Purples & Blues

The "Giant Allium" is the species that started the craze for these incredible plants. Allium giganteum was one of the first giant ornamental onions to be introduced to European gardens from its native Central Asia. It produces wonderful 6-inch globes of bright lilac-purple flowers on towering stems that can easily reach 5 feet. While newer hybrids may be larger, giganteum has a classic, reliable charm and a slightly more open flower structure that gives it a softer, more airy feel than its dense hybrid cousins. It is a true garden heirloom and a must-have for creating that classic, vertical cottage garden look.

For those who crave deep, dramatic colour, Allium atropurpureum is an unparalleled choice. It produces dense, dome-shaped clusters of tiny, star-like florets in an intense shade of dark, blackish-purple. The colour is so rich and saturated it appears almost velvety, creating a powerful point of contrast against brighter flowers and silvery foliage. Standing on tall, slender stems, these dramatic blooms seem to float above their neighbors, adding a touch of moody sophistication and depth to planting schemes. They are particularly effective when planted in large drifts, creating a river of dark wine-red that flows through a perennial border. Their elegant form and striking colour make them a sophisticated addition to any garden design, from contemporary to cottage.

Allium 'Purple Sensation' is certainly sensational in its popularity among gardeners as well as its absolutely striking good looks, and you’ll be thrilled to have it. At the end of a fairly short stalk, 100 or more lavender purple stars shoot out in a circle of superb symmetry and seemingly painted-on colour. Any great artist would be proud to have designed these flowers, and a cluster is a breath-taking sight. Plant several Allium 'Purple Sensation' bulbs (commonly known as Dutch garlic) close together and see for yourself why this is one of the trendiest plant species to have in your garden. They also smell divine and butterflies flock to them. Just fabulous!

The long-lasting, sweetly scented blooms of Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' last well in the vase, and even the spent flowers look striking with their structured flower stems precisely arranged in their spherical pattern. All in all, it’s a gorgeous plant, with a sculptural yet airy appearance, and it’s pleasant to see it finally winning gardener’s hearts as it deserves.

This is no ordinary crocus; Crocus sativus is the legendary Saffron Crocus, the source of the world's most expensive spice. Unlike its spring-flowering cousins, this variety blooms in the autumn, producing beautiful, lilac-purple flowers with darker purple veins. The true treasure, however, lies within. Each flower contains three long, vivid crimson-red stigmas, which are the saffron threads. These must be carefully hand-picked and dried to be used as a spice for flavouring and colouring food. The grass-like foliage appears before or with the flowers and remains through the winter. Growing your own saffron is a rewarding experience, connecting you to an ancient culinary tradition. While each bulb produces only a few threads, planting a generous drift can yield a precious and delicious harvest.

Make way for a stellar performance. 'Red Giant Star' is a magnificent hybrid that commands attention with its massive flower heads and unique colouration. It features the huge, starry florets of its christophii parentage but infuses them with a rich, reddish-pink hue, centered with a deeper red eye. The individual flowers are enormous, creating a lacy, open globe that can span over 8 inches wide. It blooms on strong, relatively short stems, making it a robust and wind-resistant choice for a high-impact position in the mid-border. The combination of its impressive size, intricate floral detail, and warm, radiant colour makes it a living sculpture in the garden, a true showstopper that draws the eye and sparks conversation.

An outstanding and aptly named variety, 'Ruby Giant' is a cultivar of Crocus tommasinianus and is celebrated for its larger-than-average flowers and rich, vibrant colouring. The blooms are a stunning shade of deep, iridescent reddish-purple or amethyst, which seems to glow in the low spring sunlight. The flowers open wide on sunny days to reveal a bright orange stigma at their heart. 'Ruby Giant' is one of the earliest crocuses to flower, often pushing through snow to provide a welcome splash of intense colour. It is exceptionally vigorous and an excellent naturaliser, quickly multiplying to form substantial, beautiful drifts. It is more resistant to squirrel damage than many other crocus types, making it a reliable choice for gardeners. Its slender, grass-like foliage appears with the flowers, creating a neat and attractive clump.

