We grow a range of these hardy border plants in small successive batches;
this means that the range we have on sale is constantly changing as one variety
sells out to be replaced by another.
Unless priced otherwise, the Herbaceous plants in the following list are either
96p
or £1.42 each, depending on the size of the pot in which they are offered for sale.
The majority of plants on sale are likely to be the larger £1.42 size as
most varieties grow on better in that size of container.
Good drainage is essential for most herbaceous plants, the main danger being
waterlogging during the winter and spring months (we do have some varieties
which actually like moist soil).
If you think that there will be drainage problems sort them out before
planting.
Because of the hilly nature of our district this should not be an
insurmountable problem; most gardens are on sloping land so there is usually
somewhere else in the garden you can divert the excess drainage water to. Rather
than thinking that you are replacing one problem area with another, such areas
should be seen as an opportunity to grow moisture-loving plants.
The creation of raised or mounded beds is another way of making sure that the
upper roots and crowns of the plants are well drained.
Only the main varieties we grow are in the list (heights are dependent on
variety).
ACHILLEA. 15cm (6 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
White, yellow, pale pink
and cerise pink varieties,
best in full sun
June-September flowering.
AJUGA. 15cm (6 inches).
Groundcover plant. Blue flowers May-August. Full sun or partial shade.
Colourful foliage varieties.
ALCHEMILLA (LADY'S MANTLE). 45cm (18 inches).
Yellow/green flowers, June-August. Full sun or partial shade.
ALYSSOIDES. 30cm (12 inches).
Bright-yellow flowers, April-June. Best in full sun.
ANAPHALIS. 30cm (12 inches).
Clusters of white flowers over silvery foliage in August-September. Full sun
or partial shade.
ANCHUSA. 152cm (60 inches)
Intense-blue flowers in June-August. Full sun is essential.
ARNICA. 50cm (20 inches).
Rich-yellow flowers, June-August. Full sun is best.
ANTHEMIS. 60cm (24 inches).
Bright-yellow flowers,
June-September.
Full sun or partial shade
(if planted
in shade the soil must be very free draining).
ANTIRRHINUM (HARDY VARIETY). 45cm (18 inches).
Pale-yellow flowers produced throughout the summer months, only the frost
stops them flowering in autumn. Full sun is best (they will flower in partial
shade, but not over-winter so well).
AQUILEGIA. 30cm (12 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
A range of varieties, all May-June flowering. A plant for partial shade.
ASTER (MICHAELMAS DAISY). 23cm (9 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
White, pink, blue, lilac, purple, near-red. Several varieties, mainly dwarf
types. September-October flowering, they thrive best in full sun.
ASTRANTIA. 30cm (12 inches) to 70cm (28 inches).
Moist soil and partial shade are essential.
White or pink, papery flowers
June-July.
BARBAREA. 20cm (8 inches).
This bright-green and yellow foliage variety should not be allowed to flower.
If the insignificant flowers are removed along with their tall stalks before
they can open there will be a new burst of basal growth. A ground-cover variety
that is suitable for under-planting at the edge of a shrubbery or under trees.
BERGINIA. 30cm (12 inches) to 35cm (14 inches).
Clusters of pink flowers, March-April. Sun or light shade.
CAMASSIA LEIGHTLINI COERULEA (Quamash).
76cm (30 inches).
They need a moist, but drained position in full sun or partial shade.
Rich blue flowers during June. Dies down for winter. Price code X £2.56
each.
CAMPANULA. 30cm (12 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
Blue, white and purple varieties
flower between June and August.
They will
grow in full sun or partial shade.
CARNATION. 60cm (24 inches).
Mixed colours, August-October flowering. They prefer full sun, but will grow
in light shade (too much shade and you get fewer flowers). Carnations like lime.
CATANANCHE (CUPIDS DART). 60cm (24 inches).
We grow both the blue and the white types; they flower June-September. Full
sun is essential.
CENTAUREA. 45cm (18 inches).
Pink or blue, June-July flowering. Full sun or light shade.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (LARGE WHITE DAISIES). 25cm (10 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
Several varieties,
all like lime
and flower June-August.
They prefer full
sun.
COREOPSIS. 35cm (14 inches) to 45cm (18 inches).
Several varieties, all shades of yellow, flowering June-September. Full sun
or partial shade, but if your land is heavy clay, to be successful you must add
plenty of organic matter.
DELPHINIUM. 60cm (24 inches) to 152cm (60 inches).
Several varieties. Rich, fertile soil is best; they also need full sun and
shelter from strong winds.
