hardy perennials form begonia to cyclamen :

BEGONIA (Begoniaceae)
We have a range of Begonias, mostly of the tender cane variety - see our Conservatory Plant pages. However, there are also hardy Begonias, of which we have the following.
grandis ssp. evansiana agm £ 3.75
Borderline hardy, tuberous begonia with pendant, fragrant pink flowers in summer. Will probably only survive in very mild coastal or southern gardens with minimum temperatures of 0°C. to -5°C. Grow in well drained soil in part shade. Mulch in winter. 50 cms (1½ feet).
grandis ssp. evansiana v. alba £3.75
Borderline hardy, tuberous begonia with pendant, fragrant white flowers in summer. Will probably only survive in very mild coastal or southern gardens with minimum temperatures of 0°C. to -5°C. Grow in well drained soil in part shade. Mulch in winter. 50 cms (1½ feet).
Begonia palmata palmata £ 3.75
A hardy Begonia with large fleshy leaves. Sprays of pink flowers summer-autumn. Moisture retentive soil, part shade. Mulch in winter. 45 cms (1½ feet). ?
BELAMCANDA (Iridaceae)
Members of the Iris family from across Asia with attractive flowers followed by spectacular seed pods. Grow in moist but free draining soil in sun/part shade. Give protective mulch in winter where temperatures fall below -5°C.
chinensis 'Hello Yellow' £ 3.50
Cultivar with yellow flowers. 90 cms (3 feet).
BERGENIA (Saxifragaceae)
These evergreen perennials are useful ground cover for sun or part shade. They have large, leathery leaves and short stems of funnel-shaped flowers, usually in spring. Grow in humus-rich, moist, well drained soil in sun/ part shade. Ideal for planting around trees and shrubs.
Bergenia Bressingham White 'Bressingham White' agm £ 3.50
Cultivar with deep green leaves and pure white flowers from April-May. 30 cms (1 foot).
BRUNNERA (Boraginaceae)
Excellent ground covering plants for a cool, shady spot with heart-shaped leaves and sprays of forget-me-not like flowers in spring. The variegated cultivars are particularly good for adding brightness and interest to dull areas. Grow in humus-rich, moist, well drained soil in part shade. Ideal for a woodland garden.
macrophylla 'Hadspen Cream' agm £ 3.50
Cultivar with soft hairy leaves with an irregular cream margin and panicles of small blue flowers from mid-late spring. Good ground cover for damp shade. 45 cms (1½ feet).
Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost macrophylla 'Jack Frost' agm £ 3.75
A must-have perennial for a shady garden where foliage interest is so important. This cultivar has striking, silvery leaves with a deep green margin and veins and blue flowers from April-May. 45 cms (1½ feet).
CALTHA (Ranunculaceae)
(KING CUPS, MARSH MARIGOLD.) These plants are ideal for planting in shallow areas of water no deeper than 23cm (9in) or in a bog garden. Grow in full sun or part shade. They flower in spring, often producing a second flush in late summer.
palustris 'Flore Pleno' agm £ 3.50
Cultivar with fully double yellow flowers in spring. 20 cms (7").
CAMPANULA (Campanulaceae)
(BELLFLOWER.) Some Campanulas have nodding bell-shaped or tubular flowers and others have more open star-shaped or cup shaped flowers. Most require fertile, well drained neutral to alkaline soil in sun or part shade. Smaller plants prefer a free draining site in full sun such as a rockery. Alpine species need very good drainage in winter. The height of some plants can vary depending on the level of moisture in the soil.
Campanula glomerata Caroline glomerata 'Caroline' £ 3.50
Compact cultivar with upward facing, tubular pale lilac flowers from May-Sept. 45 cms (1½ feet).
glomerata var. alba £ 3.50
(CLUSTERED BELLFLOWER.) Compact variety with upward facing, tubular white flowers from May-Sept. 45 cms (1½ feet).
'Kent Belle' agm £ 3.50
Large pendant purple-violet bell-shaped flowers from June-Aug. 1.2 metres (4 feet).
