Important For Bees

Centaurea macrocephala is a magnificent perennial that ideal for providing vertical interest in a sunny, well-drained herbaceous border. The golden-yellow shaggy thistle-like blooms are on strong stems and mid-green, lance-shaped leaves are followed by attractive seed heads.

Native to the meadows and woods of the mountains of Europe, Centaurea montana flowers from late spring with large flowers that are fringed in an intense violet-blue with deep purple centres and most attractive, very deeply cut petals. Easy to grow, it is an excellent garden plant as well as cut flower.

Centranthus 'Snow Cloud’ produces airy clusters of white flowers that appear from July to October on tall, fleshy stems with glaucous leaves. Very long flowering, sweetly-perfumed and easy-to-grow from seed, given an early sowing Centranthus will flower from July right through to October.

Centranthus ruber is a Cottage garden favourite that’s made it into the style books. Sweetly-perfumed, dense clusters of reddish-pink flowers appear from July to October. They are ideal for attracting bees and butterflies and other pollinating insects into the garden and lovely when used as a cut flower.

Cephalaria gigantea is a gentle giant that has an informal look that is perfect for looser planting styles. With pretty pale butter-yellow scabious shaped flowers, use it as you would Verbena bonariensis planted at the back of a mixed or herbaceous border. The stems are tall but airy and 'see-through'.

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.

A collection of five different species of native wildflowers, that were once a common sight in cornfields and meadows. These summer-flowering annuals are ideal for providing a splash of colour to create a wildlife garden or meadow.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cosimo’ is a series of colours and forms that and give a wonderful effect when planted in combination or in large drifts. 'Cosimo Collarette' blooms with voluptuous semi double flowers, in light pink with white stripes to pure white edged with pink.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cosimo’ is a series that have each been awarded one of the most prestigious horticultural awards, the Fleuroselect Award. Early flowering and uniform, the plants grow to a height of 50 to 60cm, short enough to be used at the front of the border, they can also be used in larger container planting.

Cosmos is a glorious annual unrivaled as long-standing performers in a garden. 'Dazzler' is a relatively new addition, with large, open flowers of deep carmine-pink and delicate, feathery foliage. It is a superb cut flower and an exceptional annual for mixed beds and borders, cottage gardens and mass plantings.

Dwarf cosmos are very easy to grow, quick to flower from seed and thrive even on poor soil. 'Dwarf Sensation Mix' bloom over an extended period of time in shades of carmine, pink, pink blush and white. Growing to only 60cm they can be grown in beds or even large containers.

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.

'Rosetta’ is an outstanding new variety of Cosmos that has earned the Fleuroselect Award for colour pattern, flower size and shape. Subtle, delicately striped blooms in romantic shades of blush pink and rose, some with an inner collarette of smaller fluffy petals, over light airy foliage.

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos' is a new cosmos that's causing rather a stir in horticultural circles. It adds a completely new colour to the Cosmos range. Unique soft-yellow blooms are produced in profusion on compact dwarf plants. Growing to a height of 60cm tall, this truly exceptional Cosmos has already been granted one of the most prestigious horticultural awards, a Fleuroselect Gold Medal.

Didiscus caerulea, known as the Blue Lace Flower for its unusual sky-blue flower colour. With delicate lacy umbel shaped flowers, each flower head is composed of tiny, star-shaped, sweetly fragrant flowers. Perfect for the cutting garden and suitable for country cottage style or contemporary arrangements.

This lovely native European woodland plant is a beauty to add to any garden and a popular biennial for shaded places. Plants form rosettes of lance shaped leaves, the second year the rosette begins to shoot skyward with beautiful large spikes and drooping bell shaped blooms that are spotted inside.