ACANTHUS. Bear’s Breeches .

Throughout Italy you frequently see acanthus leaves on portals and frescoes. They symbolise classical beauty. In the garden they give, substance and architectural presence; their shapely, smooth, polished leaves truly satisfy.

Acanthus spinosus 120cm x 90cm. Substantial mounds of glossy toothed leaves and the tall hooded purple spikes of flowers feature for months. For every bold gardener…£4

AGAPANTHUS African Lilies .

A large terracotta pot of Agapanthus will look fabulous in the shimmering summer heat and gain you impeccable gardening credentials. Grow them tight, and liquid feed through summer with a high potash feed. Tomato feed is absolutely fine. We have a great selection this year.

africanus 1 metre This is the only Agapanthus we grow that is not hardy, but we would not be without them . the flower heads are huge; sky blue ,on strong tall stems. A great feature…£5

Ardenei Hybrid. 60cm prolific white flowers….£4

Back in Black 60cm Jet black stems dark purple flowers; bright green foliage to contrast….£7

Buckingham Palace 100cmA splendid deep blue variety. Sturdy, mid-sized and hardy…£4

Castle of Mey. 60cm A fine old mid blue variety that is named for the famous Caithness Castle of the Queen Mother. Splendid in pot or border...£5

Headbourne Hybrids 90cm. A very reliable old hybrid with medium sized bright blue flowers. Good performance and very hardy…...£3.50

Navy Blue 60cm Very attractive dark blue..£4

Peter Pan 40cm Compact variety with blue striped flower heads .Excellent in pots…£3.50

praecox Flore Pleno 50cm Double powder blue flowers good foliage . Lovely……£5

Purple Cloud 80cm Superb purple heads. A new variety and new colour for agapanthus.£4

Snowball 30cm Short with chunky white heads..........£3.50

Snowdrop ..50cm Splendid show of elegant white flowers above narrow leaves. hardy.£3.50

Streamline 40cm Grey-blue flowers with darker stripe. Very attractive over a long period…..£4

Tinker-bell 25cm A super little plant. Attractive white edged leaves with pale blue flower heads in August. Lovely……..£3.50

Windsor Grey 80cm Pearly grey flowers with grey anthers and green pollen. We are eager to see ours flower. It’s got to be worth it…£4

ANEMONE Wind flowers

Anemones are lovely, with an intimate, appealing charm which makes them plants you seek out in your garden year after year.

Wood Anemones Anemone nemorosa . These are cultivated forms of our native wood anemones. All are dainty, early flowering and build up steadily, year on year. You will find them in our garden amongst rocks and under the skirts of shrubs. Look closely at the flowers and turn over the petals to reveal the blue and violet shades reverse. You will love them all. 15 cm

Alba plena Lovely double white. The valour of them in spring sunshine awakens hope

Lychette Larger, white petals with a bowl filled with yellow stamens

Mid Blue Pretty, vigorous mid blue

Royal Blue Early sunshine first encourages the emergence of the dainty leaves, and then the bright royal blue flower.

Robinsoniana wash, palest blue with silver on the back of the petals. Just lovely.

Viridifolia Large feathered green flowers.

Virescens A whorl of modified calyces make this green “flower” unique. Delightful.

All Wood Anemones ….£3

Anemone x lipsiensis 15cm Primrose yellow flowers on a neat running rootstock lovely in the woodland and under roses and shrubs £3

Anemone multifida Red 15cm Small, upright anemones in a jewel red…. £2.50

Anemone ranunculoides Tiny early bright yellow anemones, making a spreading pool. £3

Anemone sylvestris Madonna 40cm Large snowdrop like flowers and fluffy seed-head..£3

Japanese Anemones . I am very fond of these late border anemones , they add real class to late summer plantings. All are elegant, strong and long lived.

hybrida Honorine Jobert 100cm AGM Pure white singles. Perhaps the nicest of all and just lovely in shade with ferns and Hostas…£3.50

hybrida Montrose 80cm Lovely semi double pink ….£4

BELLIS Double Daisies

These are the tiny neat buttons, not the larger seed raised flowers. They are in fact growing antiques. Lovely if mixed with dwarf early bulbs. After flowering, feed well, and in month or so divide and re-pot, putting them in the shade. Watch out for greenfly. Plant where you can appreciate their pretty, neat form

Dresden China 5cm The prettiest little double pink.

