Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
A curious groundcover for moist shade from Italy and Spain, which potted makes an excellent conversation starting centre piece for the dinner table. The purple hooded white spathes, that shelter the spadix and flowers, with their long tail-like appendages appear amongst the glossy, dark green, arrow shaped leaves like a family mice grubbing for food. Slowly spreading by the underground stolons to which it retreats during summer, emerging again in late winter with fresh foliage and a new family of mice.
Tolerates considerable dryness when dormant but demands adequate moisture in winter and spring while actively growing.
Resents disturbance and typically will not flower well until it's settled in for a year or two and then improving with time. In a container re-potting is neither desirable or necessary but annual replacement of the surface soil and the addition of slow release fertiliser will be greatly appreciated.
A selected pink form of the well known and scarlet flowered C. elatus and just as easily grown. An evergreen, South African bulb, excellent as a cut flower or pot subject to be brought indoors at flowering time. Stout stems bearing large, mid pink, open, trumpet shaped flowers sporadically appear throughout the warmer months from quickly clumping, strappy, leathery leaves.
Happy with short periods of dryness but better with regular water to imitate its natural habitat of stream sides and moist slopes. Good drainage is of course essential as is a little shelter from scorching summer sun, though too much shade will affect flowering.
A more subtle Dragon Arum from the Canary Islands with a tapering white spathe that ensorcells a stiff creamy spadix atop a fleshy stalk of palmate foliage. Elegant, lush and not stinky, it forms loose colonies in shaded sites, perhaps at its best emerging from a sea of suitable woodland groundcover, Pelargonium tomentosum, Cyclamen hederifolium, Parochetus africanus, Cosmos diversifolius or Viola banksii are some suggestions. Or have it peeking out between bold shrubs, like Echium candicans and Aeonium, which can offer it protection.
Easily grown in any soil, summer deciduous and then no water is necessary.
As with many drought loving geophytes these are decidedly unsuited to life in a pot, plants sold are two years old and need to get in the ground ASAP.
A tuberous, clumping perennial, hailing from central China. The large, tropical looking, 3 segmented leaves, held on long stalks, arise from round, hairy tubers and die back in winter.
An incredibly tough plant surviving both dark shade and short periods of extreme dryness. It loves the heat, the leaves growing up to 10cm a day in hot weather (30c +).
I find best growth is achieved in a pot, possibly due to the warmer conditions. Feed well for ultimate luxuriance.
A charming small perennial Sage, found amongst limestone in Cedar forest, in Texas, Arizona and into Mexico. The shrubby mounds of softy haired, toothed, heart shaped, grey-green leaves, bear short, rigid stalks of bright red, hooded, two lipped, tubular flowers, endlessly throughout the warmer months. Generally dies down to a tuft of basal leaves over winter.
Trim of the spent flower stalks to promote flowering and cut down to the point of new growth once flowering has finished in winter.
Relatively short lived, 3-4 years, but should readily self seed in well drained soil.
Great for naturalizing in light shade under trees where it will perform well once established, even with considerable dryness over summer.
Rosettes of huge, glossy, dark green, sharply serrated leaves thrust from the soil with the onset of autumn rain. In spring sceptres of mauve and white shell like flowers stand sentry over the brooding mounds of foliage.
Found throughout the Meditteranean it's at its best with no summer water but plenty of winter moisture and is tolerant of any soil that isn't waterlogged.
Extremely architectural if given the space or as contrast to other boldly leaved plants such as Melianthus major.
Representations of the leaves are commonly found in ancient roman architecture and are often still encountered in classical designs of today.
A clumping, Winter dormant perennial, hailing from the woodlands of Japan. Rosettes of toothed, dark green, spoon shaped leaves.
In mid Summer tall stems bear whorls of small, pendant, pale blue bells. Leave undisturbed once planted.
A charming plant of delicate appearance, that does surprisingly well under our conditions.
From the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain comes this perfectly flat ground cover with tiny bright green leaves and creeping stems that root as they go, studded with tiny, pristine white, five petaled flowers through spring.
Eminently at home in limestone walls or between paving in light shade.
Good drainage and a soil that's never too dry is all that is needed.
Better than baby's tears, flatter, flowering and requiring less moisture.
A clumping, evergreen perennial, tolerant of coastal conditions. Soft, strappy, glaucous leaves are produced in fans. During Summer large sprays of small, dainty, white flowers rise on slender stems above the foliage. A delicate looking plant, but extremely tough. Tolerant of intense root competition and salt. Fantastic for seaside gardens.