Sow in August

Mountain Phlox – Seeds (Linanthus grandiflorus)

Bring a splash of wildflower beauty to your garden with Mountain Phlox (Linanthus grandiflorus). This charming annual produces clusters of dainty, star-shaped flowers in shades of lavender, pink, and white, creating a soft carpet of color. Native to western North America, Mountain Phlox is well-suited to rock gardens, borders, and wildflower meadows, thriving in sunny, well-drained spots.

Why Grow Mountain Phlox?

• Dainty star-shaped blooms in pastel shades

• Long-lasting summer color

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

• Excellent for rock gardens and naturalized plantings

• Easy to grow and low maintenance

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual

• Height: 20–40 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun; light, well-drained soil

• Uses: Rock gardens, borders, wildflower mixes, containers

Ideal For

• Adding soft pastel tones to summer displays

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance areas

• Naturalistic or meadow-style planting

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May directly where they are to flower

• Cover seeds lightly with soil, keep moist until germination

• Germination: 14–21 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings to 15–20 cm apart

• Flowers in summer the same year

Moldavian Dragonhead – Seeds (Dracocephalum moldavica)

The Moldavian Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica) is a fragrant annual herb admired for its violet-blue flowers and aromatic lemon-scented foliage. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies, it makes a charming addition to herb gardens, borders, and pollinator-friendly spaces. Its leaves are sometimes used for teas with a refreshing citrus flavor.

Why Grow Moldavian Dragonhead?

• Violet-blue blooms with a pleasant lemon fragrance

• Excellent for pollinators, especially bees

• Easy to grow and low maintenance

• Useful as an ornamental and herbal plant

Ideal For

• Herb gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Borders and cottage gardens

• Aromatic tea lovers

Key Features

• Type: Annual herb

• Height: 40–60 cm

• Spread: 20–30 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Light, well-drained

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April, lightly cover seeds

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant outdoors: After frost risk has passed

• Direct sow outdoors: April–May

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

Tip: Regular deadheading encourages longer flowering and stronger aroma.

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.

Love-in-a-Mist ‘Persian Jewels’ Red – Seeds (Nigella damascena)

Love-in-a-Mist ‘Persian Jewels’ Red (Nigella damascena) is a charming cottage garden annual with finely cut, ferny foliage and delicate star-shaped flowers in rich shades of ruby and crimson. Its ornamental seed pods add long-lasting interest, making it a favorite for both fresh and dried arrangements. Easy to grow and pollinator-friendly, it’s perfect for borders and wildflower-style plantings.

Why Grow "Persian Jewels Red"

• Striking ruby-red starry blooms

• Airy, ferny foliage for soft texture

• Decorative seed pods for dried use

• Easy to grow and pollinator-friendly

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual (Nigella damascena)

• Height: 45–60 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, wildflower gardens, cut and dried flowers

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Fresh and dried floral arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Naturalistic borders

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or August–September for earlier blooms

• Sow direct, thinly into prepared soil

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

Love-in-a-Mist 'African Bride' – Seeds (Nigella damascena)

Grace your garden with the delicate beauty of Love-in-a-Mist 'African Bride'. This unique variety produces pure white blooms accented by dark, contrasting centers and fine, feathery foliage. Elegant and easy to grow, it’s perfect for borders, cutting, and drying.

Why Grow 'African Bride'

• Pure white blooms with striking dark centers

• Long-lasting as cut or dried flowers

• Easy to grow with airy, fern-like foliage

• Attracts pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual (Nigella damascena)

• Height: 45–60 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, cut flowers, dried arrangements

Ideal For

• Cottage gardens and wildflower borders

• Summer bouquets and wedding flowers

• Adding soft texture to plantings

• Wildlife-friendly gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or August–September

• Direct sow into prepared soil, thin as needed

• Germination: 10–20 days

• Space plants 15–20 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

Lavender ‘Hidcote’ Blue – Seeds (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender ‘Hidcote’ Blue (Lavandula angustifolia) is a classic compact variety prized for its deep violet-blue flower spikes and aromatic foliage. Ideal for borders, herb gardens, and containers, it attracts bees and butterflies while providing fragrant blooms for cutting and drying. Hardy and low-maintenance, it’s perfect for sunny, well-drained locations.