Parkinson’s Great White 5cmChalk white opening to glimpse egg yellow base to the petals.

Robert 5 cm The white form of Dresden China, tight little buttons; charming Becoming scarce.

rotundifolia Caerulescens . Single lavender blue daisies over several months. Very nice.

All Bellis £2 each or £5 for any 3

BERGENIA

Nobody seemed to want Bergenias for years. They were so depressingly out of fashion. But now, they are back with some new varieties, with very good flowers and fabulous leaf colour. Essential winter garden ingredients, glistening in the low sunlight.

Autumn Magic 40cm Fabulous red winter colours on compact plant, strong pink flowers..£4

cordifolia purpurea . 40cm A long time favourite, and excellent ground cover. Good magenta flowers in summer and striking beetroot /red winter leaves........£3.50

Silberlicht Slender purple flushed leaves and clear white flowers in late spring…£4

BRUNNERA

40-50 cm. A great perennial. Forget me not blue flowers in spring, followed by very attractive leaves. They make superb planting ingredients. The heart shaped leaves mound nicely, making good cover.

Jack Frost Silver leaves, edged and veined with green. Fabulous looks and a good garden plant too……£4.50

Looking Glass All silver leaves and loose sprays of bright blue flowers. Great looks…£4.50

C AMPANULA . The Bellflowers

From the huge range of Campanula we have chosen the ones that make good garden plants. All will give you performance and interest.

glomerata acaulis 40cm A robust perennial with upright clusters of rich purple flowers..£3.50

lactiflora 1.3mThe fabulous Giant Border Bellflowers, which do so well in Highlands. They flower with the mock orange shrubs and the old fashioned roses. Essence of midsummer. .£3.50

latifolia Brantwood 1.3mStrong tall stems with large, regal purple bells. A distinguished plant..£4

persicifolia 90cm Willow-leaved bellflowers. Elegant, wiry stems with open blue bells...£3.50

persicifolia Alba Coronata 45cm Divisions of a lovely double white bell flower An old plant.....£4

persicifolia Telham Beauty 90cm Sturdy plants giving excellent border performance. Large flowers of vivid violet blue …£3.50

rubrifolia Bowl of Cherries 60cm Vigorous and floriferous. Cherry red bells, white edged …£4

CARDIOCRINUM

Giant Yunnan Lilly 2-3 metres. This magnificent woodland lily has a clustered head of fragrant white trumpets. A group in flower is so wonderful as to be worth holding a garden party. We are offering offsets from plants that have flowered well. Feed well, while the leaves are above ground I would recommend a liquid fertiliser(such as Miracle Grow)……£6.50

giganteum Yunnanense 2 metres. Equally magnificent; the young foliage has rich maroon shadings and the flowers are red marked within. Large bulbs….£9.50 each

CENTRANTHUS Wall Valerian.

Valerian seems to grow on fresh air. I see them hanging on old town walls and amongst the massive rocks below Edinburgh Castle They are attractive plants with dense heads of flower over fleshy leaves. They do exceptionally well in poor soils, needing only sunshine and a little kindness after planting.

Centranthus ruber atrococcineus 80cm We have the good deep red strain…£3 each

albus..The lovely white strain; beautiful in midsummer planting. Cotton sheet white..£3

CENTAUREA Old fashioned Knapweeds.

jacea 75cm pretty lilac knapweed heads…£3.50

macrocephala 1.3m Tight scaly buds, that remind me every time of Ena Sharple’s tight netted perm. Upright heads, yellow flowers £3.50

CEPHALARIA

gigantea 2m the leafy base throws up branching heads of pale yellow scabious heads. Great big border plant….£3.50

CHAMAEMELUM Treneague

A non flowering Chamomile, lush, fresh green and fabulously aromatic. This is the one used for lawns, but think of it on a bank or bower or in an arbour….imagine, imagine large plants…£2.50

CICERBITA plumieri

1m Alipine Sow Thistle Attractive plant with purple/blue, chicory like flowers . Very nice in our woodland …£4

Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley

Excellent established pots, that will grow away far better than dried root pieces £3 a pot or £10 for 4

majalis rosea . The scarce, pretty pink…… £3.50

CORYDALIS

Attractive plants, they look wonderful in a pot. I started to plant them throughout the garden, and they have proved excellent. Fine leaves and gorgeous blue flowers

flexuosa Blue Dragon Larger Blue Flowers ...£3

flexuosa Tory MP True blue and nicely scented; green leaves .£3

CROCOSMIA. The Montbretia family.

