Cut Flowers

Verbascums are statuesque in both foliage and flower. This elegant species, native to the Olympus mountains is arguably the finest of the genus. Tall flower spikes rise from the centre of the foliage, each are weighted heavily with bright, golden-yellow blooms giving the effect of an enormous candelabra.

Verbascum ‘Snow Maiden’ is an incredibly beautiful mullein that grow to just 36 to 48cm tall. With masses of soft white flowers each with delicate yellow filaments they flower in June and continue to appear over a long summer, often right through to September. Very easy to grow from seed.

The poise of the lovely Verbascum phoeniceum 'Flush of White' makes this plant a natural candidate for the front of the border, even though its height might suggest, that it should go at the back. In summer winds, which snap off delphiniums and toss sunflowers awry, the Verbascum stands defiant.

English gardeners are very familiar with this plant and consider it essential for a well-structured garden. Verbascum phoeniceum 'Hybrids Mix' flower freely, giving a glorious plethora of colours from delicate salmon to rich claret. A true perennial which can flower the first year given an early sowing.

Relatively new to cultivation Verbascum phoeniceum 'Violetta' is the smallest growing of the perennial Verbascums. Soundly perennial and drought tolerant it produces delicate flower spikes with whorls of tissue thin purple blooms that ascend to the finest point. It is by far the darkest flowered mullein available.

Verbena bonariensis 'Vanity' is a new compact cultivar of a perennial favourite. This Fleuroselect Gold Medal winning variety has an open habit with gorgeous, intense purple-blue clusters atop branching thin, wiry stems. Its garden friendly, neat habit makes it sturdier and easier to maintain while you create a pollinator paradise in your garden.

Veronica longifolia prefers a position in sun or part shade in moist well-drained soil. The sophisticated blue spires bloom in midsummer and last for several months. They make a strong vertical statement and are an excellent contrast to more traditional flowers shapes when positioned at the front of the border.

Gardeners are often looking for good solid perennials that will have attractive flowers, be easy to take care of, grow nicely but not take over the garden. One group of plants that should be considered is the Veronicas. They provide some of the clearest, truest blues in the perennial border.

To garden with an Oudolf-esque plant like Veronicastrum, it is not necessary to turn your outdoor space into a prairie: you are allowed to keep your flower beds. Naturalistic planting travels well, and Veronicastrum holds its own in a formal border as well as in the middle of a lawn which has turned into a meadow.

Viola cornuta 'Arkwright Ruby' is an antique variety that is a favourite among gardeners for both its historical charm and ornamental beauty. Incredibly versatile, they are perfect for almost anywhere in the garden and even for the vase. With its long stems and long flowering season, it will deliver a vibrant splash of colour in any garden.

Viola cornuta ‘Back to Black’ is a striking cultivar of the horned violet, admired for its exceptionally dark, velvety flowers. The blooms are an intense black-purple, so deep that they often appear pure black. If you want to achieve long stems for the vase, plant them close, 5 to 10cm apart.

Renowned for its unique, hand painted, Viola 'Brush Strokes' is a captivating variety that has been carefully chosen from a cherished collection of historic strains. A harmonious blend of soft apricot, honey, plum, cream and lavender tones, often accented by intricate flecks and fine veining.

Viola 'Chantreyland' is a compact, cool-season charmer. Soft apricot petals with hints of cream, washed with a blush of sunset pink. She’s made for edging, containers, or nestling into cracks in old stone. Quite unforgettable once you’ve met her. no wonder she has been in cultivation since 1923.

A real gem from the mountains of Italy, Viola corsica 'Bertolonii' is a rare but easy-to-grow viola that deserves a spot in any sunny garden. It forms tidy clumps of dark green, lance-shaped leaves and puts on a gorgeous display of large, azure-blue flowers from April through June.

Introduced in Germany in 1900, 'Konigin Charlotte' are famously grown for their perfume. The violet coloured flowers are extremely fragrant, This cultivar is unique in that its flowers turn upward making them viewer friendly. It is also one of the longest flowering violets with scented flowers.

Cultivated in Switzerland in 2004 from the famous 'Queen Charlotte', One would think that 'Reine de Neiges', or 'Snow Queen' would be a white bloomer. The flowers are almost white, a clear crisp ice-blue. Long blooming and upward facing, their fragrance is intense.

Xeranthemum 'Lumina' is a hardy annual and one of the prettiest of all the everlasting flowers. The attractive double crested paper-like blooms stand gracefully aloft strong stems, they are simply charming in borders with an abundance of dainty blossoms in four distinct colours of white, rose, crimson and purple.

Popular wonderful flowers, reminiscent of Dahlias on tall robust plants, Zinnia elegans 'Dahlia-Flowered Pink' are extremely easy to grow from seed, they provide colour from mid-summer to autumn and with thick straight stems that are less likely to bend when being cut. They are perfect for cut flowers.

Popular wonderful flowers, reminiscent of Dahlias on tall robust plants, Zinnia elegans 'Dahlia-Flowered Rose' are extremely easy to grow from seed, they provide colour from mid-summer to autumn and with thick straight stems that are less likely to bend when being cut. They are perfect for cut flowers.

In Zinnias, 'Dahlia-flowered' means multi-petaled, piled up, dome-shaped blooms that really do resemble dahlias. 'Dahlia-Flowered Salmon' feature gorgeous, large 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) salmon-pink blooms. Extremely easy to grow from seed, they provide colour from mid-summer to autumn.

So named for their unique spiky appearance, Cactus Flowered Zinnias have semi double, large blooms each with re-curved, quilled and twisted petals, they bloom in a wide range of colours. Growing 75cm tall, with thick straight stems, they are perfect for a bouquet or for the vase.