Pinks & Reds

Allium atropurpureum brings a beautifully saturated note to late-spring borders: deep purple-red, half-spherical flowerheads poised on slender stems above neat green foliage. It slips effortlessly through tulips and early perennials, adding height and quiet drama without ever feeling heavy.

A refined choice for modern planting schemes, it also makes a smart cut flower and is notably attractive to pollinators. Plant in autumn for an elegant show in May and June.

• Colour: Deep purple-red globes
• Flowering: May–June
• Height: 60cm
• Best for: Borders, containers and cutting

Allium 'Forelock' is a wonderfully characterful allium, admired for its rich maroon-purple, egg-shaped flowerheads finished with a playful tufted ‘topknot’. Held on elegant stems, it brings composed, architectural punctuation to late-spring planting schemes—equally at home in smart borders or in generous pots placed where the detail can be appreciated.

As the season moves on, ‘Forelock’ continues to provide structure, pairing beautifully with airy grasses, soft cottage perennials, and other spring bulbs. A refined choice for sunny, sheltered positions with good drainage.

• Distinctive flower form: egg-shaped heads with a charming tufted finish
• Colour: deep maroon-purple (Colour Group: Purples & Blues)
• Garden value: strong late-spring presence for borders and containers
• Wildlife: pollinator friendly
• Practical bonus: deer resistant

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

Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) ‘Bicolor’ is a classic garden anemone with a wonderfully crisp, tailored look: clean white petals neatly ringed in raspberry-red, set around a dark central eye. Planted in autumn, it brings poised colour to early spring borders and makes a particularly smart cut flower for small vases and mixed arrangements.

Exceptionally at home in pots as well as the front of a sunny border, ‘Bicolor’ suits cottage-style planting and Mediterranean-inspired schemes alike. In a sheltered position with free-draining soil, it will settle quickly and reward you with a fresh, refined display just as the garden is waking up.

• Botanical name: Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) ‘Bicolor’
• Type: Fully hardy, perennial corm
• Flowering: March–April
• Planting time: September–December
• Position: Sheltered, sunny spot
• Ideal for: Borders, containers and cutting

Anemone coronaria 'Levante Rosso Double' brings a poised note of theatre to mid–late spring, with richly coloured, double blooms held neatly above fresh mid-green foliage. The effect is wonderfully tailored—ideal for smart containers by the door, and equally at home threading through the front of a sunny border.

With tidy stems and a refined flower form, it is also an excellent choice for the cutting garden, where a few stems lend instant polish to a simple jug arrangement. Plant in autumn for flowers from April to June.

• Colour: Red (with tonal variation)
• Flowering: April–June
• Height: 40–60cm
• Perfect for: Pots & containers, front of borders, cutting garden

Cyclamen coum is the sort of quietly exquisite plant that earns its keep when the garden feels at its most spare. Nestled low to the ground, it forms neat, clump-forming colonies of rounded, dark green leaves, often handsomely silver-marbled, followed by nodding, starry flowers in pink to purple-pink from mid-winter into early spring.

Superb for naturalising in a woodland-style setting, tucking beneath shrubs, or bringing a little refinement to pots by the door. Given a sheltered position in dappled shade and reliably well-drained soil, it will return each year with increasing presence.

• Season of interest: late winter to early spring
• Perfect for: naturalising, woodland gardens, underplanting shrubs, pots & containers
• Foliage: rounded green leaves, often silver-marbled
• Flower colour: pink to purple-pink (mixed shades)

Erythronium d.c. 'Purple King' is a quietly distinguished spring-flowering bulb, prized for its poised, nodding blooms in polished purple-rose tones. It slips beautifully into lightly shaded borders and woodland-style planting, where it reads as wonderfully natural rather than ‘placed’.

In mid to late spring, slender stems rise above attractively mottled foliage, bringing a refined flourish beneath deciduous trees and at the edge of shrubs. Given a settled spot with moisture and good drainage, it will form graceful clumps over time.

• Flowering: April–May
• Height: 25–40cm
• Best for: naturalising, woodland gardens, shady borders
• Position: sheltered, lightly shaded sites; woodland edges and beneath deciduous trees

Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra' brings unmistakable theatre to the spring border: tall, assured stems crowned with a whorl of glossy green leaves, then finished with a dramatic ring of rich scarlet, bell-shaped blooms topped by a jaunty tuft of leafy bracts. It is a wonderfully architectural choice for naturalistic planting as well as more formal schemes, rising confidently through fresh spring growth.

Plant in autumn in fertile, well-drained loam and choose a sheltered position to protect those statuesque stems. The bulbs are best handled with care and planted deeply for a secure, long-lived display. Once settled, 'Rubra' will reward you year after year, taking a little time to build to its full presence.

