Plant Encyclopedia
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49 plants
PerennialsAcanthus mollis
Bear's Breeches
Bear's Breeches is an architectural perennial with large, deeply lobed, glossy dark green leaves that have inspired the Corinthian column in architecture for centuries. In summer, impressive flower spikes up to 1.5 metres tall bear white and purple hooded blooms. A true eye-catcher in any border.
PerennialsAgave americana
Century Plant
The century plant is an imposing rosette-forming succulent with broad, blue-green, sharply pointed leaves reaching up to two metres in length. The plant grows for decades before flowering once with a spectacular, multi-metre tall flower stalk — after which the mother plant dies, leaving behind offsets. As an architectural focal point it fits perfectly in modern and Mediterranean gardens.
PerennialsAjania pacifica
Pacific Chrysanthemum
The Pacific chrysanthemum is a compact perennial with silver-green leaves edged in white. In October and November it produces abundant small, button-like yellow flowers. An ideal late-season bloomer that requires very little care.
Bulbs & tubersAllium giganteum
Giant Allium
Giant allium is a striking bulb plant with large, globe-shaped purple flower heads on sturdy stems. The blooms appear in May and June and attract plenty of bees and butterflies. The dried seed heads remain decorative in the border well into autumn.
PerennialsAmsonia tabernaemontana
Eastern Bluestar
Eastern bluestar is an elegant, low-maintenance perennial with willow-like leaves and ice-blue, star-shaped flowers in loose clusters in May and June. The narrow foliage turns a stunning golden yellow in autumn, making the plant decorative across two seasons. Over the years it forms a sturdy, vase-shaped silhouette.
PerennialsBaptisia australis
Blue Wild Indigo
Blue wild indigo is a stately, long-lived perennial with blue-green trifoliate leaves and striking racemes of indigo-blue, lupin-like flowers in May and June. After flowering, decorative inflated dark seed pods appear that remain attractive into winter. The plant forms a sturdy, shrub-like clump that grows larger and more impressive each year.
ShrubsCeanothus thyrsiflorus
California Lilac
California Lilac is a spectacular, evergreen shrub covered in masses of sky-blue flower panicles in spring. The small, glossy dark green leaves provide an attractive backdrop year-round. One of the few shrubs that produce truly blue flowers.
PerennialsCentranthus ruber
Red Valerian
Red Valerian is a carefree, long-flowering perennial with clusters of small red to pink flowers on grey-green stems. Blooming from May to September, it thrives even in the most impoverished conditions — in cracks, on walls, and in dry soil.
ShrubsCistus ladanifer
Gum Rockrose
The gum rockrose is an aromatic evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean with sticky, resin-scented leaves and large, papery white flowers with a striking dark blotch at the base of each petal. Each flower opens for just one day, but the plant produces new buds for weeks through May and June.
PerennialsCoreopsis grandiflora
Tickseed
Tickseed is a cheerful perennial that floods the garden with bright yellow daisy-like flowers from June to September. The plant grows compactly and is particularly suited to dry, sunny borders. Butterflies and bees happily visit the blooms.
Ornamental grassesCortaderia selloana
Pampas Grass
Pampas Grass is an imposing ornamental grass with tall, silvery or pink plumes rising above narrow, arching foliage from September to November. The plumes can reach 3.5 metres and provide a spectacular autumn and winter silhouette. A true eye-catcher in any garden.
ShrubsCotinus coggygria
Smoke Tree
The smoke tree is a spectacular ornamental shrub with cloud-like, fluffy flower plumes in shades of pink appearing in June and July, giving the tree its 'smoky' appearance. Cultivars with dark purple foliage provide dramatic colour throughout the season. Autumn colour is equally impressive.
PerennialsCrambe cordifolia
Greater Sea Kale
Greater Sea Kale is a spectacular perennial that produces a cloud of thousands of tiny white flowers on widely branching stems in June and July. The bloom resembles a giant white Gypsophila and is truly breathtaking. The large, rounded, dark green leaves form a substantial rosette at the base. An unmatched presence in the summer border.
ShrubsCytisus scoparius
Common Broom
Common Broom is a cheerfully flowering shrub that becomes smothered in bright yellow, butterfly-shaped flowers in May and June. The fine, broom-like green stems give the plant an airy look, even in winter. Broom is especially suited to dry, poor soil and enriches the ground with nitrogen through root nodules.
PerennialsDianthus caryophyllus
Carnation
The carnation is a classic garden plant with fragrant, ruffled flowers in shades of pink, red, and white. The blue-green, grass-like foliage forms a compact, cushion-shaped mound. Carnations bloom profusely from June to August and are popular with pollinators.
PerennialsEchinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower is a sturdy perennial with distinctive pink-purple petals surrounding an orange-brown cone. The flowers appear from July to September and are a magnet for butterflies and bees. In autumn and winter, the seed heads attract goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.
