The English Cottage Garden Nursery
Traditional Cottage Garden Plants, Wildflowers and Herbs

2 Hurst Poultry Farm, Giggers Green Road, Aldington, Kent, TN25 7BU
Tel/Fax: 01233 720907



Catalogue
We hope you like the updated selection of plants we have available for 2002. Our aim this year is to provide not only our best-selling plants again, but also quite a few new ones to tempt you! Our catalogue can be browsed on-line and printed off, or you can e-mail/phone/fax us and we will send you our "off-line" version. Our seeds are sown all year round but, occasionally, it may not be possible to send the plants ordered - the English weather isn't always kind and sometimes seeds can refuse to co-operate! In such circumstances, unless you specifically state any substitutes should we not have in stock the plants you request, we will issue you with a credit note or refund the difference in price. Mail order plants will be despatched as soon as possible after payment is received, ie, as soon as they are big enough to send, and can be sent out all year round. Any delays will be notified.

Only 7 cm (3") pot sizes at the moment (this will be changing in the near future and all sizes can be sent - watch this space!) can be sent via mail order - bigger sizes can be delivered (locally only) or collected. However, if there was a particular plant only available in larger sizes that you just must have, we can probably find some way to get it packed off to you, although please bear in mind that the courier charges are by weight so anything amounting to over 10kg would incur extra costs per kilo (about 50p or so).

Each plant comes with an information sheet detailing any relevant folk lore, history and care instructions. Plants are despatched in protective blisterpacks inserted in a protective, sturdy, cardboard box. Postage and courier charges are detailed on the order form. Unfortunately, we can only deliver to the UK mainland.

Prices are as follows:

7 cm (3") pot 65p
9 cm (4") pot �1.00
2 litre pot �2.50

When your plants arrive, unpack immediately and, dependent on time of year, harden off by standing outside during the daytime for a couple of weeks before planting out. It may occasionally be necessary to keep them in a greenhouse or sheltered part of the garden for a while so they can grow a bit bigger before planting out. Water when necessary to the roots.

Finally, plants always make good presents so if you want them gift-wrapped with a tag, then we can do that for you, too, at an extra cost of �2.50. We will also enclose relevant information sheets and a copy of our catalogue.

Happy browsing!

(You may want to visit our Available Stock page - which is updated on a regular basis - to check whether the plants you want are actually available. However, please bear in mind that plants may go out of stock before the page is updated so please suggest substitutes if you can!)

HP = Hardy Perennial
P = Perennial
B = Biennial
A = Annual
H = Herb
WF = Wildflower
CG = Traditional Cottage Garden Plant
Ht = Height
** = Not Mail Order


r Typical Cottage Garden Plants
rWild Flowers
r Herbs

Typical Cottage Garden Plants

These are mainly traditional cottage garden plants. The idea behind a cottage garden border/garden is to create an area that is full of colour and interest with no formal order to it at all, and letting the plants seed themselves and appear where they choose - just let nature take over! Although cottage borders are not formal, you may want to have a more formal edge to a border or path by planting, for example, with Lavender or Sweet William or Pinks, or softening a hard edge by allowing Columbines, for instance, to tumble over it. Perhaps you could replace an old fence with a cottagey picket fence planted with annuals such as Poppies or Love-in-a-Mist alongisde it. And don't forget the small details, such as an old pair of boots planted with Pansies, for example, or an old pail full of Marigolds. Let your imagination run wild but not too over-the-top - just hints of olde worlde charm here and there! The cottage garden would have included many wildflowers and herbs, which are included in their own relevant sections in this catalogue.

Alpine Aster (aster alpinus)
HP. Ht 12 in (30 cm). Large daisy-like coloured flowers from May to July.

Candytuft (iberis gibraltarica)
HP. Lilac-flowered evergreen. Ht 12 in (30 cm). Good for the rockery. Spreads well. Full sun.

Chinese Lantern (physalis franchetti)
HP. Ht 12 in (30 cm). White flowers turn into bright orange papery pods. Partial shade, not too wet.

Columbine (aquilegia)
HP. Ht 3 ft (92 cm). Mixed shades of traditional granny bonnets. Also offered are blue double flowers. Please state which you'd prefer. Sun or partial shade.
CAUTION - Harmful if eaten.

