April

A profusion of cut petals in brilliant crimson-red makes 'Crimson Feathers' a must-have flower for cottage gardens. The petals are very deeply pinnately-divided which makes it entirely different from the others, and that is the source of the variant name, laciniatum, from the Latin meaning meaning 'slashed' or 'torn into divisions'.

A profusion of cut petals in pure white makes 'Swansdown' a must-have flower for cottage gardens. The petals are very deeply pinnately-divided which makes it entirely different from the others, and that is the source of the variant name, laciniatum, from the Latin meaning meaning 'slashed' or 'torn into divisions'.

Papaver somniferum ‘Hungarian Blue’ is a stunning new deep violet poppy that will bring rich colour and a touch of sophistication to your planting schemes all summer long. A hardy annual that is very easy to grow, plant it outside in drifts where it will cover a large area with its beautiful blooms.

Huge, sumptuous, silky bowls of deep purple, this exquisite Poppy is a testament to the patience of Lauren Springer, who spent many years carefully selecting the best colour. Papaver ‘Lauren's Grape’ is breathtaking to say the least. A hardy annual that is very easy to grow, the haunting colour is captivating.

Delight in the mesmerising allure of the Black Poppy. Papaver 'Midnight' is an heirloom that boasts large, double blooms in a deep, velvety black hue that adds a touch of drama and elegance to any garden. The deep sumptous colour combines well with many other flowers in the garden or the vase.

Grown primarily for its decorative seed pods, Papaver somniferum ‘The Giant’ provides huge blooms in a multitude of colours, each with satiny petals which give way to possibly the largest of all poppy pods. Florists the world over, use the giant pods in floral decorations, either fresh with late summer flowers, or when dried.

A Passiflora that produces very fragrant, unusual flowers. The flowers are white, except the base of the corona which is purple; the filaments are curly, as long as the petals, 5 to 7cm across. The edible fruits possess pleasant flavour, kind of sweet and a little tart.

Awarded a Fleuroselect Medal for striking colour, plant habit, and flowering performance, Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Blue' is a first year flowering perennial that will add height and high-impact colour to the border, giving superb flowering performance from mid to late summer.

Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Coral' adds a graceful twist to the garden. A first year flowering perennial, that is hardy and vigorous, it boasts twice the length of flowering stems, giving longer, more elegant wands for the vase while preserving the natural elegance of Penstemon barbatus.

A winner of both an AAS and Fleuroselect Awards, Penstemon ‘Twizzle Purple' is a first year flowering perennial that boasts twice the length of flowering stem. Strong, trouble-free plants produce trumpet shaped magenta-violet blooms that flutter all along tall, slender stems.

The Bees and Butterflies Mix of flowers is a carefully chosen range of over 30 annual flowers that are rich in both nectar and pollen that both bees and butterflies adore. They will flower within six to eight weeks and provide you with pleasure throughout the summer.

Russian Sage is one of the great garden plants of all time, but if you've been frustrated by their floppy nature, this new variety will be a welcome addition. Growing to about 60 to 75cm tall, Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Taiga' is also the first Russian sage available as a first year flowering perennial.

Silvery white petals are dressed in tints of blush pink that darken with age, against a darker pink eye. The blooms carry a fresh fragrance reminiscent of lilacs and make delightful cut flowers. Uniform with outstanding weather tolerance they will flower right through the summer until October. Leave the colour in your borders or cut regularly through summer for wonderful vase displays.

'Sugar Stars' is a fabulous new annual Phlox variety that blooms with a confection of purple-blue and white clustered blooms. One of the most useful of annuals they flower from mid July right through to October. For spectacular display, romantic excess and sweet fragrance, they are without peer.

Phlox is one of the most useful of annuals, they are extremely rewarding garden subjects and lack real competition in the late summer garden. Uniform, with outstanding weather tolerance they will flower from mid July right through the summer until October. Perfect for wedding work and bouquets, Grandiflora 'Alba' provides pure white flowers combined with a delicious scent.

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Isabellina' is an annual flowering phlox that is very easy to grow. Fast to flower it produces abundant blooms with a light melon fragrance. The clusters of creamy, linen-yellow flowers are the colour of condensed milk. A must-have for wedding work, this delicious variety is a great addition to the garden border and bouquets.

The Cape Gooseberry is a useful small crop for the home garden. The fruit is expensive to purchase as it is labour intensive in commercial plantings. Very easy to grow from seed, it can overwinter outdoors in mild areas or when grown in favoured positions such as the foot of a sunny wall.

The white form of the lovely Jacobs Ladder, named after the slender, fresh green leaflets arranged like the rungs of a ladder. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the bright foliage and white flowers will brighten shady locations. Both the flowers and the attractive ferny foliage are excellent for cutting.

Collected at altitude in Japan and introduced in 2006, Polemonium yezoense 'Purple Rain' is one of the best new introductions in recent years. With bronze-purple lacy foliage, dark stems and violet-blue flowers, it is the darkest flower form of Polemonium available.