Hardy Annuals

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Prima Donna’ is a classic Grandiflora sweet pea introduced by Henry Eckford in 1896, during the golden age of sweet pea breeding. It bears rosy-pink blooms that deepen as they mature, each flower beautifully proportioned and carried two or three to a stem.

The original ‘Painted Lady’ arose as a sport from 'Cupani' in about 1730. It was the very first named sweet pea cultivar. Recently reselected, this modern form produces larger, more numerous flowers and retains the distinctive colour combination of lotus-pink and white petals. One of the most highly scented sweet peas you can grow today.

Originally bred and introduced by a Mr Viner in 1901, Sweet Pea 'Nellie Viner' produces long stemmed blooms that have nicely rounded clear pastel pink flowers, a very useful pink, that blends beautifully with other tones. The long-stemmed sprays produce an irresistible medley of fragrances and make exceptionally fine cut flowers.

Named for the ‘Father of the Sweet Pea’ this stunning heirloom grandiflora type has dramatic orange blooms and is fantastically fragrant. 'Henry Eckford' is one of the original Antique or Heirloom varieties, use for cut flowers or plant where their scent can be appreciated.

The Heirloom Mixture is a wonderful mixture of the Heirloom Grandiflora Sweet Peas. Representing most of the colours of this type and containing varieties that date back to the 16th century. Fabulous flowers in great colours that grow on vigorous plants, each have an intense full bodied perfume.

'Mammoth Salmon Cream' produces blooms in a warm pink with a soft apricot glow, more peach than coral. The buds open slightly deeper, then the standards and wings fade towards blush and cream as the bloom ages. In cool light it reads pinker, in bright sun it shifts a touch more apricot. Lovely with whites, creams and smoky mauve's.

'Mammoth Rose Pink' produces blooms in a clear, mid rose-pink, fresh and flattering rather than hot or cerise. Buds open a shade deeper, then the petals soften to shell-pink with a faint silvery bloom on the wings. Extra early, extra large blooms and an excellent choice for early spring colour and for producing early cut flowers.

‘Mammoth Pastel Mix’ also known as ‘Goddess Mix’ is a dreamy grandiflora Sweet Pea blend, in blush, shell-pink, cream, peach and lavender, all richly scented. Extra-early with extra-large blooms, the vigorous plants carry long, strong stems packed with fragrant flowers. It’s one of the best strains for producing early cut flowers.

Extra early, extra large blooms are the feature of this award winning sweet pea and the best strain for producing early cut flowers. If you have never seen this kind of sweet pea on long stems before, and don’t quite understand what all the fuss is all about…they are marvellous …guaranteed to make you fall completely in love with them.

Mammoth Sweet Peas belongs to a type of sweet pea called an 'Early Multiflora Gigantea'. Marked by the longest stems and large fragrant blooms, they are very popular with commercial cut flower growers. Borne on beautifully long stems 'Mammoth Crimson' produce large rich, blue-red blooms that read as velvety crimson.

Ipomoea 'Kniolas Black' is one of the darkest of all Ipomoea varieties available. It blooms with the most stunning dark velvety purple-black flowers, each with cerise throats. Very easy to grow, this extremely carefree and free-blooming climber will bloom early and load itself with masses of attractive dark purple-black flowers all summer long.

This heirloom morning glory originated in Bavaria in Germany and named for the original Seed-saver Baptist John Ott, Ipomoea purpurea 'Grandpa Ott' flowers of intense violet-blue, with a ruby red star. It is a good climber for walls, trellis work or if allowed to scramble through other plants or trees.

Helianthus ‘Vanilla Ice’ is one of the prettiest sunflowers varieties available. With clusters of delicate pale creamy-yellow flowers with dark chocolate centres this compact variety grows to just 120 to 150cm (4 to 5ft) tall is suitable for the border or can be left add a naturalised charm to a wildlife friendly garden.

Helianthus debilis 'Italian Green Heart' produces creamy white flowers with contrasting green centres. Growing 100 to 120cm tall, the flowers are perfect for fresh, cut flower arrangements - especially if gathered while they are still in bud.

Helianthus 'Sunfill Purple' is a novel purple sunflower with sumptuous dark centers and petals tipped with edged hints of purple. These fast-growing sunflowers produce geometric flower heads for use as bouquet greenery. Just 50 days to maturity, sow successionally, mid spring right through to mid summer.

With most sunflowers, the beauty is in the flower petals, but the multi-layered, green outer calyxes of Helianthus 'Sunfill Green' create the show. This fast growing annual source of cut fillers for bouquets produce geometric flower heads for use as bouquet greenery. Sow successionally, mid spring right through to mid summer.

Helianthus ‘Starburst Panache’ is hard to beat. Fully double blooms with ultra-fluffy, shaggy golden petals surrounding dark green-brown eyes on long, straight stems. The plants keep sending up new buds for weeks, making them exceptionally productive in the cutting patch.

Sunflower 'Soraya' is the first Sunflower ever to win an AAS award. It produces lovely rich tangerine-orange flowers with dark brown centres The vigorous, self-supporting plants stand 150 to 180cm (5 to 6ft) tall. Prized for cut flower arrangements, they produce 20 to 25 flowers from each plant.