February

Hyssop is a strong-flavoured aromatic herb which is enjoying a revival with home gardeners. An ideal plant for use in containers or as a low hedge or border within the herb garden. Highly attractive to bees, it makes excellent honey and is a must for any wildflower garden.

Hyssopus officinalis 'Alba' is a much less well known variety of hyssop. Also known as 'White Hyssop' the plants sport bright white flowers from July to October. Widely used as a 'taste enhancing' herb or wildlife plant, the plants are a dark, vibrant green with a spiky, upright habit and narrow tongue-like leaves which have a peppery scent when stroked.

A deep blue carpet of bluebells is an unforgettable sight to anyone visiting many of our native woodlands. The spring spectacle of seeing a wood not only greening, but also 'blueing' is one of the joys of the year. When bluebells are in flower, spring has truly arrived.

Hosta are grown predominantly for their outstanding foliage, from leaves as small as a teaspoon up to those larger than a dinner plate, colours range from deep blues to silvers, darkest shiny greens to bright yellows, from a single solid hue to the myriad of variegations the choice is almost overwhelming.

Herniaria glabra is a relatively unknown perennial that deserves to be used more often in our gardens. The nursery industry calls it ‘Green Carpet’ and well they should. This lovely bright green creeper spreads effortlessly in all directions. An excellent choice for between flagstones or as a lawn substitute.

Heliopsis is a great plant for the busy home gardener. ‘New Hybrids' is a selection of the newest forms, they will bloom the first year from seed with a profusion of blooms in shades in lemon, golden yellow and orange-yellow. The plants will produce arm loads of flowers all summer long and never once ask for decent soil or proper care.

From the Tian Shan Mountains of northern China comes this tough little subshrub that is among the finest expressions of silver foliage to be found. Helichrysum thianshanicum is a superb silver leaved evergreen, subshrub that forms a tight mound of eye-catching silver foliage.

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. It is the cut flower grower's staple. 'King Size Silvery-White' produce substantial slky-white blooms that are held atop strong multi-branching bright green stems.

The cut flower grower's staple, producing tall vigorous branching plants that are filled with large papery flowers. Helichrysum 'Silvery Rose' produce large pearlescent white blooms, frosted with a delicate rose pink colour at the tips. Reminiscent of vintage mother of pearl, they bloom ten weeks after sowing and continue till first frost.

Helichrysum bracteatum 'King Size Salmon Rose' is a lovely mixture of buff, peach and salmon colours. Apart from being useful for beds and borders, the papery, double flowers make one of the finest subjects for bouquets, they are also an excellent dried flower.

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.

Known as an 'everlasting' because the flowers will last indefinitely when dried, Helichrysum bracteatum bloom non-stop from ten weeks after sowing and continue until late autumn. The soft lemon double blooms on tall, well-branched plants are useful for beds and borders and one of the finest subjects for bouquets.

Helichrysum 'Frosted Sulphur' is a welcome addition to the range, the colour of fresh buttermilk, soft ivory with a hint of cream. With an opalescent quality that gives them a soft glow. Very easy to grow from seed with little or no attention. They dry to a lovely creamy-ivory which blends well with everything..

Helichrysum make one of the finest subjects for beds and borders and for bouquets, the flowers bloom from mid-summer right up to frost. 'King Size Fireball' produce bright fiery-red blooms that open to reveal yellow centres. Held atop strong multi-branching stems, they are perfect for cutting and are striking in all stages, from bud to fully opened.

Helichrysum 'King Size Creamy-White' produce creamy-white, vintage-toned blooms that are one of the finest subjects for bouquets and especially valued for wedding work. They are also an excellent dried flower, the papery flowers give an excellent natural colour.

Growing to around 90cm tall, Helichrysum 'King Size Bright Rose' are very easy to cultivate, growing well with little or no attention. The flowers bloom non-stop from ten weeks after sowing and will continue to flower until late autumn. Useful for beds and borders and one of the finest subjects for bouquets, and to cap it all, pollinators love them.

Helichrysum bracteatum is the most well known and is probably the best of all the everlasting flowers. 'Swiss Giants Mixed' is a special selection of large flowered, double strawflowers. Vigorous and gorgeous in the garden, and perfect for drying. Fill your beds with colour, these stunning blossoms need very little to thrive other than light watering and good drainage.

Most gardeners are familiar with the annual sunflower, however, it is the perennial varieties that coexist most happily with other garden plants. Helianthus mollis is a lovely perennial with butter-yellow flowers. It grows 120cm tall and requires little more attention than an annual cutting to the ground.