October

With their impressive variety, spectacular blooms and strange seed pods, 'Pepperbox' poppies are one of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture and a lot of colour to your garden. The glorious, papery-textured flowers bloom in a multitude of colours, rich purples, deep reds to pale lilac-pinks.

This ancient form of cultivated poppy produces the most unusual seed pod of all poppies. The main pod is surrounded by masses of smaller pods. Primarily grown for their curious seed pods which are extremely decorative, they are much in demand for cut and dried flower arrangements.

With its brilliant scarlet flowers, this native wild flower needs no introduction. Single, red, cup-shaped flowers usually with a black blotch at the base of the petals. It is the classic poppy bloom that paint a road verge or embankment a brilliant hue in their first year.

Originally raised in the 1880's by the Rev. Wilks in his garden in Shirley near Croydon in Surrey. The flowers are often likened to tissue paper, in colours from the brightest scarlet to pure white, with all shades of pink in between and all varieties of flaked and edged flowers.

Papaver rhoeas 'Pandora' is a strikingly unique and impressive new variety, which blooms in a phenomenal combination of shades. From voluptuous deep burgundy red to paler pink-red all broken by silver grey stripes on the lower petals. They bloom from early summer and bloom for several months.

Developed by the painter Cedric Morris around 1910, 'Mother of Pearl' offers the finest colours in mauves and smokey tones and is one of the most distinctive, yet subtle blends of poppies available today. Single flowers in dove greys, blackberry and lavender, mauve edged in white, and opalescent shadowy tints.

When it comes to cut flowers, the poppy may be the ‘Internet darling’ of the moment. arranged in mason jars and in hand-tied bouquets, the poppy attracts the hip and stylish with their vintage, casual feel. The pure white colour form has been separated out and is now available to gardeners.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant. It has fascinating, large, fully double white flowers, with lovely crinkled petals. Papaver 'White Cloud' is superb in the flower border. These plants are showstoppers when they're in full bloom.

Peony poppies send up thick flower stems that rise as high as five feet and produce five to ten nodding flower heads. Papaver 'Purple Peony' has fascinating, fully double, deep violet-purple flowers with lovely crinkled petals. When the flowers do burst, overnight, from their casings, the gardener is treated to some of the most dramatic flowers in the plant kingdom.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Paeony Yellow' produces ultra feminine, large flower heads with lovely crinkled petals that look like upturned petticoats. At the end of the season, the seed pods are well-suited for crafts and dried floral arrangements.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Paeony Rose Pink' produces ultra feminine, large flower heads with lovely crinkled rose-pink petals that look like upturned petticoats. At the end of the season, the seed pods are well-suited for crafts and dried floral arrangements.

Indescribably elegant, Papaver paeoniflorum 'Lilac Pompom' blooms with lush frilled, dark pink-violet, often palm-sized blooms. Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow flowering plant, they are showstoppers when they're in full bloom.

Also known as Peony poppies, Papaver paeoniflorum producing a summer-long succession of fascinating, heavily doubled, large flowers with lovely crinkled petals. Their spectacular blooms, in a multitude of colours are one of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture and a lot of colour to your garden.

Perfect for gardeners in pursuit of an easy-to-grow large flowering plant, with thick stalks and broad lettuce like leaves, Papaver 'Double Cream' has fascinating, large, fully double, cream flowers with lovely crinkled petals. Sown in early spring, the plants grow quickly and the first flowers appear in early July. One of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture to your garden.

A range of delicate antique pinks, many with a cream-white base, suffused with rose, pinks and purple hues, beautifully offset by lush, blue-green foliage. Papaver paeoniflorum 'Antique Shades' is not a new introduction, but on old, historical variety of the type that were grown in cottage gardens and monasteries several centuries ago.

Papaver orientale 'Brilliant' exhibits immense scarlet red satiny blooms, each boasting intricately decorated, deep purple-black hearts. A good border plant, as well as an eye catching cut flower, they are very long-lived and virtually care-free, these undemanding plants provide a real spectacle year after year.

'Emerald Chief' is a good Panicum virgatum selected seed strain. Hardy with sturdy upright deep green growth and great autumn colour. The panicles open red pink in late summer and its foliage turns from green to a lovely deep gold. This chief stands up tall throughout the winter months.

Despite its American provenance Panicum virgatum was originally taken up by German landscapers and gardeners. Renowned for its steely coloured blue-grey to blue-purple leaves, but it is the contrast between the rigid, stainless-steel foliage and purple-pink froth that really charms.

Nigella papillosa ‘Midnight' is a very handsome variety with gorgeous, velvety, dark purple flowers which stand above attractive, lush green feathery foliage. Ornamental, dark purple, spider-like seed pods extend the interest of this border star well into autumn. Sowing to flowering takes just three months.

Named for the famous Dutch Delft blue pottery, Nigella papillosa ‘Delft Blue’ is an eye catching hardy annual with flower petals in varying shades of blue and grey, and intricate deep-purple centres. They make a splendid addition to mixed beds and border displays and the flowers attract and feed bees as well as other beneficial insects.

Nigella papillosa ‘African Bride’ is a most attractive variety. Deep rich purple stamens that highlight pure white blooms are followed by intriguing red seed pods. A hardy annual that is very easy to grow, it is rather special as a cut flower, and lovely in summer borders too.