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One of the most attractive and floriferous of Aloes of South Africa, Aloe microstigma, forms solitary or small clumps of beautiful rosettes of blue green leaves. The leaves are adorned with conspicuous white spots, which contrast nicely with the reddish teeth along the margins.

The Cape Aloe is a distinctly handsome plant, with broad, lance-shaped, fleshy leaves and a large candelabra-like flower-head. There are usually between five and eight branches, each carrying a spike-like head of many flowers.

Commonly known as the Cat's Tail Aloe, Aloe castanea is one of the larger ‘shrub’ aloes available to the home gardener. The rosette gives rise to multiple, fuzzy, orange racemes which are held upright and curve like a cat’s tail.

Until a few years ago you would never have seen wild garlic on a menu, but these days is definitely a chefs' favourite. The whole plant is edible, the flavour is softer, more pleasant than cloves from garlic bulbs. The leaves have a vibrant colour that brings food to life, use sparingly in salads, or add to sauces and dressings. It also makes splendid pesto.

Hollyhocks are a mysterious and prolific flower with a long and rich history. Traditionally associated with cottage-style borders, the dramatic, near-black flowers of Nigra work equally well in a contemporary, minimalist garden. This unique variety creates an impressive impact against most backgrounds.

A knockout hollyhock, shorter, showier, and dressed in ruffled petals the colour of antique blush silk. Alcea ‘Queeny Salmon’ flowers its heart out in the first year from seed, an unusual trick for a hollyhock. The blooms are fully double, almost peony like, a beautiful soft pink that catches the light.

Alcea rosea ‘Queeny Purple’ is a dwarf hollyhock with all the stately beauty of its taller cousins, but in a more manageable form. Unlike the tall varieties, it is a perennial that will bloom in its first year. Sturdy, well-branched stems that are resistant to rust are topped with fully double, ruffled flowers in deep, velvety purple.

This gorgeous award winning Hollyhock has the distinction of being the shortest in the Alcea rosea family. 'Queeny' is a dwarf Hollyhock that reaches only 60cm in height with fully double blooms. Unlike the tall varieties, it is a perennial that can also be used as an annual as it will bloom in its first year.

Softly ruffled, fully double blooms in a an elegant, romantic shade, a delicate blend of lilac-pink and rose, like old-fashioned silk with a hint of lavender. ‘Queeny Lilac Rose’ is a compact variety perfect for borders, pots, or small gardens. It flowers its heart out in the first year from seed, an unusual trick for a hollyhock.

Alcea rosea ‘Chater's White’ is a dramatic, upright plant, with a spike-like inflorescence that is covered with large buds that open, in a staggered manner, from June to September, from the bottom to the top. Fully double and almost pom-pom in appearance, the fine crepe texture of the petals is so delicate that it allows light to pass through.

Alcea rosea ‘Chater's Rose’ is a dramatic, upright plant, with a spike-like inflorescence that is covered with large buds that open, in a staggered manner, from June to September, from the bottom to the top. Fully double and almost pom-pom in appearance, the fine crepe texture of the petals is so delicate that it allows light to pass through.

Alcea ficifolia is reliably perennial and unlike the biennial forms which produce a single spire, they produce many upright stems, resulting in a bushy form. ‘Happy Lights’ is a beautiful strain, a bold blend of white, pink, purple, red, and yellow blooms. If sown early they will bloom in their first year.

For most of the year Ajuga is a pleasant, quiet achiever, a very versatile low growing ground cover, with evergreen, rosette-like foliage that hugs the ground like an evergreen carpet but those weeks in spring when the blue flowers appear are simply quite magical.

Ajuga genevensis is used throughout the world yet this relatively uncommon form is less well known. This very well behaved, evergreen groundcover has deep gentian blue flower spikes and is by far the showiest of the species. It is often the plant of choice for smaller areas or along edges and pathways.

Agave xylonacantha 'Blue' is the beautiful blue-green leafed form. Rare in cultivation, this dramatic specimen is armed with the most bizarre large white teeth of all the family. One of its previous names, Agave carchariodonta was in reference to the teeth (odonta) of the Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias.

Dense rosettes with almost metallic-looking, powdery blue, perfectly scooped leaves, Agave parryi var. truncata is a structural masterpiece that stays relatively small and compact. It makes a good container plant, and if you should happen to have something like a south facing rock wall in the hot sun, then this Agave really belongs there.

Agave maximiliana is a captivating species, admired for its large, imposing rosettes formed by wide, fleshy leaves that taper to a sharp point. The beautiful bluish-green leaves often display the impression of the newer leaves on the older leaves. It one of the bedrock agaves used in the distillation of Raicilla, the local Mezcal.