October

Knautia macedonica has been hugely fashionable for years and is likely to remain so for many more. This lovely and versatile perennial blooms from late spring to autumn with dark-crimson, richly glamorous pompoms. Established plants produce literally hundreds of blooms in one season.

The Kniphofia hybrids have extended both the flower colour and height range. The usual fiery reds and oranges work particularly well in a planting scheme based on 'hot' colours - use them to light up sultry August borders. The cooler yellow, cream, ivory and sometimes green flowers is more restful.

Mammoth Sweet Peas belongs to a type of sweet pea called an 'Early Multiflora Gigantea'. Marked by the longest stems and large fragrant blooms, they are very popular with commercial cut flower growers. Borne on beautifully long stems 'Mammoth Crimson' produce large rich, blue-red blooms that read as velvety crimson.

Extra early, extra large blooms are the feature of this award winning sweet pea and the best strain for producing early cut flowers. If you have never seen this kind of sweet pea on long stems before, and don’t quite understand what all the fuss is all about…they are marvellous …guaranteed to make you fall completely in love with them.

‘Mammoth Pastel Mix’ also known as ‘Goddess Mix’ is a dreamy grandiflora Sweet Pea blend, in blush, shell-pink, cream, peach and lavender, all richly scented. Extra-early with extra-large blooms, the vigorous plants carry long, strong stems packed with fragrant flowers. It’s one of the best strains for producing early cut flowers.

'Mammoth Rose Pink' produces blooms in a clear, mid rose-pink, fresh and flattering rather than hot or cerise. Buds open a shade deeper, then the petals soften to shell-pink with a faint silvery bloom on the wings. Extra early, extra large blooms and an excellent choice for early spring colour and for producing early cut flowers.

'Mammoth Salmon Cream' produces blooms in a warm pink with a soft apricot glow, more peach than coral. The buds open slightly deeper, then the standards and wings fade towards blush and cream as the bloom ages. In cool light it reads pinker, in bright sun it shifts a touch more apricot. Lovely with whites, creams and smoky mauve's.

The Heirloom Mixture is a wonderful mixture of the Heirloom Grandiflora Sweet Peas. Representing most of the colours of this type and containing varieties that date back to the 16th century. Fabulous flowers in great colours that grow on vigorous plants, each have an intense full bodied perfume.

Named for the ‘Father of the Sweet Pea’ this stunning heirloom grandiflora type has dramatic orange blooms and is fantastically fragrant. 'Henry Eckford' is one of the original Antique or Heirloom varieties, use for cut flowers or plant where their scent can be appreciated.

Originally bred and introduced by a Mr Viner in 1901, Sweet Pea 'Nellie Viner' produces long stemmed blooms that have nicely rounded clear pastel pink flowers, a very useful pink, that blends beautifully with other tones. The long-stemmed sprays produce an irresistible medley of fragrances and make exceptionally fine cut flowers.

The original ‘Painted Lady’ arose as a sport from 'Cupani' in about 1730. It was the very first named sweet pea cultivar. Recently reselected, this modern form produces larger, more numerous flowers and retains the distinctive colour combination of lotus-pink and white petals. One of the most highly scented sweet peas you can grow today.

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Prima Donna’ is a classic Grandiflora sweet pea introduced by Henry Eckford in 1896, during the golden age of sweet pea breeding. It bears rosy-pink blooms that deepen as they mature, each flower beautifully proportioned and carried two or three to a stem.

A delicate beauty that stands out among the bolder varieties, Lathyrus odoratus ‘Butterfly’ bears lightly ruffled blooms that are softly flushed and veined with lilac and lavender. They are intensely fragrant and with long, sturdy stems that are superb for cutting. They make a striking presence in the garden or the vase.

Lovingly nicknamed the 'unicorn sweet pea', 'Enchante' is an amazing tri-colour variety in blush pink, white and soft mauve or lavender. Raised and introduced by Dr Keith Hammett, this fabulously feminine sweet pea will produce fist fulls of demure little blooms for a gorgeous display.

Lathyrus odoratus 'Midnight' is very special variety of sweet pea, seed of which is seldom available.Beautifully formed scented blooms of dark crimson, almost black. An amazing colour. The flowers are almost twice the size of a regular sweet pea and its stems are almost twice the length and so are perfect for cutting.

Dr Keith Hammett has bred many incredible new varieties, now referred to as the 'Modern Grandiflora's', they feature larger petal sizes and longer stem lengths and, importantly, their scent has been retained. 'Moody Blues' combines three of Keith's most popular varieties.

Lathyrus ‘Philip Miller Fleck’ is a modern grandiflora sweet pea, its beautiful soft rose-red, scented blooms are delicately flecked and streaked with violet, giving each flower a painterly charm. With strong, graceful vines and abundant summer flowers, it captures the romance of the old-fashioned sweet peas while offering the vigour and reliability of modern breeding.

A blended mixture of outstanding quality. Composed of over 40 colours and shades of the Spencer Waved sweet peas. Large flowered and fragrant with an excellent colour range - with so many having such a beautiful scent … who could resist?