Informal / Cottage

Verbena hastata 'White Spires' is one of the choicest species available. It produces masses of pure white flowers on architectural flower heads. Its sheer volume of flowers make it a real winner. It is understandably increasing in popularity as it becomes more readily available.

A beautiful pastel mixture of this exquisite series, Verbena 'Obsession' plants are compact with a trailing habit of growth they eventually spill over the edges of hanging baskets and containers. This award winning variety is an excellent performer flowering over a long period throughout summer, regardless of the weather.

“Imagination’ is a verbena cultivar that is noted for its profuse bloom of violet-blue flowers, its spreading-trailing stems and its deeply cut foliage. A heat and drought tolerant plant, easily grown it performs well in hanging baskets and containers in full sun.

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.

Wisteria sinensis is surely the most distinctive of climbers and by far the most captivating when in bloom. This hardy climber will give stunning displays every year. Bearing large pendent clusters of fragrant violet-lavender flowers in late spring to early summer, the foliage appears once the flowers are over.

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.

Zinnias are back in fashion with a vengeance. 'State Fair' is a lovely old series of giant dahlia-flowered zinnias. A time tested winner, in a full range of bright uniform colours, it performs well both in the garden and in the vase. Sow successively from March to July for flowering until autumn.

This outstanding annual produces perfectly formed salmon-pink pompoms, Zinnia 'Lilliput Salmon' begin blooming early and last until late autumn. They can be sown late spring until late summer directly where they are to flower. A second sowing in mid-summer ensures continued flowering into the autumn.

Zinnia 'Lilliput Mix' is a superb blend of this most unusual flower type, specially selected for its wide range of bright colours. Very floriferous, the tiny double pom-pom flowers are produced in profusion. This ‘cut-and-come-again’ flower, yields multiple cuts over the season, the old blooms stay fresh as new blooms open.