Sow in April

St. John’s Wort – Seeds (Hypericum perforatum)

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a hardy perennial herb known for its bright yellow star-shaped flowers and long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. It grows easily in gardens, meadows, or wildflower plantings, attracting pollinators while adding natural beauty.

Often valued for its ornamental and herbal qualities, St. John’s Wort thrives in poor soils and sunny locations, making it a low-maintenance addition to cottage gardens and naturalized landscapes.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Sow outdoors: April – June, or autumn for natural stratification

• Depth: Surface sow – seeds need light to germinate

• Spacing: 30 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile, sandy or rocky soils

Key Features

• Perennial herb with golden yellow, star-shaped blooms

• Attracts bees and pollinators

• Grows well in poor, dry soils – low maintenance

• Suitable for borders, meadows, and herb gardens

• Traditional herb, long valued in folklore and medicine

Flowering & Harvest

• Flowering time: June – September

• Blooms can be collected at peak flowering if used for herbal purposes.

Standing Cypress – 150 Seeds (Ipomopsis rubra)

Add a dramatic vertical accent to your garden with Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra). This hardy biennial or short-lived perennial produces tall, slender spikes covered with brilliant scarlet-red, trumpet-shaped flowers. Loved by hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, it creates a striking display in wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, and naturalized plantings. Its fern-like foliage provides texture, while the flowers bloom in succession for weeks of color.

Why Grow Standing Cypress?

• Vibrant scarlet-red tubular flowers

• Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators

• Tall, airy spires up to 90–150 cm

• Perfect for naturalistic and meadow plantings

• Heat and drought tolerant once established

Key Features

• Type: Biennial or short-lived perennial wildflower

• Height: 90–150 cm

• Flowering: Summer (July–September)

• Position: Full sun; well-drained soil

• Uses: Pollinator gardens, borders, meadows, cut flowers

Ideal For

• Wildflower meadows & prairie gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Adding height to borders and backdrops

• Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant landscapes

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April in trays or pots, cover lightly with soil

• Sow outdoors: Directly in April–June where they are to grow

• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–22°C

• Thin/plant spacing: 25–30 cm apart

• Flowers the second year, but may self-seed for naturalized displays

Carnation Black – Seeds (Dianthus heddewigii ‘Chianti’)

Carnation ‘Black Chianti’ is a dramatic annual with deep, velvety maroon to near-black blooms that make a bold statement in beds, borders, and cut arrangements. Its compact habit, long flowering season, and striking color bring elegance and contrast to any garden. Easy to grow and perfect for adding depth to mixed displays.

Why Grow "Black Chianti"

• Striking near-black, velvety blooms

• Compact and easy to grow

• Long flowering season

• Great for cutting and arrangements

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual (Dianthus heddewigii)

• Height: 30–45 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Uses: Borders, containers, cut flowers

Ideal For

• Bold bedding schemes

• Patio containers

• Cottage and modern gardens

• Dark accents in floral displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays/pots

• Sow outdoors: April–June in prepared soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant or thin to 20–25 cm apart

• Remove spent blooms to extend flowering

🌸 Callistephus chinensis Aster ‘Andrella Mix Super’ – Early, Upright Plants with Large Open Blooms

‘Andrella Mix Super’ is an early-flowering China aster blend producing large, open flowers with a distinctive double row of petals around the centre. The plants have a strong, upright habit and flower reliably from summer onwards, making this mix ideal for borders, bedding displays and cutting. The airy, open flower form adds a lighter look than fully double asters, while still offering excellent garden performance and vase life.

Key Features

● Large open flowers with a clear double row of petals

● Early-flowering mix for quick summer colour

● Upright habit with strong stems

● Excellent for borders, bedding and cut flowers

● Reliable performance in sunny, well-drained sites

How to Sow & Grow Aster ‘Andrella Mix Super’ (UK)

Sow indoors: III–IV (March–April)

Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) after frost risk has passed

Direct outdoors: IV–V (April–May)

Flowering: VI–IX (June–September) (early for asters)

Life cycle: Annual

Germination temperature: 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: 0.5 cm (¼ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep evenly moist

Environment: Full sun

Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil

Plant spacing: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)

Height: 50–70 cm (20–28 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Start indoors for the earliest flowering and best uniformity.