Campanula lactiflora Loddon Anna lactiflora 'Loddon Anna' agm £ 3.50
Soft lilac-pink, upward facing star-shaped flowers from June-September. Flowers tend to fade in hot sun so best planted in part or dappled shade. 1.5 metres (5 feet).
lactiflora 'Prichards Variety' agm £ 3.50
Dark violet-blue, upward facing star-shaped flowers from June-September. More compact so shouldn't need staking. 75 cms (2½ feet).
persicifolia £ 3.50
Large cup-shaped, lilac- blue, sometimes white flowers from May-June. Self seeds. Good for a wild garden. 90 cms (3 feet).
persicifolia 'Chettle Charm' agm £ 3.50
Very pretty cultivar with large cup-shaped, white flowers with the faintest blue tinge from May-June. 90 cms (3 feet).
persicifolia 'Moerheimii' £ 3.50
Cultivar with large cup-shaped, semi-double white flowers from May-June. 75 cms (2½ feet).
persicifolia 'Pride Of Exmouth' £ 3.50
Semi double purple-blue cup-shaped flowers from May-June. 60 cms (2 feet).
persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' £ 3.50
Large china blue, cup shaped flowers to 8cm (3in) across from May-June. 75 cms (2½ feet).
persicifolia v. alba £ 3.50
Large, cup-shaped white flowers from May-June. Self seeds. Good for a wild garden. 90 cms (3 feet).
portenschlagiana agm £3.50
 Low growing, spreading species with masses of small, deep mauve-blue, upward-facing flowers from early to mid summer. Ideal for a
rockery or trailing of the edge of a low wall or either side of a path/ set of steps. For well drained soil in sun/ part shade. 15 cms (6").
punctata 'Bowl Of Cherries' £ 3.50
Creeping cultivar with nodding, tubular, deep cherry-pink flowers from early-mid summer. 50 cms (1½ feet).
Campanula Sarastro 'Sarastro' £ 3.50
Spectacular, large, deep purple-blue, pendant tubular flowers from early- mid summer. A hybrid of C. punctata and C. trachelium. 60 cms (2 feet).
Campanula takesimana takesimana £ 3.50
Rapidly spreading species with pendant white flowers, speckled pink inside, from June-September. Good ground cover. 50 cms (1½ feet).
trachelium 'Bernice' £3.50
Upright variety with double - lilac/blue flower mid- to late summer. Needs neutral to alkaline, moisture retentive but well-drained soil, sun or
part shade.
Campanula trachelium Snowball trachelium 'Snowball' £ 3.50
Fully double, cup shaped, semi-upright white flowers from mid-late summer. 60 cms (2 feet).
CARDIOCRINUM (Lilaeaceae)
giganteum agm £ 9.00
(GIANT LILY.) Monocarpic (dies after flowering) bulb with huge fragrant cream trumpets to 6 inches long in summer. There can be up to 20 of these on each flowering stem. After flowering, dig up in autumn to remove and re-plant any offsets which will flower in up to 5 years. Seed raised plants will take up to 7 years to flower. Grow in well drained, deep, humus-rich soil in part shade. Ideal for a woodland garden. (Seed sown 2002) 3 metres (10 feet).
CATANANCHE (Asteraceae)
  caerulea £ 3.50
Excellent plant for a dry, sunny border with narrow, grass-like leaves and papery lilac-blue flowerheads, to 2ins across, from July-Sept. Short-lived perennial but reproduces readily by self seeding. Grow in well drained soil in full sun. Long-lasting cut flower. Attracts Bees and Butterflies. 50cms (1.5ft) to 90 cms (3 feet).
CERATOSTIGMA (Plumbaginaceae)
plumbaginoides agm £ 3.50
Ground cover perennial related to Plumbago with very similar, brilliant blue flowers in late summer. Foliage becomes tinted red in autumn. For light, well drained soil in full sun. Good for a rockery or edge of a wall where it will eventually cascade down. 45 cms (1½ feet).
CHELONE (Scrophulariaceae)
(TURTLE HEAD.) These plants are grown for their curious flowers which are supposed to resemble, as the common name suggests, a Turtle's Head. The flowers are similar to that of the Foxglove (to which Chelones are related) but the upper lip curls over, almost touching the bottom lip. They flower from late summer- autumn. Grow in fertile, moist soil in sun or part shade.
glabra £ 3.25
White flowers in late summer. 60 cms (2 feet).
obliqua £ 3.25
Pink flowers in late summer. 60 cms (2 feet).