When it comes to making a statement, 'Globemaster' is in a class of its own. This magnificent variety boasts some of the largest flower heads available—enormous, 8-10 inch globes packed with thousands of star-shaped, purple florets. What makes 'Globemaster' truly special is its incredibly long bloom time; as new florets open from the center, the flower head continues to expand, maintaining its perfect spherical shape for weeks on end. It’s a living sculpture for your garden, providing a powerful focal point that commands attention and inspires awe. Even after the colour fades, the dried seed heads provide architectural interest well into the winter.

A beautiful and enchanting mix of the native Snakeshead Fritillary. This collection combines the classic chequered purple and the elegant pure white forms (var. alba). The delicate, nodding, bell-shaped flowers have a distinctive chequerboard pattern in shades of dusky purple and pink, mixed with the pristine white variety. They are held on slender, graceful stems above fine, grey-green foliage. This mix is perfect for naturalising in damp meadows, bog gardens, or under deciduous trees, where it will happily spread over the years to create a magical, fairy-tale scene in mid-spring.

A vibrant and joyful collection, our Mixed Colours Crocus selection is the perfect way to banish the winter blues and welcome the first signs of spring. This carefully curated blend brings together a wide array of colours, from rich purples and sunny yellows to pure whites and soft mauves, often with beautiful bi-colour and striped varieties included. Planting this mix creates a stunning, jewel-like carpet of colour that looks effortlessly beautiful and natural. Because the mix contains different types of crocus, you can enjoy an extended flowering period, with different colours popping up over several weeks. They are perfect for naturalising in lawns, planting in bold drifts under trees and shrubs, or filling pots and window boxes with a cheerful and low-maintenance display. They are a true herald of spring, providing vital early nectar for brave bees venturing out on sunny days.

A jolt of electric, azure-blue for the summer garden, Allium azureum is a gem of startling intensity. Unlike its paler relatives, this allium delivers a spectacular splash of vivid, cornflower-blue, a colour that brings an unparalleled energy to the border. It forms dense, tightly packed globes of star-shaped florets, each held aloft on slender, upright stems that rise above withering, grass-like foliage. This trait makes it a perfect candidate for interplanting, where its brilliant flower heads can float magically above a sea of lower-growing perennials and grasses.

Native to the windswept steppes of Central Asia, it is perfectly at home in full sun and sharply-drained soil. For a truly breathtaking effect, plant in generous, tightly-packed drifts where its collective power can create a dazzling, vibrant haze of blue. Pair it with the contrasting fire of orange geums or the cool silvers of artemisia and eryngium for a display that is both dynamic and sophisticated. A plant of pure, unadulterated colour, Allium azureum is guaranteed to stop onlookers in their tracks.

An exceptionally long-flowering and charming perennial, Mexican Fleabane is a must-have for adding a soft, frothy, and informal touch to the garden. It produces a seemingly endless succession of small, delicate daisy-like flowers from late spring right through to the autumn frosts. The blooms are magical, as each one opens pure white before gradually ageing to shades of soft pink and then purplish-rose, meaning all three colours are present on the plant at once. It has a low, trailing habit and a remarkable ability to self-seed and thrive in the tiniest cracks and crevices, softening hard edges and creating a beautiful, cottage-garden feel. It is incredibly tough, drought-tolerant, and beloved by bees and butterflies.

Behold the celestial firework of the plant world, the Star of Persia. This allium produces an enormous, airy globe, often reaching up to 10 inches in diameter, composed of as many as 100 individual, star-shaped florets. Each metallic, silvery-lilac flower has a remarkable amethyst sheen, creating a sparkling, ethereal sphere that seems to hover in the garden. It blooms a bit lower to the ground than its giant cousins, making it a perfect statement piece for the front or mid-border. After flowering, the architectural seed heads are just as stunning, drying to a beautiful silvery-tan that persists for months. Use them to add long-lasting structure to the garden or bring them indoors for magnificent dried arrangements that capture their starry magic.