PerennialsEryngium planum
Sea Holly
Sea Holly is a striking perennial with steel-blue, thistle-like flower heads on branching stems. Blooming in July and August, it adds unique texture and colour to sunny borders. Excellent as a dried flower and a magnet for pollinators.
PerennialsEuphorbia characias
Mediterranean Spurge
Mediterranean Spurge is an architectural, evergreen perennial with blue-green foliage and striking yellow-green flower heads in spring. The columnar flower stems can reach 120 cm and bring colour and structure to the garden early in the season.
Ornamental grassesFestuca glauca
Blue Fescue
Blue Fescue is a compact, evergreen ornamental grass with a striking blue-grey colour that forms dense, dome-shaped tufts. In June and July, beige flower plumes emerge above the foliage. The grass is ideal for dry, sunny borders, rock gardens, and contemporary plantings.
PerennialsGaillardia aristata
Blanket Flower
Blanket Flower is a striking perennial with warm bicoloured blooms in red and yellow, like small suns. Flowering lasts from June through September and attracts plenty of butterflies and bees. This uncomplicated plant is ideal for dry, sunny gardens.
PerennialsGaura lindheimeri
Whirling Butterflies
Whirling Butterflies is an elegant perennial with graceful, swaying stems adorned with butterfly-shaped white or pink flowers. Blooming non-stop from June to October, it dances beautifully in the breeze, lending an airy, romantic feel to any border.
ShrubsGenista lydia
Lydian Broom
Lydian Broom is a compact, dome-shaped shrub that becomes completely covered in small, bright yellow flowers in May and June. The fine, densely branched green stems arch gracefully and form a tight cushion. The plant is ideal for rock gardens, slopes, and the front of dry borders.
TreesGrevillea robusta
Silky Oak
The silky oak is a fast-growing, imposing Australian tree with finely divided, fern-like foliage and striking, one-sided orange-yellow flower plumes from April to June that are rich in nectar. As a young tree it can be kept as a container plant for its graceful leaf texture. In subtropical climates it grows into a majestic specimen.
ShrubsHippophae rhamnoides
Sea Buckthorn
Sea Buckthorn is a robust, thorny shrub with narrow, silver-green leaves that lend a distinctive coastal look. In autumn, female plants produce striking orange berries rich in vitamin C that birds love. The plant is exceptionally wind-resistant and tolerates salt spray.
PerennialsIris germanica
Bearded Iris
The bearded iris is a stately perennial with sword-shaped grey-green leaves and elegant, multi-coloured flowers. In May and June, striking blooms appear in purple, blue, or yellow, often with a characteristic 'beard' on the drooping petals. The plant is perfect for formal borders or along pathways.
PerennialsKniphofia uvaria
Red Hot Poker
Red Hot Poker is a spectacular perennial with torch-shaped flower clusters in fiery shades of red, orange and yellow. The blooms appear from June to September on sturdy stems above grass-like foliage. The plant is a magnet for hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
ShrubsLavandula angustifolia
English Lavender
Lavender is a beloved herb with aromatic silver-green foliage and purple-blue flower spikes. This evergreen plant blooms profusely from June to August and is remarkably drought-tolerant, attracting butterflies and bees to the garden.
ShrubsLavandula stoechas
French Lavender
French Lavender is distinguished by its striking butterfly-like bracts atop compact flower spikes. The plant blooms from May to September, much longer than common lavender, and releases a delightful fragrance. The grey-green aromatic foliage is evergreen in mild climates.
PerennialsNepeta × faassenii
Catmint
Catmint is a tough border plant with grey-green, aromatic foliage and soft blue flower plumes. It blooms from May to September, making it one of the longest-flowering perennials. Bees love the flowers and cats are drawn to the leaves.
PerennialsOenothera biennis
Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose is a graceful biennial that opens its bright yellow flowers on warm summer evenings. The blooms release a sweet scent that attracts moths. From June to September, fresh flowers appear continuously along the upright stems. The plant self-seeds and naturalises beautifully in informal gardens.
TreesOlea europaea
Olive Tree
The olive tree is a majestic, long-lived tree with distinctive silver-green foliage and a gnarled trunk that grows increasingly characterful with age. In warm climates it produces edible olives following a modest white bloom in June. As a container plant it can bring Mediterranean charm to cooler regions too.
HerbsOriganum vulgare
Oregano
Oregano is an aromatic herb that is indispensable not only in the kitchen but also in the garden. From July to September, clouds of small pink-purple flowers appear, acting as a magnet for bees and butterflies. The herb forms dense clumps of oval, fragrant leaves and releases a warm, spicy scent when touched.
Ornamental grassesPennisetum alopecuroides
Fountain Grass
Fountain grass is an elegant ornamental grass that produces soft, bottlebrush-like plumes from August to October. The grass forms a dense, mound-shaped tussock and looks its best when backlit, with sunlight filtering through the feathery plumes. The flower heads and foliage turn warm golden-brown in autumn.