CHIASTOPHYLLUM (Crassulaceae)
oppositifolium 'Jim's Pride' £ 3.50
Spreading evergreen succulent perennial with irregular cream splashes on the leaves. Stems of small bell-shaped lemon-yellow flowers from May-June. Despite being succulent, this plant actually prefers partial shade in moist but well drained soil. 15 cms
CHRYSANTHEMUM (Asteraceae)
Needing no introduction, these popular plants come in a huge variety of flower colour, shape and size. Grow in fairly fertile, well drained soil in full sun. They are excellent cut flowers and also attact Butterflies.
'Clara Curtis' £ 3.25
Scented, single pink flowers to 3in across from July-September. 75 cms (2½ feet).
'Duchess of Edinburgh' £ 3.25
Semi double scarlet flowers produced during Sept-Oct. 60 cms (2 feet).
Chrysanthemum Mary Stoker 'Mary Stoker' £ 3.25
Single apricot-yellow flowers July-September. Looks stunning when back-lit by the late afternoon- early evening sun. 75 cms (2½ feet).
'Suffolk Pink' £3.50
Strong, vigorous, hardy Chrysanth with deep magenta-pink flowers with a yellow centre in autumn. Sturdy, long stems produce a profusion of flowers providing which are good for cutting whilst leaving plenty on the plant to enjoy in the garden.  A yet to be introduced and officially
named cultivar. 1.2 metres (4 feet).
weyrichii £ 3.25
Dwarf, spreading species, ideal for a sunny rockery with white or pink flowers to 2 inches across in summer. 30 cms (1 foot).
CHRYSOGONUM (Asteraceae)
Chrysogonum virginianum virginianum £ 3.25
Lovely ground covering perennial with star-shaped yellow flowers from late spring-late summer. For rich, moist but well drained soil in sun/part shade. 20 cms (7").
CIRSIUM (Asteraceae)
rivulare 'Atropurpureum' £ 3.75
Clump-forming perennial with rosettes of prickly foliage, from which arise erect stems carrying deep red/maroon thistle flowers, from ealry to mid-summer. Good for bees & butterflies.
CLEMATIS (Ranunculaceae)
With such a huge range of Clematis available these days it is important to understand the different cultivation and pruning requirements. Clematis prefer humus-rich, well drained soil with the base of the plant in shade. Some do better in a sunny position and others prefer or are better appreciated in a shady position. There are three main pruning groups for Clematis. Group 1 includes the evergreens, alpinas and montanas. These flower on the previous years growth and require little in the way of pruning other than a general tidy up after flowering. The montanas in particular do not like being heavily pruned. Very overgrown specimens can be rejuvenated by removing all the old growth leaving 5-6 new shoots intact. Group 2 includes the early to mid-summer, large flowered hybrids. These flower on side-shoots growing on the previous years growth. Simply remove any dead growth in spring. Dead-heading after flowering often results in a repeat flush later on in the summer. Group 3 includes the mid-summer to autumn, large flowered hybrids, late flowering species including viticellas and the herbaceous types. The latter are best grown scrambling through other plants for support. Group 3 clematis flower on the current years growth and should be cut hard back to about 6ins or so above soil level in early spring. Make a clean cut just above a pair of buds. Plant all climbing Clematis with the top of the root ball about 3 inches beneath the soil surface. This is so the plant can re-shoot from below the surface in the event of Clematis wilt (a fungal disease which attacks the top growth) or heavy damage to the main stems by slugs/ snails.
'Arabella' agm £ 7.50
Semi-herbaceous cultivar with open, rosy-purple flowers, to 8cm (3 ¼ in) across, from May-Sept. Not self-clinging so best allowed to scramble through shrubs/ other climbers for support Pruning group 3. 2 metres (6 feet).
CONVALLARIA (Convallariaceae)
majalis agm £ 3.25
(LILY OF THE VALLEY.) Small, sweetly scented white flowers in spring. Ideal for a woodland garden. For humus-rich soil in part or full shade. 10 cms (4").
COREOPSIS (Asteraceae)
A genus of plants originating from North American prairies with bright yellow daisies in summer. Grow in fertile well drained soil in full sun. Most flower throughout the summer especially if deadheaded regularly. Taller species/ cultivars make good cut flowers. Loved by Bees and Butterflies
grandiflora 'Mayfield Giant' £ 3.50
Tall cultivar with large bright yellow daisies to 3in across from early -mid summer. 90 cms (3 feet).
