Perennials

Heads of large pale blue flowers on upright stems. Forms a loose, open clump of pinnate green leaves. 60 to 75cm. Any soil in part shade. June to August. A superb hybrid from Monique Dronet which has stood the test of time and is much tougher than it looks.

Typical drumstick primula heads in soft purple. The leaves are strongly variegated with cream margins. Forms solid clumps when happy. 30cm. March /April. Damp soils in sun. The odd green reversions should be removed. An unusual form launched by Blooms in the 1970s and which almost disappeared.

Flowers start pink and soon change to a good blue. The leaves start upright and are relatively narrow, they have a narrow creamy-silver edge with the rest of the leaf blade being silver-grey. Clump-forming. 30cm. March / April. Average to damp in part shade. Started as one variegated streak in a leaf. Found by Joe Sharman in the late 1990s and has proved itself very tough.

A small clump-forming plant with many upright, green stems each bearing a small cluster of rich, dark red flowers which age to brown in seed. Leaves small, short and pointed. Makes brown trunks above ground looking like a small tree. 10cm. April / May. Any soil in sun but not too dry. One of my most popular plants.

Terminal custers of curious coppery-pink flowers. Upright, deciduous stems with many jagged-edged, purply-blue-green leaves. Solid clumps. 20cm. March. Well-drained soil in sun. Disappears early.

Flat heads of bright orange flowers aging to brown. Narrow, pointed, dark green leaves set along the deciduous stems. Makes a large swollen rootstock. 20cm. April / May. Any soil in sun but not too dry. Very slow to increase and difficult to propagate.

Large double flowers which start a curious shade of green and gently mature through bizarre pinky-green to purple pink. Softly-hairy greeny-greyish, divided leaves. Basal leaves are entire. Semi-shrubby to 40cm. June to October. Well-drained soil in sun. Not fully hardy.

Soft red flowers produced in long succession. Densely twiggy plant with small, rounded green leaves. Small bushlet to 25cm. Well-drained soil in sun.

Rich dark pink flowers with bright blue stamens in dense heads, cupped by green bracts. The dry seed heads last a long time and are also attractive. Glossy, bright green basal leaves. Evergreen. To 60cm. Well-drained soil in sun. One of our favourites.

Bright red-purple flowers on this variant of red campion. The leaves are a brilliant golden yellow but greener in deeper shade. Large, much-branched perennial. 75 to 90cm. May to July. Any soil in part shade. Can scorch if too sunny.

Smaller, bright red-purple flowers on this variant of red campion. The leaves are a marbled mix of green, cream, pink and yellow, especially when growing strongly. In winter, they can become a rich purple. Much-branched perennial. 60 to 75cm. May to July. Any soil in sun or part shade. From the eponymous village in 2011.

The flowers are purple in bud and open to a curious mix of brown and pale strawy-orange. They open rather precisely from 2pm to 6pm. The leaves are beautifully striped with cream. Clump-forming and vigorous. 20cm. June to August. Any well-drained soil in sun. A good new variety from Sylvia Hills.

Heads of pale pinky-purple flowers in profusion. Fresh green, tiny leaves which are very distinctly scented of lime and not lemon as is more usual. Sub-shrub to 20cm. June/July. Any well-drained soil in sun. A useful addition to nicely scented plants. From Hof van Eext in the Netherlands.

Many large rich red-purple clover heads produced on an upright bushy plant. Hairy trifoliate leaves. 45-60cm. Any soil in sun. All summer.

The large clover flowers are a pure white. Leaves and habit as in the normal dark red form. Hairy trifoliate leaves. 45-60cm. July / August. Any soil in sun. Much-loved by bees.

The large clover flowers are a lovely soft peachy pink with darker highlights. Leaves and habit as in the normal dark red form. Hairy trifoliate leaves. 45-60cm. July / August. Any soil in sun. From seed.

A very unusal form with brilliant pure white flowers. Small green, toothed leaves on wiry stems. Clump-forming. 20cm. May /June and occasionally later. Any soil in sun.