perennials

All our plants are propagated on the nursery from our own stock plants. The list below outlines what we grow over the year – some are available all the time, some are available less often or in small quantities. Please ring or e mail if you want to know if we have a particular plant.

Aconitum hemsleyanum Climbing monkshood, dark blue hooded flowers.

Acorus gramineus Ogon Fans of narrow green and yellow striped leaves, marginal or aquarium plant.

Adenophora pereskiifolia pale blue campanula flower spikes late summer < 1 m.

Aegopodium podagraria Variegata Variegated ground elder, pretty but determined.

Agapanthus campanulatus Deciduous, glossy strap shaped leaves, big round flower heads late summer, pale blue, sometimes white.

Amaryllis belladonna (AGM) Stout stems bear pink trumpet flowers in autumn, rich green leaves follow; needs full sun, good drainage and a rich soil.

Ampelodesmos mauritanica pampas like flower heads 2 m height late summer.

Angelica hispanica Dwarf habit, strikingly glossy leaves, globular flower heads.

Anthemis punctata cupaniana (AGM) Silver green lacy foliage, large but compact white /yellow daisy flowers, dwarf and indispensable but sadly, belowed of rabbits.

Anthriscus Raven's Wing dark purple leaved form of cow parsley.

Anthyllis vulneraria Coccinea sealing-wax red Kidney Vetch flowers, a smart plant for wild gardens.

Artemisia lactiflora Guizhou Group. Spikes of white flowers from purple brown divided leaves.

Artemisia ludoviciana latiloba Silver green foliage with sharply divided leaf tips, spreading habit.

Aruncus aethusifolius Finely divided astilbe like foliage, dwarf white flower spikes and good autumn colour.

Arundinaria pygmaea Dwarf bamboo of robust and spreading habit.

Arundinaria viridistriata Spreading, but politely so, yellow and green leaves to 1 m height.

Asphodeline lutea narrow grey green leaves and fragrant yellow flower spoike early summer. 1m. Said to clothe Hades' meadows.

Aster frikartii Lilac, yellow centred, disease resistant Michaelmas daisy.

Aster divaricatus White flowers and black, wiry stems.

Aster lateriflorus var. horizontalis tiny leaves,purple in autumnasb tiny lilak flowers with pink stamens, distinct horizontal branching.

Astrantia major Rubra Bright green lobed foliage, purple red pincushion flowers.

Astrantia Sunningdale Variegated Smart cream and green lobed foliage.

Athyrium filix-femina (AGM) Elegant, deciduous Lady Fern

Brachyelytrum japonicum Tall perennial grass with open panicles and ‘v’ shaped spikelets.

Carex comans Dense evergreen clumps of narrow leaves variably coloured yellow-green / brown, grows naturally on moist grassland.

Carex elata Aurea Bowles' Golden Sedge.

Carex pendula Tall sedge with stout evergreen leaves and brown pendulous flowers heads.

Centranthus ruber Reddish pink form of Valerian, tolerates dry soil

Chamerion angustifolium Album White flowered form of rosebay willowherb, best kept in the wild garden but a cheerful thug.

Chionochloa conspicua Robust clump forming grass, like pampas grass but more elegant open panicles of creamy flowers.

Chlidanthus fragrans sweet scented tender dwarf yellow lily-like bulb

Convallaria Bordeaux a vigorous form of Lily of the valley, to 25 cm

Crambe maritima (AGM) Sea Kale, wavy glaucous leaves and heads of honey scented flowers.

Crambe cordifolia (AGM) Large long stalked corrugated foliage and huge open white flower heads.

Dicentra scandens Fleshy climber for a sheltered spot, small yellow elongated heart shaped flowers in summer.

Dryopteris affinis cristata Bold deciduous fern; dark green fronds crested at the tip. Tolerant of dry conditions once established.

Echinacea purpurea Magnus (AGM) Intense red, wide horizontal petals 100 cm. Long lasting cut flower

Echinacea purpurea Lucky Star White daisy flowers with orange disc, 100 cm, vigorous

Epilobium angustifolium f. album White form of rosebay willowherb, showy but somewhat rampant.

Eragrostis curvula Dense, arching clumps of inrolled leaved. One sided dark flowers late summer. Drought tolerant

Eryngium alpinum (AGM) Sea Holly. Bright green heart shaped leaves, steel blue dome shaped flower heads surrounded by a skirt of much divided softly spiny bracts.

Eupatorium purpureum Impressively tall, stout stemmed perennial with flattened heads of purple flowers in summer.

Euphorbia characias wulfenii Regular cylindrical branches of fleshy grey leaves topped with heads of yellow flowers with crimson centres.

Fargesia murieliae Tall, non invasive clump forming, small leaved bamboo.

Gentiana asclepidaea (AGM) 'Willow gentian’ arching stems bear pairs of blue flowers in early autumn. Need a humus rich moist soil in partial or full shade.

Geranium cantabrigense Purple flowered ground cover with persistent, aromatic foliage.

Geranium endressii Dwarf habit and pink flowers.

Geranium himalayense Purple rounded flowers.

Geranium himalayense Plenum “Informal and slightly muddled double flowers unfolding lavender-purplish in May June” GR

Geranium Johnson’s Blue Finely divided leaves, violet, cup shaped open flowers.

Geranium Kashmir Purple Finely divided leaves, narrow purple petals.

