Hardy Annuals

Worldwide, Antirrhinum is one of the most important 'summer cut-flowers', grown year-round in greenhouses they are adored by florists and gardeners alike. An all-around excellent garden performer, 'Snowflake' produces densely packed spikes that bloom in succession with pure white flowers.

Antirrhinum majus ‘Tetra Mix’ produce tall, stately plants with ruffled blooms in a rich variety of colours. The robust plants grow to around 90cm tall. Superb for contrast and for giving height to the border, they are grown year-round by florists as a cut flower and are an all-around excellent garden performer.

Asperula orientalis, commonly known as Blue Woodruff is a charming little plant. A versatile and easy to grow annual which forms spreading mounds of airy foliage smothered in sweetly scented, clusters of tubular, sky-blue flowers.

Calamintha nepeta is a very attractive bushy, perennial that should be in every garden. Clouds of tiny, lilac-mauve flowers appear in early summer and flower continuously from early June right through to late September. The leaves exude a lovely minty scent when crushed and the flowers are true bee pasture.

‘Indian Prince' has unique petals quite unlike other Calendula, the dark orange rays are in layers of orange, backed with rich mahogany red petals. Easily grown, sown direct in spring or in autumn, they are perfect candidates for cutting and flower arrangements.

Cheerful and bright, use Calendula in beds, borders or containers. Calendula is prolific and durable, and like most hardy annuals it is easy to grow, simply sow where it is to flower. It is currently one of the top herbs used for medicinal use. Sprinkle salads and decorate cakes with the edible tangy petals.

Calendula officinalis 'Cut Flower Mix’ is a specially selected mix of colours and types, each with long stems designed for cutting. They grow to a height of around 70 to 80cm, are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower. Clip spent flowers to achieve a longer blooming season.

Calendula officinalis ‘Ivory Princess’ is a tall show stopper with giant buttery flowers. The petals are a mix of creamy buff-yellow with tips of the serrated, buttercream petals having the tiniest outline of brown, giving a ruffled, lacy effect which beautifully compliments the dark brown eye.

Calendula officinalis 'Neon' is a true showstopper. The densely set, double flowers glow with deep orange petals each with bronze tips. Growing to a height of around 60 to 70cm they are the essence of early summer colour in the garden and make a stunning cut flower.

A delightful compact mix of single and semi-double forms, the daisy-like open petals of 'Oopsy Daisy' are bright in the centre with dark tips. Easy to grow they thrive in the cooler weather of spring and autumn. This is an excellent variety for borders and containers and will add cheer to any location.

Don’t be misled by the name - Calendula officinalis 'Orange Flash' produces stunning peachy apricot-copper coloured blooms with darker shades of ombré-rose on the reverse. They grow to a height of around 60cm and a spread of 45cm, are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower.

'Sunset Buff' is a lovely, more subtle coloured calendula. It is the soft apricot-buff version of 'Indian Prince' with the same crimson petal backs. They grow to a height of around 60cm and a spread of 45cm, are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower.

'Sunset Mix' is a dynamic blend of the Sunset series in orange, apricot, peach, cream, and yellow shades. It includes bicolors and tricolors with the same darker crimson colours on the back of each petal. They are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower.

Calendula 'Touch of Red Buff' is a very interesting and unusual colour, a very contemporary beige-pink with darker petal tips giving a beautiful antique and vintage effect. For cut flowers, harvest when blooms are partially open and clip spent flowers to achieve a longer blooming season.

Calendula officinalis 'Touch of Red Orange' are “orange hot” Marigolds with bronze and red edges to the petals. They are perfect for cut flowers, harvest when blooms are partially open and clip spent flowers to achieve a longer blooming season.

Bred specifically for professional cut flower production. Carthamus tinctorius ‘Kinko’ is a special selection featuring deep orange blooms. Easy to grow from seed, flowering can be staggered by sowing successionally. It will give a host of vibrant hues throughout summer, whether in the garden or in the vase.

Carthamus tinctorius ‘Shiro’ features unusual creamy-white blooms. It makes an excellent, high quality cut flower and can also be used green when harvested young. Growing 80 to 100cm tall, flowering takes 12 to 14 weeks. It can also used for dried arrangements and is considered to be an everlasting.

The Boy Series, which all feature double flowered blooms on tall stems for garden or cutting, are available in many colours. These beauties grow well as border plants and are wonderful in a cutting garden. 'Black ball' flowers are a lovely rich dark-chocolate hue, almost black on cloudy days.

A favorite annual flower and cottage garden staple, Centaurea 'Blue Boy' has piercing, bright blue flowers with ruffled petals and violet-blue centres. The blooms appear from early to late summer. These beauties grow well as border plants and are wonderful in a cutting garden.

Cornflowers are the most splendid of annuals. Centaurea cyanus 'Classic Fantastic' blooms in a mixture of captivating blue shades, ranging from light heavenly blue to dark blue. The flowers are often in two shades of blue or have a dark center and lighter petals. They are breathtaking when they're grown in dense drifts.

The 'Classic' series of Cornflowers offers flower lovers three fabulous shade-mixtures. A harmonious mixture of exceptional shades, 'Classic Magic' produces blooms from light mauve with a dark centre to flowers that are close to black with white tip on each petal. For magical borders and bouquets.

'Classic Romantic' is a delightful mixture of charming pink and pretty rosy-red shades. The flowers are often in two shades of pink, or have a dark center and lighter petals. Many flowers are rosy-red and have white tips. By sowing this variety you will add some romance to the border, and to summer bouquets.