Achillea
Commonly known as yarrow, Achillea is a resilient perennial herb (although we tend not to treat it as such) with fern-like foliage and clusters of small, daisy-like flowers in shades of white, pink, yellow, or red. Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, it thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. Used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties,
Alyssum
Technically a perennial, Alyssum is treated as a hardy annual smothered in tiny blooms, much loved by insects. It is capable of surviving light frosts than could kill more tender plants. With its beautiful clusters of rounded fragrant flowers it has 4 small petals, and are very effective when lots are planted together.
Aquilegia
Aquilegia are a quintessential cottage garden favourite; coming in a variety of colours and sizes, they are also known as Columbine and Granny's Bonnets. They are easy to grow and will self-seed so are great for naturalistic or wild gardens. The nectar-rich flowers are attractive to pollinators.
Astrantia
Astrantia are an excellent garden plant and cut flower with zigzag petals resembling a Tudor ruff. A hardy perennial which after 2/3 years can be divided in spring. Feed established plants early in the spring and again in the middle of the summer with a good all-purpose soluble fertiliser. Astrantias require very little care. Cut the foliage and flowers hard back in autumn or spring.
Auricula
Hardy and exquisitely formed, Auriculas deserve to be looked at close up. You can grow all auriculas in containers. It is one of the best ways to appreciate their beauty and scent. Border auriculas are more robust and easily cope with the worst of winter weather. All are scented and make good cut flowers in bud vases.
Craspedia
As well as being a favourite among florists, Craspedia is also becoming increasingly well known as a garden plant. It bears dense, yellow, spherical flowerheads, at the top of stiff stems emerging from basal rosettes of narrow foliage. There are several species available, though Craspedia globosa is the most widely cultivated.
Cyclamen
Beware: Cyclamen hederofolium (summer/autumn flowering) and Cyclemen coum (winter flowering) are not good companions. This guide focusses on Cyclamen hederofolium; a perennial to 15cm, with somewhat ivy-shaped leaves patterned with silvery-green, and pink, sometimes fragrant, flowers 2.5cm in width, darker around the mouth, opening before or with the leaves which die off in spring and summer.
Dahlia
The real advantage in growing Dahlias from seed is that you get the best of both worlds. The first year will provide a very economical collection of bright flowers and each plant will produce tubers that can be carefully lifted at the end of the end of the season for storing and re-planting the following year. With single flowers, cactus types, pompons, waterlilly, anemone and collarette types there's a Dahlia out there to suit ever garden and gardener!
Delphinium
Perennialdelphiniumsare renowned for their rich colours and commanding presence, often reaching up to 250cm. They flower in early summer and are perfect for beds and borders and make a glorious cut flower. Delphiniums are a favorite of many gardeners, but it’s important to understand that they prefer moist, cool summers and do not fare well in hot, dry weather. The plants also dislike sudden wind or rain. Except for the dwarf perennials, most delphiniums will need staking to keep them upright.
Echinacea
Echinacea is an easy to grow, tough perennial which flowers in late summer. They combine well with other late perennials and grasses, especially in prairie-style plantings. The flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Echinacea won’t flower freely in shade. They prefer being planted in spring and summer, as autumn plantings are more prone to rotting off over winter, especially on wet or heavy soils. They also dislike being disturbed, so plants are best allowed to form large clumps.
Erigeron
No matter the variety ,Erigerons are versatile, easygoing and low maintenance plants. Delightful daisy like flowers give a mass of blooms over a long period from late spring until the end of autumn. Many are small, bushy, clump-forming plants, with others having a taller habit making them an excellent cut flower.
Gaura
It's easy to see why Gaura lindheimeri holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit. With it’s slender, arching stems tipped with panicles of rosy pink buds opening to reveal white flowers, this plant blooms over an incredibly long period. The delicate flowers attract pollinating insects to the garden and bring movement to borders with its loose, wafty habit. Gauras are easy as long as you remember that they are prairie plants from a warm place, mulching helps to protect from severe winters. Mature gauras do not move well.
Gypsophila
Gypsophilais very popular border plant for its clouds of flowers which are useful for flower arrangement, everlasting flowers or just for providing a pretty, misty background for other flowers. Gypsophila paniculata is a perennial species requiring a permanent position in the garden, Gypsophila elegans is an annual species.
Helenium
Flowering the first year from seed and a plant to provide colour and interest to your late summer border Helenium flowers in a rich spectrum of red, bronze and golden-yellow shades. Performs well in borders and, easily cut, making a welcome addition in a vase. As a perennial, Heleniums will benefit from an annual application of fertiliser in spring. To prolong the life of the plant, divide in the spring every 3 years.
Lavender
Growing Lavender plants from seed can be a rewarding and fun way to add this fragrant herb to your garden. Lavender seeds are slow to germinate and plants grown from them may not flower in the first year, but if you’re patient and willing to put in the work, you can generate beautiful plants from seeds. Your first year of growth will not be impressive, but by year two, expect to have large, blooming lavender.
Lupin
Lupins are a true cottage garden flower. There is little to rival a mass planting of lupins with their tall spikes glowing with colour in May, June and July. Like many other perennials with tall flowers, lupins benefit from a sheltered position. Grow them towards the back of a border. Avoid planting in containers as they grow weakly and can be susceptible to aphid attacks – they grow much better in the ground.
Penstemon
Penstemon; these elegant easy-to-grow border plants send up spires of tubular flowers in a range of gorgeous colours. From sky blue to rich plum, deep purple to powdery pink, they flower across the summer months, and like a warm, sunny spot. Plants will prove hardy and come back a second year if wet winter conditions are avoided.
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia works well in borders through to Autumn with its weather resistant blooms bouncing back from rainfall. Flowers in the first year, attracting bees and butterflies as well as being a stunning cut flower. Rudbeckia is usually grown as an annual but may overwinter in mild conditions and will flower more strongly in second year and last a few years in sheltered locations on free-draining soil.
Wallflower
What spring garden would be complete without a bed of delightful, sweet-scented Wallflowers, harbingers of warmer weather to come? Very easy to grow and rewarding; Wallflowers respond excellently to the sow and forget technique - bare patches sown with the absolute minimum of fuss in mid-August will start flowering the following April. Although technically a short-lived perennial, these perform much better as a (hardy) biennial.
Perennial Flowers to grow from seed