Why Grow "Hidcote Blue"

• Deep violet-blue fragrant flower spikes

• Compact, tidy growth ideal for borders and containers

• Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies

• Excellent for cutting, drying, and culinary use

Key Features

• Type: Hardy perennial (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Height: 30–45 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Uses: Borders, herb gardens, containers, pollinator-friendly planting

Ideal For

• Herb and cottage gardens

• Pollinator-friendly borders

• Container planting and edging

• Fragrant bouquets and dried arrangements

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Germination: 14–28 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant seedlings into pots or borders after last frost

• Space 25–30 cm apart for compact growth

• Prefers sunny, well-drained soil; avoid overwatering

Indian Pea ‘Azureus’ – Blue-Pink Flowers – Seeds (Lathyrus sativus)

The Indian Pea ‘Azureus’ (Lathyrus sativus) is a striking and unusual climbing annual, producing delicate blue to pink pea-like blossoms above fine green foliage. Fast-growing and drought-tolerant, it thrives in poor soils and adds a natural, airy charm to borders, trellises, and wild gardens. A hardy species, it has long been valued for its ornamental and agricultural qualities.

Why Grow Indian Pea ‘Azureus’?

• Unusual pea-like flowers in blue and pink shades

• Climbing habit perfect for trellises and supports

• Hardy, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow

• Adds a natural wildflower look to gardens

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual

• Height: 100–150 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Poor to moderately fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Trellises, arches, and fences

• Cottage and wild gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Drought-prone or low-maintenance sites

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May directly in soil

• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings: 20–30 cm apart

• Provide support for climbing stems

• Water regularly in dry spells

Tip: Pair with other climbing annuals for a colorful vertical display.

HOLLYHOCK ‘CHATERS DOUBLE YELLOW’ SEEDS (Althaea rosea)

Add towering elegance and cheerful color to your garden with Hollyhock ‘Chaters Double Yellow’. This classic biennial produces large, double yellow flowers on tall, sturdy stems, creating a stunning vertical display in borders and cottage gardens. Easy to grow and long-flowering, it attracts pollinators while enhancing garden charm.

Why Grow "Chaters Double Yellow"

• Large, double yellow flowers

• Tall, sturdy stems for vertical impact

• Long-flowering and low-maintenance

• Attracts bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Type: Biennial (Althaea rosea)

• Height: 150–200 cm

• Flowering: Summer (June–August)

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, tall displays, pollinator-friendly

Ideal For

• Adding height and color to garden borders

• Cottage and informal garden designs

• Attracting pollinators

• Cut flowers for arrangements

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: 6–8 weeks before last frost

• Sow outdoors: After frost danger has passed

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Space seedlings: 40–50 cm apart

• Full sun and well-drained soil for best flowering

Garden Mignonette – Seeds (Reseda odorata)

The Garden Mignonette is a charming old-fashioned flower grown not for showy blooms but for its sweet, clove-like fragrance that fills the summer garden. Its delicate greenish-cream flowers may be modest in appearance, but they are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and pollinators. A favorite for cottage gardens and scented corners, Garden Mignonette has been cherished for centuries as a fragrance plant.

What Makes It Special

• Grown primarily for its intensely sweet fragrance

• A heritage cottage-garden favorite

• Long-lasting cut flower for fragrant indoor arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly, attracting bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Botanical name: Reseda odorata

• Common name: Garden Mignonette

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 30–60 cm tall, 20–30 cm spread

• Position: Full sun to light shade; prefers well-drained soil

• Flowering period: Summer (June–September)

Ideal For

• Scented cottage gardens

• Flower borders and edges

• Cut flower arrangements

• Wildlife-friendly planting

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: March–May outdoors directly into the soil, or August–September for overwintering

2. How to sow:

   • Sow thinly in drills 0.5 cm deep in prepared soil

   • Thin seedlings to 20 cm apart once established

3. Care:

   • Prefers poor to moderately fertile soil (too rich reduces fragrance)

   • Water moderately and avoid overfeeding