

Once established, it settles into a long-lived clump and becomes more generous with each passing season. Particularly lovely when threaded through roses and shrubs, where its sculptural flowers feel perfectly at home.

• Flowering: May–June
• Height: 80cm
• Spread: 50–100cm
• Position: Sheltered
• Supplied as: Bare root

Allium stipitatum 'Mount Everest' is a statuesque allium of exemplary poise, lifting perfectly rounded globes of crisp white, star-shaped flowers above grey-green foliage. In late spring and early summer, its tall, upright stems bring a clean, architectural note to borders and gravel planting, and the flower heads are equally superb in a vase.

Plant in generous drifts for a composed, contemporary look, or thread through perennials and ornamental grasses for height and rhythm. Once established, this perennial bulb returns with reliable presence and a polished finish.

• Colour: White with a light green flush
• Flower shape: Globe
• Excellent for: Borders, gravel gardens and cut flowers

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Blue Jacket' brings a wonderfully saturated note to early spring, with dense, fragrant spikes of deep blue, single bells. Each petal is neatly traced with a darker purple stripe, creating a poised, tailored look above fresh, rich green foliage.

Ideal for borders and pots alike, this is a compact hyacinth that looks particularly smart planted in generous drifts, or placed near paths and doorways where the perfume can be properly appreciated. It also makes an excellent cut flower for small, elegant arrangements.

• Colour: Deep blue with dark purple stripe
• Flower form: Bell-shaped, single blooms on sturdy spikes
• Scent: Fragrant
• Best for: Borders, pots and containers, cutting

Muscari latifolium 'Grape Ice' is a quietly striking grape hyacinth, sending up neat, densely packed spring spires with a most pleasing two-tone finish: deep purple at the base, graduating to a crisp white tip. Lightly scented and eminently well-mannered, it slips beautifully through the front of borders, under shrubs and trees, and into pots where its detail can be appreciated up close.

Plant in autumn and allow it to settle; by spring it forms a tidy clump of fresh green foliage and elegant bell-shaped blooms—excellent for threading amongst tulips and other spring companions, and charming in small cut posies.

• Colour: Purple & White (bi-colour)
• Flowering: March to May
• Height: 20cm
• Habit: Clump-forming perennial
• Best for: Borders, containers and underplanting

For late-spring theatre with a decidedly dark mood, Tulipa 'Black Parrot' delivers in impeccable style. The richly frilled, parrot-formed blooms open in sumptuous deep purple, reading almost black at the centre, and sit beautifully against grey-green foliage. Planted in generous drifts, it brings a sophisticated edge to borders and makes an indulgent centrepiece in large pots by the door.

• Colour: Deep purple, near-black
• Flowering: April–May
• Height: 50cm
• Position: Full sun; sheltered
• Ideal for: Borders, containers