Great plants for a late summer show; bold and bright, rewarding to grow and increasing well. We have extended the colour range and the season with some good new varieties.

Babylon 90cm Strong, large red flowers .

Buttercup 50cm Rich butter yellow mid-season

Canary Bird 50cm Butter yellow flowers on good clump forming growth. Great plant.

Culzean Peach 90cm Soft orange blooms with a distinct pink tone.

Dusky Maiden 50cm Bronze leaves and wonderful orange/brown flowers. Late summer.£4

Golden Dew 40cm Yellow and gold blooms prettily held on wiry dark reddish stems.

Honey Angels 50cm Neat; prolific yellow ,cream throats . Excellent.

DACTYLORRHIZA

elata 50cm Hardy garden orchid. It takes 3 or 4 years for our plants to bulk up so that we can divide, but it is worth the wait. Strap-like leaves, dense spikes of rosy purple spotted orchids It thrives in well drained soil with humus ; part sun…£9.50

DAPHNE

Much loved small shrubs with the most deliciously scented flowers. On a warm spring evening their perfume fills the air. The smaller species also make long term, elegant potted specimens.

bholoua Jacqueline Postill A wonderful winter flowering shrub. Deep purple-pink, wonderful fragrance. A superb shrub…Young plants..£5.50

hendersonnii Ernst Hauser Neat evergreen alpine plant with classic pink/white fragrant flowers..£5

odora aureomarginata 50cm An evergreen variety with a lovely golden edged olive green leaves. The flowers are pale pink; wonderful scent…£5

odora Leucantha 50cm Lovely evergreen flowering late winter into spring. Beautiful purple buds opening to white fragrant waxy flowers. Lovely ……£5

odora Rubra 80cm Neat evergreen with classic pink blooms. Excellent…£5

retusa A superb evergreen Daphne. Slow, steady growth makes a shrub to cherish. Rarely over 50cm Wonderful in flower. …. £5.50

tangutica 60cm. A reliable shrub that produces a good show of fragrant pink flowers in late spring. Lovely purple buds over a neat matt shrub.. ..£5

DIERAMA Wand Flowers or Angel’s Fishing Rods

Grassy foliage with elegant arching, wiry stems dripping with slender bells, in papery calyxes. They are a real feature of our summer garden. Each year we try some new species, and none have disappointed yet, proving both hardy and glamorous. Sunny positions, not too dry.

ambiguum 60cm graceful stems , pink bells…..£4

argyreum 50cm Yellow buds open Ivory white…£4

dracomontanum 50cm Compact clumps with large deep pink, flaring bells, arching elegantly…£4

erectum 80cm upward stems with clusters lilac pink blooms , well into October…£4

pulcherrimum 1 m. The classic angel’s fishing rods. Elegant and architectural…. £4

reynoldsii 60cm Stunning wine red flowers, white bracts.....£4

trichorhizum 60cm One of the smallest dierama. Erect spikes of flaring mauve bells; very beautiful......£4

DIGITALIS Foxgloves .

mertonensis 90 cm The Strawberry Foxglove. Large flowers the colour of strawberry puree. They flower with the old fashioned roses...£3.50

parviflora 80cm The Chocolate Foxglove. Neat flowers along the stems in a fascinating milk chocolate brown. A handsome basal rosette.....£3.50

Digitalis purpurea Snow Thimbles 100cm. Large remarkable pure white flowers, without spotting, all the long length of the stem…..£3

DRIMYS

winteri Handsome evergreen from southern South America. Handsome green leaves, with a silver reverse. Jasmine-scented white flowers produced in May…..£8.50

ECHINACAE CONEFLOWERS.