A particularly striking and beautiful variety, 'Night Eyes' is a Grape Hyacinth that offers a dramatic and intense colour contrast. Each flower spike is composed of densely packed, deep cobalt-blue florets. What makes this variety so special is that each individual bell is neatly and distinctly rimmed with a crisp white edge, making them look like a cluster of tiny, watchful eyes. This RHS Award-winning cultivar is a selection of Muscari armeniacum and is very easy to grow. It is a fantastic choice for adding a touch of jewel-like detail to the spring garden and is perfect for containers where its unique beauty can be admired up close.

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.

True to its name, 'Gladiator' is a strong and statuesque presence in the garden. Standing tall on robust, sturdy stems, it produces impressive 6-inch globes of rich lilac-purple. It is one of the earliest of the giant alliums to bloom, creating a dramatic and powerful display that stands up to spring winds. 'Gladiator' is an excellent choice for creating vertical interest at the back of a border or for planting in bold groups to create a wave of colour. Its classic globe shape and reliable performance make it a champion of the late spring garden, effortlessly pairing with peonies and irises to create a truly spectacular show.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A fantastic architectural perennial, Echinops ritro, or the Globe Thistle, brings wonderful texture, colour, and structure to the garden. It forms a handsome clump of large, thistle-like leaves that are deep green on top and a contrasting, downy white underneath. In mid to late summer, the plant sends up strong, branching, silvery stems, each topped with a perfectly spherical, spiky flowerhead. The flowerheads start as silvery-green globes and gradually open into a stunning shade of intense, metallic blue. These globes are a magnet for bees and butterflies, who can often be seen covering the flowers. The flowerheads remain attractive long after the colour has faded, providing winter interest, and they are exceptional for both fresh and dried flower arrangements. It is a tough, drought-tolerant plant that thrives on neglect.

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.

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.

A particularly robust and impressive selection of the Persian Lily, 'Persica XXL' is chosen for its ability to produce exceptionally tall, strong stems and a magnificent, elongated spire of flowers. Each towering stem can be packed with up to 50 nodding, bell-shaped blooms. The flowers are a beautiful and sophisticated shade of dusky, smoky, plum-purple, often with a silvery bloom on the outside. The 'XXL' designation indicates that these are typically larger bulbs that produce more vigorous, taller, and more floriferous spikes than the standard species, making for an even more dramatic and architectural garden statement. This variety is perfect for adding height, drama, and moody colour to the back of a sunny border.

An incredibly striking and deservedly popular variety, 'Cummins' is the definition of garden chic. It features large, elegantly formed, goblet-shaped flowers of a rich and regal violet-purple. This beautiful, saturated colour provides the perfect backdrop for its most dramatic feature: a contrasting, heavily shredded white fringe that edges every single petal. This magnificent fringe is so pronounced it looks as if the entire bloom has been delicately touched by a magical frost, creating an electrifying visual contrast. It is an incredibly sophisticated and eye-catching tulip that never fails to draw compliments and questions from visitors. 'Cummins' is a must-have for those seeking a flower that is both elegant and powerfully dramatic in the mid-spring garden.

A wonderfully weird and fascinating plant, 'Plumosum' is the sterile, feathered form of Muscari comosum, the Tassel Hyacinth. It doesn't produce the typical bell-shaped flowers of a Muscari. Instead, the entire flower head is a fluffy, airy plume composed of thread-like, tangled, purple-violet filaments. The effect is truly bizarre and beautiful, like a soft purple cloud or a piece of violet candyfloss floating in the border. It blooms later than most other Muscari, extending the season. It is a fantastic choice for gardeners who appreciate botanical curiosities and want to add a unique texture and form to their late spring display.