Achillea
Commonly known as yarrow,Achilleais 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.
Ammi
Reminiscent of Cow Parsley which softens the verges of country lanes,Ammiis a tall annual that produces a froth of delicate white blooms that bring a simple, elegant feel to summer borders. Commonly known as Bishops Weed, its graceful stems rise above ferny foliage, lending themselves nicely to summer bouquets.
Antirrhinum
Antirrhinum, or as most of us call them, Snapdragons are cheerful cottage garden plants, used as bedding to brighten up borders and containers. They're easy to grow and come in a range of different colours and heights, and therefore can be grown in a variety of situations. Attractive to wildlife, particularly bumblebees, they have a long flowering period, from June until October. Taller cultivars make good cut flowers and last well over a week in water.
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.
Bergamot
Bergamot, Bee Balm, even Monarda, this plant is known by many names and comes in many varieities. Our favourite is Wild Bergamot, the herb come wildflower that’s easy to grow, beautiful, and highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Calendula
Easy-to-grow hardy annuals flower from summer through to early autumn, making them a great choice for summer borders and containers. The flowers are good for cutting, have edible petals and are also used by herbalists to make skincare products. Plants often self-seed from year to year. Calendulas are unfussy plants that do well in most ordinary garden soil, including poor, dry soil. They flower best in full sun, but also tolerate light shade.
Cornflower
Cornflower is an easily grown hardy annual wildflower that is quick to grow and blooms in summer, bearing masses of pretty, ruffled flowers on slender wiry stems. While not native to the UK, it was introduced from the Mediterranean thousands of years ago and is considered 'naturalised'. The original species is beloved for its deep blue blooms, but there's now a wide choice of varieties in shades of blue, pink, maroon, and white.
Cosmos
Cosmos will put on a continuous display throughout the summer months and well into autumn, standing on tall, slender stems which sway in the breeze creating that gorgeous soft and floaty effect. Perfect for a sunny spot in any mixed planting scheme, not only will they look great in the garden and be beneficial to pollinators, but they make lovely cut flowers too. Despite their delicate looks, these plants are pretty tough and will stay standing in rain or a drought.
Digitalis
Digitalis, more commonly known as the Foxglove is a traditional cottage garden flower favourite. Tall elegant spires of trumpet shaped flowers in a wide colour range, including many shades of purples. Attracts bees and butterflies with its lightly sweet fragrance. Digitalis are superb for shady shrub and tree areas, back of borders and excellent for cut flowers. They can really bring the early summer garden alive!
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.
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.
Larkspur
A stunning cottage garden plant, adding height and colour to border displays. Larkspur flowers work well with roses, peonies and other tall growing flowers such as lupins and verbascums. Larkspur flowers are usually blue but they also come in mauve, pink, white and even red. They can be single or double, depending on the variety. Single-flowered varieties are loved by bees.
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.
Orlaya
Orlaya makes an easy to grow, quick border filler. It gives lovely fern-like foliage and clusters of pure white flowers, similar to lace-cap hydrangeas, with its flowers composed of small inner florets framed by large outer ones, forming a pretty pattern which is reminiscent of lace-cap hydrangeas. Planted en masse, the luminous white petals have a shimmering effect, creating a soft haze which melds plant masses together, immediately capturing that romantic cottage garden vibe. Long straight stems and soft ferny foliage add to its appeal.
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.
Phlox
Phlox are herbaceous plants that bear a profusion of small, often scented flowers in summer. They range from tall border perennials to creeping phlox or alpine varieties and woodland types, as well as annual varieties that can be grown as bedding; those are the varieties we focus on at Collie Flowers and have available in our range of seeds. As well as being fragrant and long flowering, most cultivars attract a variety of bees and other pollinating insects.
Sunflower
Sunflowers come in a range of sizes and colours, with many now having multiple flower heads from a single stalk. Sunflowers prefer a well drained soil in full sun. Tall varieties shoudl be sown early to allpw growing time and will need staking if sited in a particularly windy area. For varieties offering multiple flowerheads deadhead regularly to encourage continuous flowering. If space allows once the flowers are spent at the end of the season leave the heads to form seeds which will provide food for wildlife through the winter.
Sweet Rocket
Sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalis, is a pretty biennial (that may act like a short lived perennial in the right circumstances), bearing white or purple flowers similar to Honesty. Leave them to seed themselves and they will maintain this diversity indefinitely, gradually naturalising over a large area. The flowers' fragrance is as sweet as a violets, and strongest in the evening. It looks good when allowed to drift, naturally through an informal sunny or partially shaded border, especially in a cottage garden or wildlife garden.
Pollinator Heroes to grow from seed
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Verbena Bonariensis
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Sorry, I'm really popular and busy growing in other gardens, back in store soonPhlox grandiflora, Creme Brulee
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Calendula, Oopsy Daisy
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Sorry, I'm really popular and busy growing in other gardens, back in store soonHonesty, Crown Mix
Regular price £1.45 GBPRegular price
