Spring Bulbs & Plants

A truly exquisite and highly sought-after Hellebore, 'Double Ellen Picotee' brings a touch of sophisticated magic to the late winter and early spring garden. It produces magnificent, fully double, cup-shaped flowers that nod gracefully on strong stems. Each bloom is a work of art, with layers of creamy white or pale green petals that are delicately and precisely outlined in a beautiful shade of rosy-pink or deep magenta. This 'picotee' edge gives the flower a stunning, hand-painted appearance. The handsome, leathery, dark green foliage is evergreen, providing year-round structure and interest. This is a must-have plant for bringing colour and elegance to shady borders long before most other plants have woken up, providing a vital nectar source for early emerging bees.

A truly sophisticated and beautiful Lenten Rose, 'Double Ellen Green' is prized for its unique and elegant flowers. In late winter and early spring, it produces large, exquisite, fully double blooms. The flowers are composed of many layers of ruffled petals in a gorgeous shade of fresh, chartreuse or lime-green. Some flowers may have subtle, deeper green veining or a fine picotee edge of reddish-purple, adding to their complexity and charm. The nodding or outward-facing blooms are held on strong stems above handsome clumps of leathery, evergreen foliage. It brings a cool, refined elegance to the shady garden at a time when colour is scarce and provides a vital nectar source for early-pollinating insects. A must-have for any hellebore enthusiast or woodland garden.

The classic Baby's Breath, Gypsophila paniculata is an iconic garden perennial and a mainstay of the cut flower industry. It forms a deeply-rooted, branching clump from which emerge numerous, wiry, multi-branched stems, creating a huge, airy, cloud-like effect. In summer, these stems are covered in literally thousands of tiny, single or double, white flowers. The overall effect is one of a delicate, white mist, which is perfect for softening the edges of a border and weaving amongst other, more boldly-coloured perennials like roses and lilies. It is essential for cottage garden designs and is, of course, a world-famous cut flower, used to add a light, romantic touch to bouquets and floral arrangements. It thrives in sunny, dry conditions with alkaline soil.

A fiery and compact variety of Blanket Flower, 'Kobold' (which is German for Goblin) is a tough, reliable, and exceptionally long-flowering perennial. It forms a neat, low mound of grey-green, lance-shaped leaves. From early summer right through to the first frosts, it produces a continuous supply of vibrant, daisy-like flowers. Each bloom is a dramatic bi-colour, with flame-red petals that are tipped with brilliant, golden-yellow. The prominent, reddish-brown central cone is also attractive. This is a shorter, more compact version of the species, making it ideal for the front of a hot, sunny border or for container planting without the need for staking. It thrives on neglect and is extremely drought-tolerant, making it a superb choice for a low-maintenance garden.

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 truly stunning Crown Imperial, 'Red Beauty' is a slightly more compact but incredibly vibrant variety. It produces a tall, strong stem that is topped by a whorl of large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers. The colour is an intense and glowing vermilion-red, making it a fiery beacon in the spring garden. Above the flowers sits the characteristic pineapple-like tuft of green leaves. Its slightly shorter stature makes it a bit more robust in windy positions compared to its taller cousins, without sacrificing any of the dramatic architectural impact. The bulb's foxy scent is a reliable deterrent for rodents.

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.

A beautiful and elegant species, Fritillaria pallidiflora is prized for its large, gracefully nodding, bell-shaped flowers of a soft, creamy, primrose-yellow. The inside of the bell is subtly patterned with fine, reddish-brown or greenish chequering, giving it a delicate, intricate beauty. Each stem typically carries between two and five of these charming blooms in mid to late spring. This species is known for being one of the more robust and easy-to-grow fritillaries, adapting well to garden conditions. It is a fantastic choice for a lightly shaded border or a woodland garden, where its pale, luminous flowers will brighten up the space and happily multiply over time.

A beautiful and striking species, Fritillaria michailovskyi is a small but dramatic fritillary that produces one to five nodding, bell-shaped flowers per stem. The blooms are a rich, deep, purplish-maroon on the outside, a colour that is spectacularly contrasted by a broad, very distinct band of bright golden-yellow at the petal tips. The inside of the bell is a glossy, bright yellow. This RHS Award-winning species is easy to grow and a reliable perennial, making it an excellent choice for adding a touch of jewel-like, exotic beauty to rock gardens, the front of borders, and containers where its unique colouring can be appreciated up close.

