The plants in this collection will die right back in autumn, then fresh new growth will appear again in spring.

No prima donnas here, these plants are reliable performers that just get on with it.



In this collection you will receive one of each of the following plants. They are all supplied in a 9cm nursery pot.


• Geranium psilostemon: This vigorous Armenian cranesbill produces a mass of shallow cup-shaped, vivid magenta flowers with black centres and veins from early to late summer. It quickly forms loose hummocks of deeply cut, mid-green leaves, which turn a fabulous shade of red in autumn. An excellent plant for the middle of the border. Grows to 120cm.
  
  
• Euphorbia epithymoides: Dark green, lance-shaped leaves are topped with a froth of bright, acid yellow spring flowers that form a distinctive star shape. This perennial, early flowering euphorbia has a natural mounded shape and a short flowering season, but looks lovely as part of a green and yellow planting scheme or with dark red flowers and bronze-tinted grasses. In autumn the foliage turns a lovely shade of bronze. Grows to 40cm.
  
  
• Achillea 'Summerwine': Flattened flowerheads are made up of masses of small, white-eyed wine-red flowers, that appear over a long period in summer. They are held high on tall stems above the ferny foliage, helping to attract beneficial insects including bees into the garden. Tolerant of drought once established, these sun-loving plants look great in the herbaceous border, and mix well with ornamental grasses. They also make excellent cut flowers. Grows to 90cm.
  
  
• Aquilegia 'Black Barlow': A popular cultivar among garden designers, this lovely granny's bonnet has beautiful, fully double, spur-less purple-black flowers in late spring above fern-like green leaves. It looks gorgeous with other black flowers and is equally at home in cottage garden schemes or among grasses. It thrives best in soil that retains moisture over the summer. It is easy to grow and quite short-lived, but self-seeds freely. Grows to 90cm.



• Planting tips: Prepare the bed well by digging in lots of composted organic matter before you plant. For best results it is essential that the plants are kept well watered for the first year, particularly during warmer weather.