SLUG WARNING - if slugs could speak they would ask you to plant
Delphiniums. Start putting pellets down (or using other anti-slug
measures) before the shoots emerge in spring. The scent given off by the
shoots grazing against soil and stone particles on their journey to the
surface is enough to attract slugs from yards around. Slugs are not
inactive in winter, only when the ground is actually frozen.
DIANTHUS (PINKS). 37½cm (15 inches).
Mixed colours. Most varieties flower June- July and again in autumn. Dianthus
like lime and prefer to be in full sun, although they seem able to stand some
shade provided the soil is free-draining enough.
DORONICUM. 45cm (18 inches) to 60cm (24 inches).
Bright-yellow daisies.
April-May flowering.
They do well in full sun or
partial shade.
ECHINACEA. 102cm (40 inches).
Large, pink, daisy flowers with reflex petals (downwards facing).
July-October flowering. They prefer full sun and are very greedy plants - feed
several times through the summer.
ECHINOPS (GLOBE THISTLE). 90cm (36 inches).
Large, globular, blue flowers are produced July-September. Full sun is
essential.
ERIGERON. 25cm (10 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
Lilac or orange, daisy flowers produced from June to August. They will grow
happily in either full sun or partial shade.
ERYSIMUM. 37½cm (15 inches).
Lilac, wallflower-like blooms from June until the frosts of autumn. They
prefer a sunny position.
EUPHORBIA. 15cm (6 inches) to 45cm (18 inches).
Yellow bract varieties. April-May or May flowering. They do well in full sun
or partial shade.
GAILLARDIA. 30cm (12 inches) to 76cm (30 inches).
Red or banded, yellow and scarlet varieties.
June to September flowering.
They must have a sunny position.
GERANIUM (CRANE'S-BILL). 40cm (16 inches) to 45cm (18 inches).
Several varieties. Flowering time depends on variety, but if you clip back
after flowering you may well get another flush of flowers the same year. Full
sun or light shade.
GEUM. 30cm (12 inches) to 60cm (24 inches).
Yellow, orange or red varieties.
Can flower from May to September.
They do
well in full sun or light shade.
GYPSOPHILA. 90cm (36 inches) to 122cm (48 inches).
White or pink varieties flowering June-August. They like lime and will grow
in full sun or light shade.
HEDYSARUM. 90cm (36 inches).
Red flowers, August-September. Whether in sun or light shade they must have
free-drainage.
HELENIUM. 60cm (24 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
Mainly yellow or gold flowers during July-September.
HELIOPSIS. 122cm (48 inches).
Golden-yellow flowers,
July-August.
Full sun is essential
as is shelter from
strong winds.
HEUCHERA. 45cm (18 inches).
Sprays of small pink or red, bell-like flowers, June to August flowering.
They do well in full sun or light shade.
HIERACIUM. 30cm (12 inches).
Orange flowers produced July onwards. Dry, sunny positions are ideal. WARNING
- this variety is a rampant, ground-cover plant, do not plant in small gardens
or where you do not want it to take over.
HOLLYHOCK. 152cm (60 inches).
Tall-growing plants (even the dwarf varieties are tall), mixed colours, June
to September flowering. A sunny position is essential.
IBERIS (PERENNIAL CANDYTUFT). 23cm (9 inches).
White or lilac varieties (the white is hardier), spreading habit, May-June
flowering, they prefer a sunny position.
INULA. 30cm (12 inches).
Golden-yellow flowers, August-September. They do well in sun or partial
shade.
IRIS GERMANICA. 60cm (24 inches).
Mainly blue varieties, June flowering, they prefer full sun.
KNAUTIA. 76cm (30 inches).
Pink and red flowers.
A well-drained sunny position is essential.
KNIPHOFIA (RED-HOT-POKER). 90 cm (36 inches).
Orange/red and yellow flowers, July-September flowering. They grow best in
full sun.
LATHYRUS (EVERLASTING SWEET PEA). Climbing plant.
They come in several colours, but all die down completely for winter.
Flowering from June to September, they prefer a sunny position, but seem to
tolerate light shade without too much loss of flower quality.
LIATRIS. 45cm (18 inches).
Pink or white varieties, August-September flowering.
They will grow in sun or
partial shade and like a moist,
but well-drained soil (they must not waterlog in
winter).
LINARIA. 76cm (30 inches).
Pink or purple varieties, both flower from June to September. A sunny
position is best.
LINUM. 40cm (16 inches).
Delicate, blue flowers that dance on the wind from June to August. They do
best in full sun.
LUPIN. 50cm (20 inches) to 90 cm (36 inches).
A range of mixed and separate colours of both tall and dwarf varieties.