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.

The pure white form of the native Snakeshead Fritillary, 'Alba' is an exceptionally beautiful and graceful spring bulb. It produces delicate, nodding, bell-shaped flowers of a pristine, luminous white, completely lacking the chequered pattern of the species. The blooms are held on slender, wiry stems above fine, grey-green foliage. It has a magical, ethereal quality, especially when planted in large drifts where the white bells seem to shimmer in the light. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner and is perfect for naturalising in damp meadows, woodland gardens, and alongside ponds, where it will happily spread over the years to form a breathtaking display.

The beautiful and elegant counterpart to its dark purple cousins, 'Ivory Bells' is a highly sought-after Persian Fritillary. It produces a magnificent, tall spire which is densely packed with up to 30 or more nodding, bell-shaped flowers. The blooms are a stunning shade of creamy, greenish-ivory, creating a cool, luminous, and sophisticated effect in the late spring garden. The pale colour of the flowers provides a wonderful contrast to the grey-green foliage. 'Ivory Bells' is perfect for adding a strong, elegant vertical accent and looks particularly stunning in "white garden" schemes or paired with dark tulips and alliums for a classic, high-contrast look.

The classic red Crown Imperial, 'Rubra' is a truly majestic and architectural plant that commands attention. It produces a tall, thick, powerful stem topped with a spectacular whorl of large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers. The blooms are a vibrant shade of orange-red to deep scarlet, and they hang beneath a pineapple-like crown of glossy green leaves. It is a fantastic choice for adding height, drama, and a touch of the exotic to the back of a sunny border. While the bulbs have a distinct foxy odour that repels rodents, the flowers themselves are a stunning sight in the early to mid-spring garden.

A truly majestic and architectural plant, 'Lutea' is the yellow form of the Crown Imperial. It produces a tall, thick, and robust stem which is topped in mid-spring with a spectacular whorl of up to ten large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers of a clear, luminous yellow. Sitting proudly above this floral crown is a pineapple-like tuft of fresh green, leafy bracts. It is a true statement piece for the garden, known for its regal presence and unique form. The entire plant has a distinctive musky scent, often described as 'foxy', which is a famous natural deterrent for rodents, squirrels, and deer.

A classic and magnificent variety of Crown Imperial, 'Aurora' is celebrated for its stunning, warm-toned flowers. It produces a tall, thick stem which is crowned in mid-spring with a spectacular whorl of large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers in a beautiful shade of soft, brick-orange or coppery-red. A pineapple-like tuft of green, leafy bracts sits atop the floral crown, completing its regal appearance. Like all Crown Imperials, 'Aurora' has a distinctive musky 'foxy' scent that acts as a powerful and natural deterrent to deer, squirrels, and other rodent pests, making it as practical as it is beautiful. It is a true garden aristocrat, bringing an architectural and exotic presence to the spring border.

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.

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.

A bright and cheerful variety of Coneflower, 'Tweety' is notable for its very compact size and large, vibrant flowers. It forms a low, neat, well-branched clump of deep green leaves. From early to late summer, it produces a profusion of sturdy stems, each bearing a large, daisy-like flower. The blooms have long, elegant, bright canary-yellow petals that are held horizontally, surrounding a prominent, greenish-gold central cone. At only around 30-40cm tall, it is much shorter than most other coneflowers, making it an absolutely perfect choice for the front of the border or for planting in containers and patio pots. It is a magnet for bees and butterflies, and if the flower heads are left on, the seed cones provide food for goldfinches in the autumn and winter.

A truly exotic and show-stopping plant, the Canary Island Foxglove is not a true foxglove but a magnificent, shrubby perennial that brings a touch of the tropics to the patio. 'Bella' is a superb selection that produces multiple, dense spikes of incredibly unusual flowers. Each bloom is a stunning shade of coppery-orange or rich apricot, with intricate reddish-brown veining inside. The shape is unique, not a classic bell but a flared, beak-like tube, giving the plant a very striking and architectural appearance. The foliage is handsome too, consisting of long, willow-like, glossy green leaves that form a neat shrub. It has a very long flowering season, blooming continuously through summer. As it is native to the Canary Islands, it is tender and must be protected from frost, making it an ideal specimen plant for a large container.

