October

Nigella 'Moody Blues' produces blooms in many shades of blue, from sky blue right through to deep midnight blue. Nigella are ridiculously easy to grow. Sown directly, they will be flowering in just three months and bloom right through to October. In cool summer climates, additional sowings can be done every 3 to 4 weeks until mid-summer.

'Albion Black Pod' is much less common than the usual Nigella varieties, It bears delicate romantic white flowers with intriguing little green stamens that are surrounded by ferny foliage. At the end of the season, the petals drop and the blossoms transform into dark plum fairy lanterns.

'Albion Green Pod' is an unusual species of Nigella. The flowers are followed by fresh green, very ornamental seed capsules, are held on stiff stems that are perfect for use as a cut flower. They dry readily and easily, are very decorative and very useful for fresh and dried bouquets and winter decorations indoors.

An unusual twist on the classic cottage garden flower, Nigella 'Transformer' adds intriguing texture with its uniquely shaped flowers and upright, seed pods. A good choice for borders, mass plantings or cut flowers. Used fresh or dried the seed pods are a great filler in bouquets, cut flower production is just 12 to 16 weeks.

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.

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 ‘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.

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.

'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.

The Iceland poppies have large, luscious petals in an array of shades.The single papery, lightly fragrant blossoms flowers unwrinkle their petals into a wide-spreading saucer shape 3 to 4 inches across. Flowering early in summer they produce dazzling splashes of colour when planted en masse.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.