Half Hardy Annuals

Helichrysum make one of the finest subjects for beds and borders and for bouquets, the flowers bloom from mid-summer right up to frost. Deep purple-red blooms are held atop strong multi-branching bright green stems. Known as an 'everlasting', they make one of the best dried flowers, both the colour and shape will last indefinitely.

Helichrysum bracteatum is the most well known and is probably the best of all the everlasting flowers. They make one of the finest subjects for bouquets, apart from being useful for beds and borders. They are easy to cultivate and established plants grow well with little or no attention and bloom from mid-summer right up to frost.

Gypsophila paniculata 'Snowflake' is a pretty double-flowered baby’s breath that offers big airy clouds of white blooms in early summer. The flower panicles are strong-stemmed, compact and bloom a bit earlier than standard forms. Each stem has hundreds of tiny white flowers on wire-thin branches, giving an airy, soft impression.

Gypsophila has recently become rather trendy among celebrity and designer florists, even taking centre stage as the main flower focus of bouquets and arrangements. 'Covent Garden' produces hundreds of tiny, single white flowers on wire-thin branches, giving an airy impression.

One of the most stunning Dahlias you will ever see, let alone grow, Bishop's Children is a warm-toned mix in shades of a tropical sunset. Deep reds and crimsons, copper and turmeric-yellows, as well as peach and plums. But what makes these blooms really extraordinary is that they arise atop dark foliage.

Cosmos 'Purity' is a well-named newer hybrid, pure white large blooms on a plant that grows only 3 to 4 ft. tall. From June to October the large, graceful, saucer-shaped flowers are handsomely offset by the masses of mid-green feathery foliage. An excellent addition to the cutting garden.

Renowned for its surprisingly large ruffled blooms, Cosmos ‘Psyché Mixture’ grows to a height of around 90 to 120cm and throws up hundreds of elegantly waved, upright blooms in crimson, rich lavender pink, and white. They provide plenty of colour in the garden and vases full of cuts flowers.

Cosmos "Daydream" is a superb new colour, palest pink with a deep rose pink centre makes this a unique and delicate addition to any garden. The flowers are very early and are freely produced over a long period. Very easy to grow, making it a perfect choice for children or the less experienced gardener.

Great for adding vertical interest to a perennial border, or use as accent plants in containers for an exotic feel, the Cleome 'Queen Series' are very easy to grow and last well into autumn. Large flower heads in Cherry, Violet, Rose and White, they make attractive cut flowers and the seed heads can be dried and added to bouquets.

This beautiful highly versatile, aristocratic border plant has become very much in vogue in recent years. Oval, fleshy blue-green leaves spiral up the stem with tightly packed, sea blue bracts - and then the finale - small clusters of rich purple-blue tubular, nodding flowers which are adored by bees.

Offering a wide range of colours, the Peony Duchess Aster Mix is a favourite for the cutting garden. This early blooming variety produces large blooms that look more like a chrysanthemum than an aster, with their masses of incurved petals, but early blooming season and ease of care sets them apart. From sowing to flowering takes just 90 days.

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.

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.

A professional quality aster that was developed specifically for the cut flower market, the 'Lady Coral' series feature Chrysanthemum-like incurving petals that are sure to capture the imagination of every self respecting cut flower enthusiast. The large blooms of 'Orange-Apricot' are a must grow for their exquisite colouring.

Sure to capture the imagination of every self respecting cut flower enthusiast, 'Lady Coral' is one of the most eye-catching Asters we have seen in a long while. 'Light Rose' produces captivating rose-pink, incurved blooms that are absolutely stunning and the entire growing process from seedling to flower taking just 10 to 15 weeks to complete.

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 Chamois' produces captivating pale chamois-pink, incurved blooms are absolutely stunning. A perfect addition for late summer and autumn bouquets.

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.

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.

The large milk-white flowers of Aster 'Chrysantella Phantom of the Opera' are nothing short of spectacular. Perfect for use in wedding work, the entire growing process from seedling to flower taking just 10 to 15 weeks to complete. Cut flowers last much longer than other varieties and just one plant is enough to create a bouquet.