A fantastic succulent perennial from the innovative 'Ice Cream' series, this variety brings a dazzling splash of sunshine to the hottest, driest parts of the garden. It forms a low, spreading carpet of fleshy, bright green, cylindrical leaves that are effective at storing water, making the plant incredibly drought tolerant. From early summer right through to the first frosts, this mat of foliage is studded with a profusion of vibrant, daisy-like flowers. Each bloom is a brilliant, sunny yellow with a contrasting, clean white centre, creating a cheerful bicolour effect. The flowers open their faces to the sun, closing at night or on cloudy days. This plant thrives on neglect and is the perfect solution for challenging locations like gravel gardens, rockeries, hot south-facing slopes, or spilling from a terracotta pot where it will be protected from winter wet.

A truly beautiful and resilient succulent perennial, 'Ice Cream Salmon' is a star performer in the hottest and driest parts of the garden. Part of the innovative 'Ice Cream' series, it forms a low, tight mat of fleshy, deep green leaves that are excellent at conserving moisture. From late spring through summer, this tough foliage is adorned with a multitude of dazzling, daisy-like flowers. Each bloom is a stunning shade of warm, rosy-salmon, with a contrasting cool white eye that makes the colour pop. This plant thrives in conditions where others would fail, its flowers opening wide in the sun to create a carpet of vibrant colour. It is the perfect choice for a gravel garden, a sunny rockery, the top of a dry wall, or for spilling over the edges of a container, providing long-lasting colour with minimal effort.

A fantastic addition to the long-blooming 'Ice Cream' series, this hardy Ice Plant offers an incredibly intense and vibrant flower colour. 'Ice Cream Purple' forms a low, dense, spreading mat of succulent, bright green, finger-like leaves. From late spring often until the first frosts, this foliage is almost completely obscured by a mass of dazzling, daisy-like flowers. The blooms are a shocking, electric shade of vivid purple or magenta, each with a bright white eye at the centre, which makes the purple appear even more luminous. The flowers open in the sunshine and are a magnet for bees. This plant is exceptionally tough and drought-tolerant, making it a first-class choice for hot, dry problem areas. It's perfect for rockeries, gravel gardens, green roofs, or spilling over walls and container edges, providing months of vivid, low-maintenance colour.

Part of a sensational series of Ice Plants, 'Ice Cream Orange' brings a taste of the exotic to the garden with its incredibly vibrant flowers. This succulent perennial forms a low, spreading mat of fleshy, bright green leaves that are an excellent backdrop for the stunning, daisy-like blooms. The flowers are a dazzling, almost fluorescent shade of bright orange, each with a contrasting cool white or pale yellow eye, creating a beautiful bicolour effect. The blooms open in the sun and will continue to appear in waves from early summer often right through to the autumn. As a succulent, it is exceptionally drought tolerant and adores hot, sunny, and dry conditions, making it a star performer in gravel gardens, rockeries, and containers.

A fantastically cheerful and resilient succulent, Delosperma 'Ice Cream Fuchsia' is part of a series bred for vibrant colour and a super-long flowering season. This hardy Ice Plant forms a low, spreading mat of fleshy, green, finger-like foliage that is attractive in its own right. From late spring right through to the first frosts, this mat is completely smothered in a profusion of dazzling, daisy-like flowers. The blooms are an incredibly intense shade of bright fuchsia-pink with a contrasting, sunny yellow eye at the centre. The flowers open in the sun, creating a vivid carpet of colour that is irresistible to bees and butterflies. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant, thriving in hot, dry, sunny spots where other plants might struggle. It's a perfect choice for rockeries, gravel gardens, green roofs, or cascading over the edges of walls and containers.

A sizzlingly hot member of the 'Ice Cream' series, 'Fire' is a hardy succulent that creates a stunning carpet of fiery colour. This tough and resilient Ice Plant forms a low, spreading mat of fleshy green foliage that is evergreen in milder climates. From late spring right through to autumn, the plant is covered in a mass of daisy-like flowers. The blooms are an incredible bi-colour, with brilliant orange outer petals that transition into a shocking, electric fuchsia-pink ring around the central yellow eye. The effect is like a tiny, floral firework. The flowers open wide in the sunshine, attracting bees and butterflies. Being exceptionally drought-tolerant, it's the perfect plant for solving problems in hot, dry, sunny spots such as gravel gardens, rockeries, slopes, or for spilling over the edges of containers and walls.