June-July flowering, they like acid soil (no lime), but will do well in either
sun or partial shade.
NOTE - In
lupins blue is the genetically dominant colour. If you let
them seed the resultant seedlings growing up through and around the clump
are likely to have a high proportion of blue individuals. These tend to be
stronger growing and eventually crowd out other colours. This is why many
clumps of Lupin "turn blue".
LYCHNIS. 76cm (30 inches).
Magenta-purple flowers and silvery foliage make this a striking plant.
Flowering June-August (deadhead to prolong flowering), they prefer full sun
although they will flower in light shade provided that the soil is free
draining.
LYSIMACHIA. 76cm (30 inches).
Golden-yellow flowers, they will grow in sun or shade, but must have moist
soil. Flowering from June to August
MIMULUS. 20cm (8 inches).
Yellow trumpets spotted with red. Another plant for a moist, shady corner,
but beware - although they flower all summer and must not be allowed to dry out,
if they get waterlogged in winter you could lose them.
MONARDA. 60cm (24 inches) to 76cm (30 inches).
Pink, purple or red. They like moist soil and will flower in sun or shade
during June-September.
NEPETA (CATMINT). 30cm (12 inches) to 60cm (24 inches).
Purple or white (the white is much taller) flowers from May to September.
They must have a sunny, well-drained site. Cats love to roll in catmint (a
delightful sight when they are your cats).
OSTEOSPERMUM. 30cm (12 inches).
Pink, daisy flowers produced throughout the summer months. We have only found
one variety so far which can withstand our winters. These plants must be planted
in very well drained soil, in full sun and sheltered from the worst winter
winds.
PAPAVER (ORIENTAL POPPY). 45cm (18 inches) or 90 cm (36 inches).
Tall and dwarf varieties, mixed colours or scarlet orange. May-June
flowering. They require full sun.
PARAHEBE. 30cm (12 inches).
White or lilac, flowering all summer (keep clipping off the dead flowers).
Best in full sun.
PENSTEMON. 60cm (24 inches) to 76cm (30 inches).
Mixed colours, several varieties. June-September flowering. They need a
sheltered position to over-winter successfully and must have full sun.
PHLOX. 90 cm (36 inches).
Several varieties,
July-October flowering,
they will grow in either sun or
light shade,
but must have moist soil.
PHYSALIS (CHINESE LANTERN). 60cm (24 inches).
They have small, insignificant, white flowers in summer, but these are
followed in autumn by seedpods that have large, papery outer-covers of gold and
orange. They grow in sun or partial shade.
PLATYCODON. 30cm (12 inches).
White, pink or blue varieties. June to September flowering, they thrive in
sun or light shade (must be well drained).
POLEMONIUM (JACOB'S LADDER). 40cm (16 inches) to 60cm (24 inches).
Blue flowers,
June-August.
They do well in sun
or partial shade.
POLYGONUM. 20cm (8 inches).
Pink flowers produced from June to October. Ground cover plants, they do well
in full sun or partial shade.
POTENTILLA. 60cm (24 inches).
Red flowers from June to September. Plant in a sunny position.
PRUNELLA. 23cm (9 inches).
Ground cover plant. Purple flowers, June-July. They thrive in sun or light
shade.
PYRETHRUM. 60cm (24 inches).
Mixed colours,
all May-June flowering.
A sunny, well-drained position is
essential.
Water in dry weather.
PYRETHRUM (FOLIAGE VARIETY). 30cm (12 inches).
A small, white, daisy flower in summer, but its main attraction is the mass
of feathery, golden foliage it produces. A sunny, well-drained position is
essential. Water in dry weather.
RUDBECKIA (CONEFLOWER). 60cm (24 inches).
Gold and orange flowers from July to September. They will grow in sun or
light shade.
SCABIOSA. 60cm (24 inches).
Blue shades.
These "pincushion" flowers appear
between June and
October.
They do best in full sun and like lime.
SEDUM. 45cm (18 inches).
Tiny pink flowers arranged in large heads from August to October. Best in
full sun.
SIDALCEA. 90cm (36 inches).
Pink varieties, flowering June-August. They do well in sun or partial shade.
SISYRINCHIUM. 20cm (8 inches)
Blue flowers produced throughout the summer months. Full sun is essential.
SOLIDAGO (GOLDEN ROD). 45cm (18 inches) to 90cm (36 inches).
Golden flowers, dwarf and tall varieties, July-September flowering, they will
do well in full sun or light shade.
STACHYS. 45cm (18 inches).
Lilac or purple flowers; some forms are grown more for their foliage than
their flowers which appear in July-August. Sun or light shade.
