Sow in May

Delphinium Tall 'Pacific' Mix Seeds (Delphinium cultorum)

The Delphinium Tall 'Pacific' Mix produces majestic flower spikes in a brilliant range of blues, purples, pinks, and whites. These classic cottage garden perennials can reach impressive heights, creating a dramatic vertical display in borders and cutting gardens. Strong and elegant, they attract bees and butterflies while making excellent cut flowers.

What Makes It Special

• Tall, stately flower spikes in vibrant shades

• Perfect for adding height and drama to gardens

• Pollinator-friendly and excellent for cut flowers

Key Features

• Botanical name: Delphinium cultorum 'Pacific Mix'

• Hardy perennial

• Height: 120–150 cm (47–60 in)

• Bloom time: Early to mid-summer

Ideal For

• Cottage and perennial borders

• Cutting gardens and floral arrangements

• Wildlife and pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing

• Sow indoors Feb–Apr or outdoors May–Jun

• Cover lightly with soil; keep cool and moist

• Germination: 21–28 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings 45 cm apart

• Flowers the second year after sowing

Honeywort – Seeds (Cerinthe major)

Honeywort (Cerinthe major) is an eye-catching annual with striking blue-purple tubular flowers and silvery-green foliage. Loved by bees and other pollinators, it adds unique texture and color to borders, cottage gardens, and wildflower mixes. Fast-growing and low-maintenance, it thrives in sunny, well-drained spots.

Why Grow "Honeywort"

• Striking blue-purple tubular flowers

• Silvery-green, ornamental foliage

• Attracts pollinators including bees and butterflies

• Easy to grow and low-maintenance

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual (Cerinthe major)

• Height: 40–60 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, wildflower mixes, pollinator gardens

Ideal For

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cottage and naturalistic borders

• Adding height and color contrast

• Wildflower plantings

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May in prepared soil

• Germination: 10–20 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings to 25 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

• Deadhead to encourage prolonged flowering

Livingstone Daisy Mixed – Seeds (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis)

The Livingstone Daisy Mixed is a dazzling carpet-forming annual that produces masses of daisy-like blooms in vibrant shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. The flowers open wide in full sunlight, creating a striking display over their low-growing, succulent foliage. Perfect for hot, dry, sunny spots, this cheerful mix brightens up any summer garden with its jewel-like colors.

What Makes It Special

• Brilliant mix of jewel-toned daisy flowers

• Thrives in poor, dry soils and full sun

• Excellent ground cover for summer displays

• Compact, trailing habit ideal for edging and containers

Key Features

• Botanical name: Dorotheanthus bellidiformis

• Common name: Livingstone Daisy / Ice Plant

• Variety: Mixed colors

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 10–15 cm tall, spreading up to 20 cm

• Position: Full sun; well-drained soil

• Flowering period: Summer (June–September)

Ideal For

• Bedding and edging

• Rockeries and gravel gardens

• Containers and window boxes

• Drought-tolerant displays in sunny spots

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: February–April indoors, or May outdoors after frost

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds on the surface of fine, moist compost; do not cover (light aids germination)

   • Keep at 18–20°C; germination in 10–21 days

3. After germination:

   • Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle

   • Harden off and plant outdoors 10–15 cm apart in sunny, free-draining soil

Purple Coneflower 'Starlight' – Seeds

(Echinacea purpurea)

Purple Coneflower 'Starlight' is a hardy perennial known for its striking lavender-purple petals surrounding a prominent orange-brown central cone. Its long-lasting blooms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, while its robust, upright growth makes it a standout in borders, wildflower meadows, and perennial gardens. This variety is low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, perfect for sustainable planting.

Key Features

• Type: Perennial

• Height: 60–90 cm

• Spread: 40–50 cm

• Flowering: July–September

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Perennial borders and cottage gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Cut flower arrangements

• Naturalized or meadow-style gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: April–May, directly in soil

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 40–50 cm apart

• Mulch and water moderately; low-maintenance once established

Meadow Flower Mixed Seeds – 1 g

Meadow Flower Mixed Seeds is a vibrant blend of wildflowers designed to create a colorful, natural-looking meadow in your garden. This mix produces blooms in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Ideal for borders, lawns, and wildflower areas, it’s easy to grow and adds long-lasting beauty while supporting local wildlife.

Why Grow "Meadow Flower Mix"

• Creates a natural, colorful meadow display

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

• Easy-to-grow, low-maintenance annuals and perennials

• Adds biodiversity and seasonal interest to your garden

Key Features

• Type: Mixed wildflower seeds

• Quantity: 1 g

• Flowering: Late spring to autumn (varies by species)

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Uses: Borders, wildflower areas, lawns, pollinator gardens

Ideal For

• Creating natural meadow-like borders and beds

• Attracting pollinators and supporting wildlife

• Low-maintenance, seasonal color displays

• Gardeners seeking a mix of annuals and perennials for long-lasting blooms

Sowing & Growing

• Sow directly outdoors: March–May

• Germination: 10–21 days (varies by species)

• Thin seedlings as needed, spacing according to plant type

• Prefers well-drained soil and sunny locations

Alyssum 'New Carpet of Snow' Seeds (Lobularia maritima)

Alyssum 'New Carpet of Snow' is a classic, compact annual producing a dense carpet of pure white, honey-scented blooms. Its neat, spreading growth makes it one of the most popular edging plants, creating a bright and fragrant border along paths, beds, and rock gardens. The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, making it both beautiful and beneficial in the garden.