Coreopsis lanceolata Sterntaler lanceolata 'Sterntaler' £ 3.50
Cultivar with single, yellow flowers with brown centres from early-mid summer. 45 cms (1½ feet).
'Limerock Ruby' £ 3.75
Very unusual cultivar with very narrow leaves and sumptuous, deep, ruby-red flowers from July-September. 45 cms (1½
rosea 'American Dream' £ 3.50
Pink flowered cultivar with narrow leaves and masses of small flowers with a yellow center from early-mid summer. 60 cms (2 feet).
'Sunray' £ 3.50
Fully double, deep yellow daisies from early-mid summer. 75 cms (2½ feet).
verticillata 'Moonbeam' £ 3.50
Lovely cultivar with very narrow leaves and soft, primrose-yellow daisies from June-Sept. Very drought tolerant. 45 cms (1½
verticillata 'Zagreb' £ 3.50
Exceptionally drought tolerant and long flowering cultivar with very narrow leaves and masses of single golden yellow flowers throughout summer. 30 cms (1 foot).
COSMOS (Asteraceae)
atrosanguineus £ 3.75
(CHOCOLATE COSMOS.) Definitely a plant for the senses! Chocolate-scented daisies with are the colour of dark chocolate appear from Aug-Sept. Grow in well drained soil in full sun. Not hardy so either dig up tubers after flowering or grow in a pot which can be moved into a shed/ garage. Plant tubers out again in May. 60 cms (2 feet).
CROCOSMIA (Iridaceae)
Cormous plants originating from South Africa with showy spikes of brightly coloured funnel shaped flowers from mid-late summer. Many make superb cut flowers and look particularly good planted with ornamental grasses. The modern cultivars of Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora (formerly Montbretia) bear little resemblance to this thuggish species. They have been cross bred with less vigorous species resulting in much tamer plants which won't engulf your garden! Grow in moist, well drained soil in full sun or part shade. Lift & divide congested clumps in spring. Divided clumps may not flower as well that year (this will depend on the vigour of the particular variety) but should be back to normal the following year.
Crocosmia aurea aurea £ 3.50
Native to South Africa, this lovely species has large, deep orange, pendant flowers with horizontal, sometimes reflexed petals and long stamens from mid-late summer. It is a little more vigorous but not a thug. Can form a clump to about 60cm (2ft) across in time. 90 cms (3 feet). ?
x crocosmiiflora 'Coleton Fishacre' £ 3.50
Attractive cultivar with bronze leaves and apricot trumpets from Aug-Sept. 60 cms (2 feet).
x crocosmiiflora 'Dusky Maiden' £ 3.50
Really lovely cultivar with very dark green leaves & stunning burnt orange-red flowers from August-October. Retains a compact central clump but does produce little 'outcrops' away from the main clump. Not invasive though. 60 cms (2 feet).
x crocosmiiflora 'George Davidson' £ 3.50
Yellow flowers from July-Sept. Clumps up quickly but not overly vigorous. 60 cms (2 feet).
x crocosmiiflora 'Norwich Canary' £ 3.50
Soft orange-yellow flowers from July-September. 75 cms (2½ feet).
x crocosmiiflora 'Saracen' £ 3.50
Dark orange-red flowers over dark green leaves from July-Sept. 50 cms (1½ feet).
Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Venus x crocosmiiflora 'Venus' £ 3.50
Masses of small, cherry-red flowers over pale green leaves in mid-late summer. Makes a nice compact clump. 60 cms (2
Crocosmia Lucifer 'Lucifer' agm £ 3.50
Still thought of by many as the best red flowered Crocosmia even though its been around for a while. Arching spikes of tomato-red trumpet flowers in mid summer. Allow more room in the border for this one as it can make a clump to 3ft across in time and the leaves are broader than most other types. 1 metre (3 feet).
CYCLAMEN (Primulaceae)
Tuberous plants with dainty, sometimes scented flowers and heart shaped leaves which, on some species, have attractive mottling. Grow hardy species in a woodland garden or underneath trees or a group of shrubs. For humus-rich well drained soil in part shade. Make sure the tubers of hardy species are beneath the soil surface, not exposed like those of tender species which are often grown as pot plants. May cause severe stomach upset if ingested.
Cyclamen coum coum agm £ 3.50
Species from Eastern Europe with large, rounded green leaves with silver markings and flowers varying in shades of white or pink in winter- early spring. Spreads slowly. 10 cms (4").