● Water at soil level to keep foliage dry.

● Avoid growing asters in the same spot every year.

● Cut stems regularly to encourage continued flowering.

Viola ‘Admiration’ – 250 Seeds (Viola cornuta)

Viola ‘Admiration’ is a charming perennial that delivers a long season of delicate, vibrant blooms. With its compact habit and abundant flowers, this hardy viola is perfect for borders, containers, and rock gardens. Its classic bicolor petals add elegance and color to any garden setting while attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Key Features

• Flower Color: Typically blue-violet with darker accents

• Growth Habit: Compact and bushy, ideal for edging

• Flowering Period: Spring to autumn

• Height: 15–20 cm

• Use: Borders, containers, rockeries, pollinator-friendly gardens

• Hardiness: Frost-tolerant perennial

Ideal For

• Borders and garden edges

• Containers and window boxes

• Pollinator-friendly spaces

• Rockeries and small garden plots

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April

• Sow outdoors: March–May

• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20°C

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil

• Spacing: 15–20 cm

Statice ‘Petit Bouquet’ Mix – Seeds

(Limonium sinuatum) – Annual Cut Flower

The Statice ‘Petit Bouquet’ mix produces compact plants covered in clusters of papery flowers in shades of blue, pink, yellow, white, and lavender. Known for their exceptional vase life, these blooms remain vibrant whether fresh or dried, making them a favorite for bouquets and floral crafts.

Key Features

• Type: Annual

• Height: 30–45 cm

• Blooming period: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil

Ideal For

• Fresh and dried flower arrangements

• Borders and cottage gardens

• Cutting gardens

• Long-lasting floral crafts

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April, in trays or pots at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: May, after last frost

• Sowing depth: 0.5 cm

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

• Care: Prefers sunny, sheltered spots; drought-tolerant once established

Meadow Sage – Seeds (Salvia pratensis)

Meadow Sage (Salvia pratensis) is a hardy perennial wildflower with elegant spikes of deep violet-blue blooms. Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, it adds natural beauty and biodiversity to any garden. Long-flowering and low-maintenance, this sage is ideal for wild meadows, borders, and pollinator-friendly plantings.

Why Grow Meadow Sage?

• Striking violet-blue flower spikes

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

• Hardy, drought-tolerant perennial

• Low-maintenance and long-lasting

Key Features

• Type: Perennial

• Height: 40–70 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Wildflower meadows

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Naturalized plantings

• Sunny borders and cottage gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays/pots

• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–20°C

• Transplant outdoors: After last frost

• Direct sow outdoors: April–June or September

• Spacing: 30–40 cm apart

Tip: Cutting back after flowering encourages a second flush of blooms.

Coleus ‘Everest Formula’ Mixed – Seeds (Coleus blumei)

Coleus ‘Everest Formula’ Mixed (Coleus blumei) is a striking annual known for its vibrant, multicolored foliage in shades of green, red, burgundy, and yellow. Blooming from late spring to autumn, this compact plant adds bold color and texture to borders, containers, and indoor displays. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, it thrives in sunny or partially shaded spots and attracts attention with its dramatic foliage.

Why Grow "Everest Formula"

• Vibrant, multicolored foliage in green, red, burgundy, and yellow

• Long-lasting color from late spring to autumn

• Compact, low-maintenance annual

• Ideal for borders, containers, and indoor planting

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Coleus blumei)

• Height: 25–35 cm

• Flowering: Late spring to autumn (foliage-focused)

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Uses: Borders, containers, indoor displays, mixed beds

Ideal For

• Adding bold, colorful foliage to borders and containers

• Indoor or patio displays

• Cottage and mixed garden beds

• Eye-catching low-maintenance planting

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: April–May after frost

• Germination: 10–14 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade

• Water moderately until established