Lotus corniculatus
This spreading native perennial is normally found in grasslands. It has bluish-green, divided leaves. In spring and early summer, attractive double yellow, pea-like flowers appear, followed by black peapods of about 2.5cm. This species is ideal ... [... more]
BBC |
Bergenia cordifolia
Perhaps the most common of all bergenias, but worthy of a place in any garden. Naturally found in Siberia, this tough perennial has broad, leathery leaves which make dense ground cover when established especially if grown in a group. Although ... [... more]
BBC |
Phormium tenax
This striking perennial from New Zealand holds the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which is for plants of outstanding excellence. It makes a tall clump of spiky, upright, dark green leaves which are ... [... more]
BBC |
Brunnera macrophylla
One of the most attractive and useful spring-flowering perennials, producing a dense ground-covering layer of foliage early, so helping smother weeds. The leaves, up to 15cm (6in) across, are roughly kidney-shaped and provide an attractive foil ... [... more]
BBC |
Centaurea scabiosa
This perennial, purple-flowered relative of the cornflower is a British native and good for using in wildflower plantings. In the wild, it is usually found in dry, chalky, grassy fields and rough ground, but is tolerant of a wide range of soils. ... [... more]
BBC |
Actaea matsumurae 'Elstead'
Bugbane is a herbaceous perennial grown for its scented autumn flowers that are held above glossy, oval, divided leaves. It prefers a light shady area that has moist soil. Plants have attractive arching, purple stems, which hold its white ... [... more]
BBC |
Eryngium bourgatii
This clump-forming perennial makes a welcome addition to any border with it sconspicuously silver-veined dark green leaves. From mid to late summer the usual blooms appear. Silver bracts, surrounded by a spiky collar, are produced on blue ... [... more]
BBC |
Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'
A dense, mound-forming evergreen perennial that forms cushions of hairy, narrow, bright green leaves. Plants produce blue star-like flowers from late spring to early summer. It is ideal in rock gardens, as edging for a flower border, or in stone ... [... more]
BBC |
Sedum spectabile 'Neon'
Autumn-flowering sedum is an old-fashioned perennial that produces bluish green rosettes of succulent foliage throughout summer. Towards mid-summer, flat tightly-packed heads of green buds appear just above the foliage. In late summer the buds ... [... more]
BBC |
Leucanthemum vulgare
This perennial loves well-drained grassland with a neutral soil. It is quite at home in pastureland and meadows which are cut or moderately grazed. It can often colonize open ground if left to its natural devices and is particularly rampant in ... [... more]
BBC |
Polemonium caeruleum
Jacob's ladder, Polemonium caeruleum is an easy perennial to grow and one of Pippa Greenwood's favourite choices for coping with rabbits in the garden. Not only do rabbits seem to leave it alone but it also an attractive plant for the border with ... [... more]
BBC |
Anagallis monellii
This is the blue perennial version of the common native annual scarlet pimpernel, although there are varieties such as 'Sunrise' which have bright red flowers, and odd red or pink-flowered seedlings of the wild species sometimes occur. It is a ... [... more]
BBC |
