Summer Bulbs & Plants

Dahlia 'Blue Wish' produces fully double blooms in white flushed with soft lilac, creating a cool, luminous effect that works beautifully in both elegant borders and cut flower arrangements.

The flowers sit on sturdy stems above bushy foliage and bloom steadily from midsummer until the first frosts, making this a reliable choice for long-season colour.

Plant in a sunny, sheltered position after frost risk has passed, using fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Regular picking and deadheading will encourage more flowers.

In colder areas, lift and store the tubers after the first frost, or mulch and protect them well if left in the ground in very mild conditions.

Dahlia 'Blue Bayou' brings anemone-flowered blooms in purple-pink tones to summer borders and cutting gardens, with bold flowerheads held on sturdy stems. Whether planted in drifts or dotted through mixed beds, the blooms add instant impact and keep coming through the warm months.

Once established, this clump-forming dahlia typically reaches 1.2 m, producing plenty of long stems for cutting. Regular picking and deadheading encourages a steady succession of flowers from midsummer into autumn.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, or plant outside once the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and enrich the planting area with compost for best results.

Water during dry spells, especially while buds form, and feed every two to three weeks through the flowering period. Taller plants benefit from discreet staking, and removing faded blooms keeps the plant productive and tidy.

Perfect for borders, patio pots and cutting gardens, dahlias are also pollinator-friendly in single-flowered forms. Lift and store the tubers after the first frosts in colder areas to enjoy an even better display the following year.

Anemone nemorosa 'Royal Blue' is a woodland classic, bringing lavender-blue spring flowers to shady corners in early spring. The starry blooms appear in a fresh carpet above finely cut foliage, brightening banks, underplanting and the front of borders when little else is flowering, and they look especially beautiful planted in repeating groups.

Reaching about 10–25cm in flower, wood anemones spread steadily to form natural-looking colonies. They are ideal beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, where they enjoy spring light before the canopy closes, and they naturalise beautifully in woodland-style gardens.

Plant rootstocks in autumn or early spring in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. A position in partial shade is ideal, though they will tolerate sun in cool, damp ground. Water after planting and keep soil just moist while new growth establishes.

Once settled, wood anemones are low maintenance. Leave foliage to die back naturally after flowering so plants can recharge for next year. A light mulch of leaf mould or compost in autumn supports healthy colonies and helps retain soil moisture.

Use wood anemones to create spring drifts under shrubs, along pathways and on woodland edges. The flowers are pollinator-friendly and provide early nectar, while the spreading habit helps knit planting together for a soft, natural finish.

Dahlia 'Downham Royal' brings deep magenta ball blooms with rich purple-red tones to summer borders and cutting gardens, with bold flowerheads held on sturdy stems. Whether planted in drifts or dotted through mixed beds, the blooms add instant impact and keep coming through the warm months.

Once established, this clump-forming dahlia typically reaches 90 cm, producing plenty of long stems for cutting. Regular picking and deadheading encourages a steady succession of flowers from midsummer into autumn.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, or plant outside once the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and enrich the planting area with compost for best results.

Water during dry spells, especially while buds form, and feed every two to three weeks through the flowering period. Taller plants benefit from discreet staking, and removing faded blooms keeps the plant productive and tidy.

Perfect for borders, patio pots and cutting gardens, dahlias are also pollinator-friendly in single-flowered forms. Lift and store the tubers after the first frosts in colder areas to enjoy an even better display the following year.

Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt' is one of the best-loved classic peonies, producing very large, fully double blooms in soft rose-pink with a sumptuous, romantic look and a strong, sweet fragrance.

The flowers appear in late spring to early summer above handsome divided foliage, and the sturdy, long-lived clump makes an outstanding feature in mixed borders as well as a superb cut flower.

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, keeping the eyes only just below the soil surface for reliable flowering and long-term performance.

Water while establishing, mulch annually around the clump and leave the foliage to die back naturally in autumn so the plant can build strength for the following year.