What Makes It Special

• Pure white, sweetly scented flowers

• Compact and neat, perfect for edging and ground cover

• Long-flowering from spring through autumn

• Easy to grow and drought-tolerant once established

Key Features

• Botanical name: Lobularia maritima

• Variety: 'New Carpet of Snow'

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 10–15 cm tall, 20–30 cm spread

• Position: Full sun to partial shade; thrives in well-drained soil

• Flowering period: May–September

Ideal For

• Edging borders and pathways

• Rock gardens and gravel beds

• Window boxes, planters, and hanging baskets

• Pollinator-friendly and low-maintenance gardens

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: March–May indoors; April–June directly outdoors

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds thinly on the soil surface and press gently down (do not cover, needs light to germinate)

   • Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20°C

3. Transplanting: Thin seedlings to 10–15 cm apart when large enough to handle

4. Care: Keep soil moist but well-drained; deadhead to prolong flowering.

Cosmos ‘Polidor’ Mix – Seeds (Cosmos sulphureus)

The Cosmos ‘Polidor’ Mix is a dazzling, warm-toned variety producing masses of semi-double blooms in shades of gold, orange, and scarlet-red. Unlike the softer pastel cosmos, this species (Cosmos sulphureus) is more compact, with bushy growth and excellent heat tolerance. Perfect for bright summer borders and butterfly gardens.

Highlights

• Vivid warm shades: yellow, orange, and red

• Semi-double flowers with a cheerful, fiery look

• Excellent for hot, sunny, dry spots

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

Key Features

• Botanical Name: Cosmos sulphureus

• Variety: ‘Polidor’ Mix

• Seed Count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 60–90 cm tall, 30–45 cm spread

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Flowering Period: July–October

Perfect For

• Adding vibrant warm tones to garden beds

• Containers, borders, and cutting gardens

• Low-maintenance summer displays

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

Sowing Instructions

• Sow indoors March–April at 18–21°C

• Cover seeds lightly with compost

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Harden off and transplant outdoors after frost, spacing 25–30 cm apart

• Can also be direct sown outdoors May–June

🌼 Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-Summer – Hardy Perennial Ground Cover with Silvery-White Foliage

Snow-in-Summer is a classic low-growing perennial ground cover prized for its soft, silvery-white foliage and masses of bright white, star-shaped flowers that appear in late spring and early summer. Spreading quickly to form a dense mat, it is ideal for rock gardens, borders, slopes, edging, and gravel gardens. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and thriving in poor soils, this plant is valued for both its ornamental foliage and its carpet-like flowering display.

Key Features

● Masses of white flowers creating a “snowy” effect
● Attractive silver-white foliage all season
● Low-growing, spreading ground cover
● Very hardy and drought-tolerant
● Ideal for rock gardens, edging and dry areas

How to Sow & Grow Snow-in-Summer (UK)

Sow indoors: II–IV (February–April)
Transplant outdoors: IV–V (April–May)
Direct outdoors: IV–VI (April–June)
Flowering: V–VI (May–June)
Life cycle: Perennial
Germination temperature: 15–20 °C (59–68 °F)
Average germ time: 10–21 days
Depth: Surface sow – do not cover; press gently into soil (light required)
Light required: Yes
Moisture: Low to moderate
Environment: Full sun
Soil type: Well-drained, sandy or poor soil
Plant spacing: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
Height: 15–20 cm (6–8 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Thrives in dry, sunny locations, where many plants struggle.
● Avoid rich, wet soils to prevent rot.
● Trim after flowering to maintain a neat, compact shape.
● Excellent choice for drought-tolerant and low-maintenance gardens.
● Spreads readily—ideal for filling gaps and slopes.

Special Features

● Classic silver-leaf perennial ground cover
● Excellent for pollinators in spring
● Very low maintenance once established

Peony Poppy Red – Seeds

(Papaver paeoniflorum)

The Peony Poppy Red is a breathtaking annual with huge, fully double, peony-like blooms in a deep, velvety crimson red. Its lush, ruffled petals make it one of the most dramatic poppies, creating a bold focal point in borders, cottage gardens, or wildflower meadows. These flowers are not only striking in the garden but also make excellent cut flowers, adding rich color to summer bouquets.

Why Grow Peony Poppy Red?

• Stunning double flowers resembling peonies

• Intense, velvety red blooms for dramatic displays

• Easy to grow and self-seeding

• Attracts bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual

• Height: 80–100 cm

• Flowers: Summer

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Light, well-drained

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Bold color accents in borders

• Cut flower arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly spaces

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or late August–October directly where plants are to flower

• Scatter thinly over prepared soil, lightly cover, and water gently

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 20–30 cm apart

• Care: Deadhead to prolong flowering or leave seed heads for natural reseeding