Fritillaria imperialis ‘William Rex’ brings a wonderfully architectural note to the spring border. Each tall stem carries a rich crown of bronze-red to orange, nodding bells, finished with a crisp tuft of leafy bracts—formal enough for a structured scheme, yet perfectly at ease in a relaxed cottage planting.

Plant in autumn and allow this crown imperial to settle in; once established it makes a refined statement among tulips, early perennials and fresh green foliage, and it is also valued for being pollinator friendly and deer resistant.

• Why we love it: statuesque, theatrical spring flowers with a beautifully tailored silhouette
• Best for: borders, naturalising, cottage and informal gardens, and smart city plots
• Seasonal moment: a confident flourish from early to late spring

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

Narcissus poeticus 'Actaea' is a quietly luxurious late-spring narcissus, admired for its pristine white petals and a neat, butter-yellow cup finished with the finest red rim. It’s a variety with real poise—beautiful in the border, superb in generous drifts, and particularly charming when allowed to naturalise through grass beneath deciduous trees.

Notably fragrant, it brings a soft, classic perfume just as the garden moves from spring into early summer. Stems reach an elegant 45cm, making it an excellent choice for cutting—refined in a simple vase and effortlessly at home in cottage-style planting.

• Seasonal interest: flowering April–May (late spring)
• Style notes: white petals, yellow cup with a red rim; fragrant
• Best used: borders, containers, naturalising in grass, and cut flowers

Narcissus 'Poeticus Recurvus' is the sort of late-spring classic that never slips out of fashion. Each bloom opens a pristine white, with lightly recurved petals framing a neat yellow cup, finished with the most refined red edging and a fresh green eye. Wonderfully fragrant and effortlessly elegant, it settles into grass with a natural ease, while looking equally at home in borders and handsome pots.

Reliable, fully hardy, and pleasingly unfussy, this is a charming choice for drifts and informal planting schemes—yet with enough poise to stand alone in a curated container by the door. Also excellent for cutting, bringing its clean palette and scent indoors.

• Botanical name: Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus Haw. (13)
• Bulb size supplied: 12/14
• Flowering: April to June
• Height: 35cm
• Spread: 10cm
• Position: Sheltered
• Sunlight: Full sun or partial sun
• Soil: Loam
• Moisture: Moist but well-drained
• Hardiness: Fully hardy

A small treasure for pots, windowsills and sheltered terraces, Oxalis deppei ‘Iron Cross’ is grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. Each clover-like leaf is neatly stamped with a deep burgundy cross, creating a smart, graphic effect from the moment growth begins.

Come summer, slender stems lift dainty rose-pink blooms above the leaves, bringing a light, cheerful finish that suits container displays beautifully. A charming choice for indoor growing, and equally happy outside once nights are mild.

Why we love it

• Distinctive foliage: green leaves marked with a burgundy cross
• Pretty summer flowers in rose-pink
• Ideal for pots and compact spaces
• Easy to grow with minimal fuss

At a glance

• Botanical name: Oxalis deppei ‘Iron Cross’
• Type: Bulb (perennial)
• Height: 20–30cm
• Spread: 15–25cm
• Position: Sheltered; Full Sun or Partial Sun
• Soil: Well-drained; keep moist but well-drained
• Hardiness: Half Hardy

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

Ranunculus ‘Elegance Cioccolato’ is a notably refined choice for spring, offering richly toned, layered blooms with a beautifully tailored finish. The colour sits in a warm, rusted orange, deepening towards a burgundy-red centre—exactly the sort of nuanced shade that elevates borders, pots, and cutting beds with quiet sophistication.

Part of the Elegance Series, it makes a charming, clump-forming plant at a neat height, ideal for threading through the front of a mixed border or planting in generous drifts in containers. Cut a few stems for the house and you’ll find the palette works effortlessly with creams, soft pinks, and plum tones.

• Botanical name: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘Elegance Cioccolato’ (Elegance Series)
• Form: Double flowers
• Colour: Rust orange with deep burgundy/red centre
• Height: 30–40cm
• Spread: 15–25cm
• Ideal for: Borders, containers, cut flower garden

Ranunculus 'Picotee Café' is a particularly refined ranunculus, celebrated for its richly toned, picotee-edged blooms in deep, coffee-and-caramel shades. Whether planted in smart pots by the door or woven through the front of a border, it brings a composed, curated look—and the stems are equally at home in a cut-flower arrangement.

For best results, choose a sheltered position with moist but well-drained soil and steady moisture while in growth. In colder spells, protect from hard frosts, as this variety is Half Hardy.

• Ideal for: Borders, containers and the cut flower garden
• Colour: Burgundy red with warm orange-gold tones
• Flower form: Double
• Height: 40–60cm

Ranunculus 'Red' brings a poised shot of colour to late spring and early summer, with neatly layered, rose-like blooms in a clear, confident red. Compact yet upright, it sits beautifully in sheltered borders and is equally at home in pots by the door—always ready to provide a well-cut stem for the house.

