Echinacea is a perennial herb that grows up to a metre in height, the purple flower is in the form of a high cone. Echinacea is valued as a short-term stimulant to the immune system. Until the late 1930s, Echinacea angustifolia was the only species used in medical practice,

Echinacea pallida is one of the more rare members of the Echinacea family. They have much longer, ray flowers than those of the more familiar purple coneflower, the plants bloom earlier and continue to bloom sporadically through the autumn months.

Purple coneflower is named because of its flower colour. The rest of the plant has green foliage and the seed heads are black. It is a wonderful plant for attracting butterflies and, if allowed, will naturally spreads through seed at the end of the growing season.

This classic plant, with its beautiful yellow flowers is a feast for the eyes as well as the belly. The whole plant is edible: the leaves can be cooked as greens, and the nutty-flavoured roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes, parsnips, or salsify. The flowers make a lovely salad garnish.

Fennel Finale is a new Swiss selection with firm, heavy and uniform bulbs with flattened shape. Excellent bolt resistance means it can be sown from the end of February to mid July, for harvesting in 90 days, between June and November. It is one of the best open-pollinated varieties available for consistent production.

The fine clouds of feathery, bronze-purple leaves are wonderful as a centre piece for a sunny herb garden, or among tall perennials and grasses. The foliage acts as a delicate veil through which the flower heads of herbaceous plants and bulbs can be seen.

The green garden fennel is a handsome and popular perennial, often planted on its own for impact or combined with other flowers in borders.Plants develop into magnificent clumps of airy feather foliage, crowned in late summer with large heads of tiny flowers.