PerennialsPenstemon digitalis
Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove beardtongue is a graceful North American native perennial with striking clusters of white, tubular flowers on elegant upright stems in June and July. The blooms attract a wide range of pollinators. The dark green foliage often has a reddish flush, especially in spring. An excellent choice for naturalistic plantings and prairie gardens.
PerennialsPerovskia atriplicifolia
Russian Sage
Russian Sage is a graceful sub-shrub with silvery-grey aromatic foliage and airy lavender-blue flower plumes from July to September. The plant can reach 150 cm and gives borders a hazy, ethereal quality. Russian Sage is highly drought-tolerant and thrives on poor, dry soil.
ShrubsPotentilla fruticosa
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Shrubby cinquefoil is a tireless bloomer producing an endless stream of buttercup-yellow flowers from June to September. This compact shrub is hardy to the coldest zones and makes virtually no demands on the soil. The fine, compound leaflets give the plant an airy appearance. Ideal for low hedges and borders.
TreesRobinia pseudoacacia
Black Locust
Black Locust is a fast-growing, elegant tree with fine, pinnate foliage casting dappled shade. In May and June, hanging clusters of fragrant white pea-flowers attract bees. The tree is drought-tolerant and fixes nitrogen in the soil.
HerbsRosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary
Rosemary is an aromatic, evergreen sub-shrub with needle-like deep-green foliage and small blue flowers in spring. The plant gives off a warm, resinous scent and is prized both in the kitchen and the ornamental garden. Rosemary thrives in warm, dry spots and is highly drought-tolerant.
PerennialsSalvia nemorosa
Woodland Sage
Woodland Sage is a compact perennial with striking purple-blue flower spikes blooming from June to August. It attracts plenty of bees and butterflies and works well in sunny borders. Cutting back spent flower stems often triggers a second flush of blooms.
ShrubsSantolina chamaecyparissus
Cotton Lavender
Cotton lavender is a compact, silvery dwarf shrub with finely divided, aromatic foliage and round, button-like yellow flowers from June to August. The silver-grey leaves form dense, dome-shaped cushions that remain decorative even outside the flowering season. Excellent as a low hedge, border edging or in a herb garden.
PerennialsSedum spectabile
Stonecrop
Stonecrop is a succulent perennial with thick, grey-green leaves and flat pink flower heads from August to October. The plant is extremely drought-tolerant and attracts large numbers of butterflies and bees in late summer. The dried flower heads provide striking winter interest.
PerennialsSolidago canadensis
Canada Goldenrod
Canada goldenrod is a robust perennial with plume-shaped, golden-yellow flower clusters that bloom from August to October. The plant spreads via rhizomes and forms impressive colonies. A valuable late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies.
PerennialsStachys byzantina
Lamb's Ear
Lamb's Ear is a versatile perennial with soft, silvery, woolly leaves that invite touch. The plant forms dense mats of fuzzy rosettes and blooms in summer with small pink-purple flowers on upright stems.
Ornamental grassesStipa tenuissima
Mexican Feather Grass
Mexican Feather Grass is a fine-leaved ornamental grass that sways at the slightest breeze, giving the garden a dreamy, prairie-like atmosphere. The silky, pale golden plumes appear from June to September and move like waves in the wind. The plant self-seeds readily and naturalises quickly.
ShrubsTamarix ramosissima
Tamarisk
Tamarisk is an elegant, large shrub with fine, needle-like leaves that cast a blue-green haze over the plant. From June to September, feathery pink flower plumes appear, giving the plant an ethereal, dreamy look. Tamarisk is exceptionally wind- and salt-tolerant, making it a beloved coastal plant.
Ground coverThymus serpyllum
Wild Thyme
Wild thyme is a creeping, aromatic ground cover that forms a dense carpet of pink-purple flowers in summer. The plant grows only a few centimetres tall but spreads gracefully, making it ideal between paving stones, on walls, or as a lawn replacement in dry spots. Every step on the carpet releases a delightful thyme fragrance.
HerbsThymus vulgaris
Common Thyme
Common thyme is a compact, evergreen herb with small aromatic leaves and pink to white flowers. The plant is indispensable in the herb garden and blooms in June and July, when bees flock to it in droves. Thyme thrives best on dry, lean soil in full sun.
PerennialsVerbena bonariensis
Tall Verbena
Tall Verbena is a graceful perennial with slender stems carrying clouds of purple flower clusters. Blooming from June until the first frost, it is a magnet for butterflies. Its airy, see-through habit makes it ideal for weaving through other plants in borders.
PerennialsYucca filamentosa
Adam's Needle
Adam's needle is a robust evergreen plant with sword-shaped leaves growing in a compact rosette. Characteristic curling threads line the leaf edges. In summer an impressive flower stalk rises up to one and a half metres, laden with creamy-white bell-shaped flowers. Surprisingly hardy for a plant with such an exotic appearance.