For best results, choose a bright, sheltered position in moist but well-drained soil. As a half hardy ranunculus, it appreciates a little protection from hard frosts and winter wet.

• Flowering: May–July
• Height: 40–60cm
• Bulb size: 6/7
• Perfect for: cutting, containers, borders

Tulipa ‘Acuminata’ is a wonderfully characterful tulip, prized for its long, finely pointed petals and painterly spring colouring. Each bloom combines warm yellow and red tones, often finished with a subtle green tinge, creating an elegant, slightly untamed look that suits both pots by the door and well-drained borders.

With an upright habit and grey-green foliage, it brings height and movement without fuss. Plant in autumn, allow it a sheltered position, and look forward to its distinctive, species-style presence from March to April.

• Distinctive shape: slender, pointed petals with a refined, flame-like silhouette
• Colour: yellow and red, often lightly tinged green
• Versatile planting: particularly handsome in spring containers and neat drifts through borders

Tulipa 'Apeldoorn' is a true classic of the Darwin Hybrid tulips: rich red, goblet-shaped blooms that open to reveal a dark base, finely lined with yellow. Held on strong, upright stems, it brings a poised, confident note to mid-spring planting schemes—equally at home threading through borders, underplanting roses and shrubs, or arranged in generous pots by the door.

With its reliable stature and clean green foliage, ‘Apeldoorn’ also makes a splendid cut flower—smart, simple, and unmistakably spring.

• Flower colour: Red with yellow lining and black base
• Flower shape: Goblet
• Established height: 55cm
• Ideal for: Borders, containers, courtyard gardens, cottage & informal gardens, underplanting, cutting

Tulipa 'Apeldoorn's Elite' is a distinguished Darwin Hybrid tulip, prized for its generous, open goblet blooms in rich red, finished with the lightest pastel-orange edging. Planted in autumn, it rises in early spring with an assured presence—excellent for giving borders a polished sweep of colour, and equally handsome in pots and patio containers.

• Colour: Rich red with soft pastel-orange edging
• Flower form: Goblet
• Flowering: March–April
• Height: 40–60cm
• Best for: Borders, pots & containers

For best results, plant into moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position, allowing the foliage to die back naturally after flowering to feed the bulb for the following season.

Tulipa ‘Beauty of Apeldoorn’ is a classic Darwin Hybrid tulip with a wonderfully confident presence. Each upright, cup-shaped bloom opens in late spring in a rich golden orange, boldly flamed with red—an impeccable choice for adding warmth and structure to borders, and equally handsome in a well-chosen pot.

With grey-green foliage and stems reaching around 60cm, it sits beautifully amongst emerging perennials and spring companions, and it is particularly fine for cutting when you want something smart, clean-lined, and thoroughly seasonal indoors.

• Colour: Golden orange flamed red
• Flowering: April–May
• Height: 60cm
• Use: Borders, containers, cut flowers

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

Tulipa 'Gudoshnik Double' is a truly opulent Double Late tulip, opening to large, peony-shaped blooms brushed in a richly warming blend of butter-yellow, orange and red. Held on sturdy, upright stems above smart grey-green foliage, it brings a composed sense of theatre to late spring borders and pots alike.

Plant in autumn for flowering through April–May. Particularly handsome in generous drifts, and equally refined as a cut flower for indoor arrangements.

• Colour: Yellow, orange and red (multi-toned)
• Flower form: Peony Flowered (Double Late)
• Height: 50cm
• Spread: 10cm
• Best for: Borders, Containers, Cutting Garden, Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Tulipa 'Queen of Night' is the tulip for those who prefer their spring planting with a little intrigue. In late spring, tall, elegant stems carry glossy goblet blooms in a near-black shade, richly washed with maroon and deep purple. It brings instant depth to borders and a beautifully tailored look in pots—particularly when partnered with paler tulips or airy grasses.

• Colour: Near-black with deep maroon-purple tones
• Flowering: April–May
• Height: 60cm
• Bulb size supplied: 11/12

Plant in autumn into fertile, well-drained soil, and choose a sheltered position to keep the long stems looking pristine. A quietly dramatic classic for refined spring schemes.

Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood' is a compact Greigii tulip of real distinction, pairing bold scarlet spring blooms with attractively marked foliage. Each solitary flower is finished with a dark, inky base, creating a refined, high-contrast look that sits beautifully in pots, along the front of borders, or threaded through gravel gardens for a crisp seasonal lift.

Neat in habit and pleasingly reliable, it reaches around 20cm and forms tidy clumps over time—ideal where you want colour to feel curated rather than crowded.

• Colour: Scarlet red with a dark base
• Foliage: Green with purple markings
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 20cm
• Bulb size supplied: 10/11
• Award: AGM