Cotoneaster
HP. Evergreen shrub with small oval leaves, white flowers in summer and red berries in autumn and winter. Any soil. Sun or partial shade. **

Foxglove (digitalis purpurea)
B. Large velvety leaves and tall spires of bell-shaped mauve, rose, lilac or white flowers from May to September. Ht 4 ft (1.2 m). Ideal for shady areas or back of the border. Picture.
CAUTION - Toxic if eaten.

Goat's Rue (galega officinalis)
HP. Wf. Ht 2 - 5 ft (60 - 152 cm). Bright green foliage and lilac pea-like flowers. Typical cottage garden plant.

Globe Thistle (echinops ritro)
HP. Large globular heads of blue flowers. Ht 4 ft (1.2 m). Sun or light shade.

Helen's Flower (helenium autumnal)
P. Ht 5 ft (1.52 cm). Rudbeckia-like flowers in shades of orange red or yellow with dark brown centres during late summer and early autumn. Full sun. Picture.

Hollyhock (althaea rosea)
B. Tall, stately spikes of single flowers from May to October. Grows to between 5 - 9 ft (1.5 - 2.7 m) high. Full sun.

Honesty (lunaria annua)
B. Flowers May to June. Purple flowers leave behind large round, papery seed cases, often used in floral arrangements. Ht 2 - 3 ft (60 - 90 cm). Prefers partial shade.

Honeysuckle(lonicera periclymenum)
P climber with pretty yellow flowers from June to September.**

Jacob's Ladder (polemonium caeruleum)
HP. Brilliant blue flowers, sometimes white, and yellow stamens. Leaves look like ladder rungs. Ht 2 ft (60 cm) high. Flowers June to August. Prefers damp soil. Sun or shade. Picture.

Leopard's Bane (doronicum magnificum)
HP. Large yellow daisy flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Flowers April and May. Typical cottage garden plant.

Lupin(lupinus polyphyllus)
HP. Large umbrella-like leaves, and tall spikes with opulent pea-like flowers up length. Flowers June and July. Ht 3 - 5 ft (1 - 2.7 m). Companion use - Lupins suppress weed germination around them and also improve the soil because their root secretions release phosphate reserves for other plants to use.
"The Chatelaine" - pink and white flowers.
"My Castle" - shades of red.
"The Pages" - shades of carmine.
CAUTION - Lupins are harmful if eaten. Picture.

Mullein - Verbascum phoenicium
Dark green leaves and spikes of white, pink, salmon and purple flowers. Ht 3 ft (1 m).

Ostrich-Plume Aster
Flamboyant blooms like pompoms of ostrich feathers on these showy annuals! In various colours.**

Penstemon barbatus
P. Shiny leaves and spikes of mixed colour flowers throughout summer to frosts.

Pink (dianthus plumarius)
Cottage garden Pinks in a mixture of shades from white to pink. Fragrant. Ht 12 ins (30 cm).

Pom-pom Daisy (bellis perennis) "Pomponette Mix"
HP. Pompom daisy in a variety of rose shades. Double flowers.**

Purple Coneflower (echinacea purpurea)
HP. H. Mauve petals pulled down from a brown conical middle. Flowers late summer and autumn. Ht 4 ft (1.2 m).

Red Hot Poker(kniphofia)
P. Clumps of sword-like leaves bearing stems with clusters of red and yellow tubular flowers at the top. Spectacular tropical-looking plant, making any garden feel "hot"! Ht 39 cm (1 m) or more. Full sun or partial shade.

Rudbeckia (occidentalis) "Green Wizard"
HP. Good for the back of a border. Green petals and a black central cone. very unsual. Lasts well in water. Flowers through summer. Ht 5 ft (1.5 m). Sun or partial shade.

Sweet Rocket (hesperis matronalis)
Traditional cottage garden plant. HP. Very fragrant. Ht 2 - 3 ft (60 - 92 cm). Spikes of four-petalled flowers in a mix of colours. Flowers from June to September. Light shade.

Sweet William (dianthus barbatus)
B. Clumps of light to dark greeen leaves and pretty open-faced flowers late spring to summer. Flowers June to July. Well-drained soil and sun. Available September to November.

Wallflowers (cheiranthus) B. Traditional cottage garden plants producing masses of flowers in spring. Look dazzling planted amongst Tulips! Ht about 12 in (30 cm). Sold in pots rather than bunches (I always feel it's rather ruthless to pull up these plants, string them into bunches and then plunge in buckets of water for days! No wonder they wilt when first planted!). Available September to November.3 for �1

Cottage Garden Collections
Box of 15 plants in 3 in (7 cm) pots to get your cottage garden area off to a flying start! Cost - �20.00 including P&P.; If part of a larger order, or you are collecting or having them delivered, each collection is �9.50. Any plants unavailable will be substituted.