Geranium Kashmir White (AGM) Finely divided leaves, white flowers with dark veins.

Geranium macrorrhizum Album Fleshy rhizomes and leaves- strongly aromatic. White flowers.

Geranium P. Vapelle G. renardii hybrid.

Geranium pyrenaicum Album Rounded leaves, lax flowering stems, five petalled white flowers, self seeds freely.

Gladiolus callianthus (Acidanthera) strongly fragrant white stars with carmine blotch, September, half hardy

Gladiolus papilio Yellowish green flowers suffused purple. Almost hardy.

Glyceria aquatica Variegata Enthusiastic variegated grass. Tolerates dry soil, romps in wet.

Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus (=flava) (AGM) Sweetly scented yellow day lily. “The flowers are a beautiful lily shape, with recurving petals of clear and lovely yellow, and have an unforgettable fragrance” GST

Hosta sieboldiana Large rounded,blue green leaves and white flowers

Humulus lupulus Aureus (AGM) Golden Hop. Herbaceous twining climber.

Inula magnifica Robust yellow daisy with long wavy ray florets.

Iris chrysographes (AGM) Dark blue flowers verging on black 'delicately marked with gold, like a true samite (GS Thomas), free flowering, early summer, 45 cm high, avoid dry soils,

Iris foetidissima (AGM) Evergreen lance shaped leaves, curious blue-yellow flowers followed by sealing wax berries. Odd smell but very tolerant of dry shade.

Iris pseudacorus Variegata (AGM) Variegated water iris, a substantial plant for bold effect.

Iris unguicularis Algerian Iris with mauve flowers in mid winter, needs a good baking in summer.

Juncus effusus f.spiralis Corkscrew rush

Koeleria glauca tufts of spikey blue grey foliage to 40 cm with silvery green flowers, good for hot dry sites.

Lilium pyrenaicum yellow turk's cap, prominant red anthers and questionable scent, 60 cm

Lilium Snow Trumpet Very Tall sweetly scented.

Linaria domani Carnforth Small mauve snapdragon flowers with surprisingly strong scent, mildly spreading.

Linaria purpurea Canon Went Pink form of the tall purple toadflax

Linaria vulgaris Toadflax, showy yellow snapdragon flowers, somewhat rampant if grown without competition.

Liriope muscari Evergreen grassy leaves and late flowering purple flower spikes, ’Perennial Grape Hyacinth’

Lotus corniculatus Bird's foot trefoil for wild areas or grassland.

Lunaria rediviva Perennial honesty, elongated transparent seed cases follow purple flowers.

Luzula nivea Rows of hairs give appearance of variegation to this wood rush which is tolerant of dry soils.

Matteuccia struthiopteris Shuttlecock fern. Rhizomatous habit gives large, regularly patterned groups. Tolerates a variety of conditions except dry shade.

Meconopsis cambrica Welsh poppy, flat yellow (occasionally orange) flowers tolerant of shade and competition from grass.

Melica ciliata Tufted perennial to 50 cm + Cream, pipe-cleaner like panicles

Milium effusum Aureum (AGM) Bowles’ Golden Grass. Wide yellow leaves goes green in shade, pleasantly self seeding.

Nerine bowdenii (AGM) Heads of delicate, pink trumpets late in year, given a summer baking.

Oenothera sulphurea (odorata) Elegant evening primrose yellow /apricot flowers. red and green lancelot leaves.

Paspalum quadrifarium Densely clumped leaves, tightly packed brown flowers spikes late summer.

Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage, unbranched silver stems, grey green serrated leaves and spikes of velvety mauve flowers.

Phlomis russeliana (AGM) Bold felted leaves , whorls of yellow hooded flowers and long lasting seed heads.

Physostegia virginiana Variegata Cream and green leaves, spikes of purple flowers.

Plantago Rosularis Ancient plantain; dense congested flower heads for flower arrangers.

Platycodon grandiflorus Round balloon-like buds open to blue cup-shaped flowers late summer.

Polystichum setiferum Acutilobum group Elegant wavy fronds bear plantlets along their length.

Primula elatior Oxlip, primrose sized flowers on cowslip like heads.

Primula japonica Postford White a candeabra, whorls of flowers up the stems, for moist soil in light shade or sun.

Primula veris cowslip

Pulmonaria angustifolia Bright blue flowered lungwort.

Salvia uliginosa (AGM) Bog sage, pure blue flowers, tall perennial for mild, moist places.

Scrophularia aquatica variegata Large perennial with cream an green roughly textured leaves.

Sisyrinchium californicum Spiky leaves, yellow flowers.

Stipa arundinacea Open panicles of pink florets, leaves bronze up in autumn.

Stipa tenuissima Fine leaves and flowers spikes like pony tails move gracefully in the breeze.

Stipa lessingiana Rigid tubular fine leaves, open flower panicles.

Symphytum grandiflorum Robust ground cover Comfrey with cream flowers.

Symphytum grandiflorum variegatum Variegated comfrey.

Uncinia egmontiana more attractive than the name 'hook sedge' suggests, a tussock of red or orange leaves and small black flower heads for moist but well drained soils.

Valeriana phu Aurea Umbellifer with luminous yellow new leaves.

Verbena bonariensis (AGM) Tall, rigid habit, numerous purple flower heads.

Yucca filamentosa Clumps of pointed leaves, large flowers spikes, scented, tower over the foliage in late summer.