May

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.

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.

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.

Prunella vulgaris is an interesting and quite beautiful little wildflower plant. The plants produce pretty blue-violet flowers in summer, the flowers freely produce nectar and are highly attractive to bees. If you’re looking for something to add to a meadow garden, or something for those shady areas this is the plant for you.

Ricinus communis is one of the best ways to quickly create a tropical effect in the garden. It is a remarkably architectural, fast growing plant. The huge leaves and interesting flower spikes add drama to borders and beds. The variety, gibsonii 'Red' grows to around 150cm with gorgeous dark red, metallic foliage.

Considered by many gardeners as the most complete border flower, when Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’ was first introduced, it took the plant world by storm. This stunning cultivar is the world’s first red Rudbeckia, it produces a mass of spectacular cherry-coloured blooms all summer long.

Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy' has large, golden daisies with chocolate brown centres and marks at the base of each petal. Growing to around 75cm (30in) tall, this lovely variety performs well, is exceptionally heat tolerant and blooms for a long time in summer.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Maya’ is a fabulous award winning variety, bearing beautifully doubled golden daisies with petals so dense they almost look like pincushions. Golden yellow, with a kiss in the centre — almost like a Zinnia in appearance. An outstanding cut flower and wonderful in mixed containers.

Semi-double and double velvety blooms in subtle shades of pale cappuccino, deep caramel, copper and dusty raspberry and everything in between. Rudbeckia 'Sahara' is one of the most spectacular blooms in the late summer border, coming to its peak just as others are starting to fade.

An absolute gift to flower arrangers, this is a noble and ornamental plant for the back of any border making nice clumps of foliage. It is, of course, the flowers that are remarkable: three or four inches across, “green” is one’s immediate impression on seeing them.

Salvia farinacea ‘Fairy Queen’ is an attractive new variety that bears multiple spikes of bicolour blue and white flowers on dark distinctive flower stems from June to October. With a bushy, compact habit and thick stems. A small white spot on each sapphire blue flower creates the illusion of fairy dust.

Salvia patens is undoubtedly one of the very best blue flowering plants and one of the truest blues found in nature. 'Patio Deep Blue' is a compact variety that is perfect for containers or for the front of the border, there is little else that can compete with the richness of its colour.