It just shows what can happen when breeders seriously take hold of a serviceable, but rather dull plant. The new Coneflowers are fabulous. Great colours, long seasons and better growth. Do try some

Fancy Frills .75cm almost like a purple/pink sunflower. Very full of shaggy petals….£4.

Fragrant Angel Excellent White.Fragrant.....£4.

Kim’s Mop Head 50cm Compact, prolific white flowered variety. Orange/green centre .....£4

Harvest Moon. 60cm Wonderful soft orange with a darker central disc…...£4.50

purpurea Magnus 90cm Strong and showy.Purple-pink daisies with red/orange cone…£4

EMBOTHRIUM

lanceolatus. Chilean Flame Tree. I remember a marvellous specimen in a quarry garden in Aberdeen, and another at the front of the Kelper Store in Stanley Falkland Islands. This past year we discovered the one at Attadale , near Lochcarron. Erect evergreen large shrub 3m; fabulous orange-scarlet clusters of flower in May and June. Best in deep, moist, well drained acid soil……£8.50

EPIMEDIUM

As I walk around the garden planning new beds, Epimediums are an ingredient I often reach for, as they are excellent ground cover, and light on the “thug” factor. They have an obliging nature, they grow just about anywhere, and possess a real air of elegance. Their spring flowers are dainty and repay close observation. Take a few indoors to relish them. The leaves are attractive and fresh, often bronze tinged and veined, lasting through winter. They work through a planting as stitches in a tapestry

grandiflorum Red Beauty 20cm New variety with early red flowers. They show well if old foliage is cut down in March large pots..........£4

pinnatum colchicum 25cmAttractive bronzed, veined leaves and upright yellow flowers .......£4

pubigerum 40cm Good mound-forming foliage and pretty cream flowers……..£4

x perralchium Frohnleiten 40cm Tough evergreen foliage with bronze markings. A good species for dry conditions. Excellent yellow…...£4

ERYNGIUM The Sea Hollies .

Fantastic native plants: handsome, glamorous and rewarding. They love the lick of salt winds, but do very well in well drained, sunny plantings. Do make the journey to the Castle of Mey in windswept Caithness to see them at their best. We have some of the new and less usual.

alpinum Blue Steel 70cm Exquisite metallic blue flowers surrounded by a soft feathery ruff . Elizabethan; more Blackadder than Baldrick…..£4

bourgatii Graham Stuart Thomas selection 40cm White and grey, filigree leaves with branching heads of handsome violet blue sea holly. Excellent all the summer months…. £4

X tripartitum 40cm A mound of lovely small cones with bracts of glistening metallic blue..…£4

EUPHORBIA

In the early years of our garden we planted many Euphorbia. These are the varieties that have continued to do well for us, plus a few new ones to try. We will plant more; they are exciting.

amygdaloides purpurea 25cm Good compact clumps of purple red foliage, lasts all year. Yellow spurges March-May……£3.50

baselicis. 30cm A new Euphorbia: grey-green leaves, acid yellow flowers and the whole plant becomes gold and red in the summer heat.......£4

cyparissius Fens Ruby 15cm. Delicate froth of red foliage, resembling sphagnum moss, but suited to a dry open situation; lime green summer flowers .....£2.50

dulcis Chameleon 30cm purple-red foliage that becomes vivid red in autumn. Yellow spurges......£4

griffithii Fern Cottage 90cm Great plant; I love the red strong spears of growth in early spring, opening to green striped foliage and burnt orange bracts for a long season. Brings light and fire amongst dull evergreen plantings.....£4

griffithii Fireglow 90cm Brick red flowers over strong, massed stems of green…£4

polychroma 35cm Neat mounds that cover themselves with bright yellow flowers in spring. They are a superb ingredient in a spring planting with bulbs and doronicum and then honesty.....£3.50

schillingii 1 metre. An attractive green leaved spurge, each leaf with a prominent white midrib. Lime yellow flowers from July to September Clump forming, but not at all aggressive …...£4

DON’T FORGET to watch out for Euphorbia sap. It is very irritant to eyes.