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Despite its American provenance Panicum virgatum was originally taken up by German landscapers and gardeners. Renowned for its steely coloured blue-grey to blue-purple leaves, but it is the contrast between the rigid, stainless-steel foliage and purple-pink froth that really charms.

'Emerald Chief' is a good Panicum virgatum selected seed strain. Hardy with sturdy upright deep green growth and great autumn colour. The panicles open red pink in late summer and its foliage turns from green to a lovely deep gold. This chief stands up tall throughout the winter months.

The Iceland poppies have large, luscious petals in an array of shades.The single papery, lightly fragrant blossoms flowers unwrinkle their petals into a wide-spreading saucer shape 3 to 4 inches across. Flowering early in summer they produce dazzling splashes of colour when planted en masse.

Oriental poppies are the most eye-catching of all border plants. Allegro is a compact, perennial variety that is non-sprawling upright and completely weather resistant. As the buds open, they reveal crumpled, translucent petals that unfurl into striking red, cupped flowers, each with black centres. Ravishing.

Papaver orientale 'Brilliant' exhibits immense scarlet red satiny blooms, each boasting intricately decorated, deep purple-black hearts. A good border plant, as well as an eye catching cut flower, they are very long-lived and virtually care-free, these undemanding plants provide a real spectacle year after year.

Oriental Poppy 'Haremstraum' is a colourful formula mix of the newer hybrids. Indispensable in the early summer garden, they deliver before most perennials have even thought about budding up. Throughout May and June, they break out their large sumptuous coloured, crumpled petals from tight fisted buds.

A range of delicate antique pinks, many with a cream-white base, suffused with rose, pinks and purple hues, beautifully offset by lush, blue-green foliage. Papaver paeoniflorum 'Antique Shades' is not a new introduction, but on old, historical variety of the type that were grown in cottage gardens and monasteries several centuries ago.

Papaver 'Black Peony' has fascinating, large, fully double, dark purple-maroon, almost black flowers, with lovely crinkled petals. When the flowers do burst, overnight, from their casings, the gardener is treated to some of the most dramatic flowers in the plant kingdom.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, with thick stalks and broad lettuce like leaves, Papaver 'Double Cream' has fascinating, large, fully double, cream flowers with lovely crinkled petals. Sown in early spring, the plants grow quickly and the first flowers appear in early July. One of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture to your garden.

Also known as Peony poppies, Papaver paeoniflorum producing a summer-long succession of fascinating, heavily doubled, large flowers with lovely crinkled petals. Their spectacular blooms, in a multitude of colours are one of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture and a lot of colour to your garden.

Peony poppies are one of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture and a lot of dazzle to your garden. Papaver 'Double Salmon' blooms with lush frilled, coral-pink coloured, often palm-sized blooms. The gardener is treated to some of the most dramatic flowers in the plant kingdom, absolute showstoppers when they're in full bloom.

Indescribably elegant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Lilac Pompom' blooms with lush frilled, dark pink-violet, often palm-sized blooms. Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow flowering plant, they are showstoppers when they're in full bloom.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Paeony Pink' produces ultra feminine, large flower heads with lovely crinkled pink petals that look like upturned petticoats. At the end of the season, the seed pods are well-suited for crafts and dried floral arrangements.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Paeony Rose' produces ultra feminine, large flower heads with lovely crinkled rose-pink petals that look like upturned petticoats. At the end of the season, the seed pods are well-suited for crafts and dried floral arrangements.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Paeony Yellow' produces ultra feminine, large flower heads with lovely crinkled petals that look like upturned petticoats. At the end of the season, the seed pods are well-suited for crafts and dried floral arrangements.

Peony poppies are one of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture and a lot of dazzle to your garden. 'Violet Blush' produces spectacular palm-sized blooms in a lovely light blushed, violet-pink colour. It is superb in the flower border and looks extra special when planted en mass.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant. It has fascinating, large, fully double white flowers, with lovely crinkled petals. Papaver 'White Cloud' is superb in the flower border. These plants are showstoppers when they're in full bloom.

A cult favourite of high-end florists who reserve ‘Amazing Grey’ for their finest design work. Sown once the ground has begun to warm in late April, by June you will be blessed with the goose neck, prickly buds and shortly after, gorgeous pearl greys, pewter and mauve coloured, luminescent blooms.

When it comes to cut flowers, the poppy may be the ‘Internet darling’ of the moment. arranged in mason jars and in hand-tied bouquets, the poppy attracts the hip and stylish with their vintage, casual feel. The pure white colour form has been separated out and is now available to gardeners.

Developed by the painter Cedric Morris around 1910 'Mother of Pearl' offers the finest colours in mauves and smokey tones and is one of the most distinctive, yet subtle blends of poppies available today. Single flowers in dove greys, blackberry and lavender, mauve edged in white, and opalescent shadowy tints.

Papaver rhoeas 'Pandora' is a strikingly unique and impressive new variety, which blooms in a phenomenal combination of shades. From voluptuous deep burgundy red to paler pink-red all broken by silver grey stripes on the lower petals. They bloom from early summer and bloom for several months.