February

The herb borage is a well known annual. Not so well known is the equally beautiful form 'alba' which boast pure white, perfectly star-shaped flowers. Each flower is centred by five black stamens which heighten the drama. The flowers are edible, garden visitors can be converted to herbal advocates simply by offering a taste of its white flower.

The herb borage is a well known annual with beautiful blue flowers. Not so well known and not often written about is the equally beautiful form 'alba' which boast pure white, perfectly star-shaped flowers. This mixed pack of seeds gives both blue and white forms.

Brachycome is a care-free annual that forms clouds of soft colour. It is one of the most profuse and long-flowering annuals. Cheerful little pinwheels and are held above pale green, feathery foliage. It flowers so heavily that the foliage is often obscured.

Calamintha nepeta is a very attractive bushy, perennial that should be in every garden. Clouds of tiny, lilac-mauve flowers appear in early summer and flower continuously from early June right through to late September. The leaves exude a lovely minty scent when crushed and the flowers are true bee pasture.

‘Indian Prince' has unique petals quite unlike other Calendula, the dark orange rays are in layers of orange, backed with rich mahogany red petals. Easily grown, sown direct in spring or in autumn, they are perfect candidates for cutting and flower arrangements.

Cheerful and bright, use Calendula in beds, borders or containers. Calendula is prolific and durable, and like most hardy annuals it is easy to grow, simply sow where it is to flower. It is currently one of the top herbs used for medicinal use. Sprinkle salads and decorate cakes with the edible tangy petals.

Calendula officinalis 'Cut Flower Mix’ is a specially selected mix of colours and types, each with long stems designed for cutting. They grow to a height of around 70 to 80cm, are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower. Clip spent flowers to achieve a longer blooming season.

Calendula officinalis ‘Ivory Princess’ is a tall show stopper with giant buttery flowers. The petals are a mix of creamy buff-yellow with tips of the serrated, buttercream petals having the tiniest outline of brown, giving a ruffled, lacy effect which beautifully compliments the dark brown eye.

Calendula officinalis 'Neon' is a true showstopper. The densely set, double flowers glow with deep orange petals each with bronze tips. Growing to a height of around 60 to 70cm they are the essence of early summer colour in the garden and make a stunning cut flower.

A delightful compact mix of single and semi-double forms, the daisy-like open petals of 'Oopsy Daisy' are bright in the centre with dark tips. Easy to grow they thrive in the cooler weather of spring and autumn. This is an excellent variety for borders and containers and will add cheer to any location.

Don’t be misled by the name - Calendula officinalis 'Orange Flash' produces stunning peachy apricot-copper coloured blooms with darker shades of ombré-rose on the reverse. They grow to a height of around 60cm and a spread of 45cm, are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower.

'Sunset Buff' is a lovely, more subtle coloured calendula. It is the soft apricot-buff version of 'Indian Prince' with the same crimson petal backs. They grow to a height of around 60cm and a spread of 45cm, are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower.

'Sunset Mix' is a dynamic blend of the Sunset series in orange, apricot, peach, cream, and yellow shades. It includes bicolors and tricolors with the same darker crimson colours on the back of each petal. They are an excellent variety for borders and make a stunning cut flower.

Calendula 'Touch of Red Buff' is a very interesting and unusual colour, a very contemporary beige-pink with darker petal tips giving a beautiful antique and vintage effect. For cut flowers, harvest when blooms are partially open and clip spent flowers to achieve a longer blooming season.

Calendula officinalis 'Touch of Red Orange' are “orange hot” Marigolds with bronze and red edges to the petals. They are perfect for cut flowers, harvest when blooms are partially open and clip spent flowers to achieve a longer blooming season.

Callistephus chinensis ‘Benary’s Princess Mix’ blooms with glorious, large blooms in a good colour range. This vigorous variety is tolerant of challenging growing conditions, even wet conditions and the large blooms have very long, strong stems. Plant successively over several weeks to stretch out your flowering season.

The Chrysantella series is a magnificent form and is rightfully considered a masterpiece of Aster breeding. Ideal for growing cut flowers, 'Pink Mother of Pearl' are nothing short of spectacular and best described as a delicate cameo peach-pink. The vigorous plants produce a Y-type tall bush. The stems are thick and rigid and just one plant is enough to create a bouquet.

The Chrysantella series is a magnificent form and is rightfully considered a masterpiece of Aster breeding. 'Flamingo at Sunset' is nothing short of spectacular and is ideal for growing cut flowers. Large blooms with petals of an unusually warm, salmon-pink colour with a centre of deep sunset-gold.

Callistephus chinensis, commonly called the China Aster, is a popular and reliable annual that provides large blooms from late June through to late October. 'Chrysantella Living Coral' produces large blooms with petals in a gorgeous deep coral-pink. Each plant is able to produce 10 to 15 flowers per bush.

With large blooms of smoky lavender, 'Chrysantella Moonstone' is an excellent variety. Cut flowers last much longer than other varieties and the flowers are not damaged by rain. The vigorous plants produce 10 to 15 flowers per bush, just one plant is enough to create a bouquet.

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.

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.