Half Hardy Annuals

With cascading tassels of the most wonderful coral-pink. Amaranthus 'Coral Fountain' is a great addition to the garden and a superb filler for the vase. With generous treatment, specimens three or four feet or more with enormous drooping tassels of flowers can be obtained.

This ever-popular annual is perhaps more versatile than you might imagine – good in the border, most effective as a cut flower in arrangements, a good pot-plant and, not often appreciated – if carefully dried, the colour of the spikes remains unchanged for a considerable time.

The blooms of Amaranthus caudatus 'Mira' have a unique ombre colour that transitions from light sage green, to lilac, to deep purple. The trailing locks are like jeweled necklaces, thick, pendulous tassels that extend 60 to 90cm long. They add exceptional texture and visual interest to gardens and floral designs alike.

Amaranthus caudatus viridis is the green form of the popular drooping amaranthus. The lime green flowers, which slowly fade to cream as they age, form dramatic tassel-like panicles which can grow to 60cm long and seem to drip from the branches in profusion throughout summer and early autumn.

Amaranthus 'Hot Biscuits' is a rather splendid ornamental addition to the garden and the vase. This gorgeous and graceful amaranth feature bold spikes of coppery-bronze branching plumes. They make an excellent cut flower and make exciting vase material that hold their colour longer than other amaranths.

Amaranthus tricolour is grown for its beautiful foliage. 'Summer Poinsettia Mix' is a colourful mix of tropical splendors. Juicy colour combinations: deep green leaves topped with creamy chartreuse, vivid yellow, purple with red, and a tricolor mix of red, green and gold.

Arctotis was born to play a starring role, they are among the most brilliant of all flowers. 'Harlequin' is a beautiful strain with large, brilliantly coloured flowers with many different combinations, some with contrasting tones and all with a luminescent sheen. You'd be hard-pushed to find better performing plants.

The herb borage is a well known annual. Not so well known is the equally beautiful form 'alba' which boast pure white, perfectly star-shaped flowers. Each flower is centred by five black stamens which heighten the drama. The flowers are edible, garden visitors can be converted to herbal advocates simply by offering a taste of its white flower.

The herb borage is a well known annual with beautiful blue flowers. Not so well known and not often written about is the equally beautiful form 'alba' which boast pure white, perfectly star-shaped flowers. This mixed pack of seeds gives both blue and white forms.

Borage is one of the most reliable sources of blue flowers, often flowering lavishly for weeks after sowing. The beautiful blue star-shaped flowers are edible and very important for bees, providing pollen and nectar in prodigious amounts.

Brachycome is a care-free annual that forms clouds of soft colour. It is one of the most profuse and long-flowering annuals. Cheerful little pinwheels and are held above pale green, feathery foliage. It flowers so heavily that the foliage is often obscured.

This wonderfully intriguing annual makes a great companion plant for showier flowers in the garden or the vase, the blooms of chartreuse green bring out the colours of other flowers, especially bright ones. Easily grown from seed, it is a particularly unique dried or cut flower.

Callistephus chinensis ‘Benary’s Princess Mix’ blooms with glorious, large blooms in a good colour range. This vigorous variety is tolerant of challenging growing conditions, even wet conditions and the large blooms have very long, strong stems. Plant successively over several weeks to stretch out your flowering season.

Callistephus 'King Size Appleblossom’ produces pale pink to purple-pink blooms which fade to cream at the centre. Sow at any time from January to July for flowering April through to October, sowing to flowering takes just 90 days. Plant successively over several weeks to stretch out your flowering season.

Callistephus chinensis 'King Size Apricot' is an unusual light soft peach-apricot Aster with large, fully double flowers with slightly curved petals up to 8cm (3in) in diameter and sturdy stems to 100cm tall. Showy without being garish they are perfect for today’s specialty florists, cut-flower farms and farmers markets.

With Chrysanthemum-like incurving petals that are sure to capture the imagination of every self respecting cut flower enthusiast. China Aster 'Lady Coral Chamois' produces captivating pale chamois-pink, incurved blooms are absolutely stunning. A perfect addition for late summer and autumn bouquets.

One of the most eye-catching Asters we have seen in a long while. 'Lady Coral Lavender' produces captivating silvery lavender, large blooms that are absolutely stunning. Gorgeous great mounds of glorious recurved petals, they are a must-grow for the exquisite colouring alone.

With Chrysanthemum-like incurving petals that are sure to capture the imagination of every self respecting cut flower enthusiast. China Aster 'Lady Coral Salmon' produces captivating salmon pink blooms that are absolutely stunning. Sow January to July for flowering April through to October.

Developed specifically for the cut flower market, Callistephus 'Matsumoto Apricot' will be a very fashionable addition to any garden or vase. Easy to grow, from sowing to flowering takes just 90 days, producing tall, sturdy stems with large heads of beautifully soft, semi-double Apricot blooms.

Developed specifically for the cut flower market, Callistephus 'Matsumoto Salmon' will be a very fashionable addition to any garden or vase. Easy to grow, from sowing to flowering takes just 90 days, producing tall, sturdy stems with large heads of beautifully soft, semi-double salmon-pink blooms.