Collection 1
Candytuft x 3, Foxglove x 2, Hollyhock x 2, Globe Thistle, Purple Coneflower x 3, Sweet Rocket, Lupin, Rudbeckia "Green Wizard", Pompom Daisy

Collection 2
Sweet Rocket x 2, Foxglove x 2, Columbine x 2, Chinese Lantern x 2, Purple Coneflower, Alpine Aster x 2, Verbascum phoenicium, Helen's Flower, Candytuft, Penstemon

Collection 3
Chinese Lantern, Hollyhock, Lupin x 2, Jacob's Ladder, Globe Thistle, Foxglove x 2, Candytuft, Alpine Aster, Sweet Rocket, Verbascum phoenicium x 2, Purple Coneflower x 2

Collection 4
Autumn only, to flower in spring - Honesty x 4, Sweet William x 4, Wallflowers x 7


r Herbs
r Miscellaneous
rBack to top

Wild Flowers

You don't need a vast amount of land to create your own wildflower haven for both yourself and your surrounding wildlife, and creating a wildflower meadow from scratch entails a lot of hard work. However, you can create an almost instant meadow area by planting established pot plants in an already existing grassed area. This area need not be enormous, even a patch of grass at the end of the garden would be fine. Decide if you want a spring-flowering or summer-flowering meadow. Mow the area closely and then vigorously rake to remove all the grass cuttings. Place the plants in position in their pots first to see the effect you will eventually achieve and whether you like it - planting the same plants in clumps looks effective. Allow enough room between plants for growth, setting seed and establishment. The best planting time is August to October but plants will still do well if planted earlier than August. Water the plants in their pots, plant them, firm them in and water regularly.

A new mowing regime has to be introduced for a meadow area (unless you are mowing pathways through it, in which case these can be mowed as regularly as you wish) - if you have planted a spring meadow then mow it once the plants have all flowered and set seed (round about late June). It can be cut again in early August and then once more in autumn. Hoe the area as well so that the newly-shed seed has some exposed areas for easier germination. If you have planted a summer meadow then this will need mowing in the autumn after all seed is set, and then one or two cuts in spring. However the traditional wildflower meadow would be cut late July to early August and then again in autumn, remembering to remove the cuttings. This imitates the age-old practice of cutting the hay in summer and grazing the meadow over the winter.

If the idea of a meadow does not appeal or is not possible, you can plant a completely wild flower border or intersperse wildflowers in your already established borders. Maybe even create a wildflower area in the middle of a lawn by digging it up to the required shape and cramming it full of wildflowers. To make a cottage border even more traditional, you can plant wildflowers in amongst the established cottage plants. Remember also that many wildflowers are important food sources for wildlife and these are dealt with in a later section of the catalogue.

Agrimony (agrimonia eupatoria) P. H. Spikes of small yellow star-shaped flowers from July to September. Ht 1 - 2 ft (30 - 60 cm).

Bird's Foot Trefoil (lotus corniculatus)
P. Pretty yellow pea-like flowers on thin stems. Creeping habit. Flowers May to October. Picture.

Bladder Campion (silene vulgaris)
HP. Ht about 2 ft (60 cm). Pretty white flowers on stems with the petals erupting from a green bladder-like pod. Flowers May to September.** Picture.

Butterfly Bush (buddleia davidii)
HP. The ultimate butterfly attractant! Large tear-drop shaped clusters of mauve or white flowers and green-grey leaves. Can grow to 8ft high or more.

Centaury (centaurium erythraea)
HP. H. Very pretty pink flowers. Ht 6 - 12 in (15 - 30 cm). Suitable for rockery.

Chicory (cichorium intybus)
P. H. Very pretty blue flowers. Ht 15 - 45 ins (30 - 128 cm). Flowers July to October.**

Clustered Bellflower (campanula glomerata)
HP. Ht 6 - 12 in (15 - 30 cm). Blue/purple funnel-shaped flowers May to September. Sun. Rockery potential.**

Corn Chamomile (anthemis arvensis)
A. White daisy flowers. Typical meadow plant, looks good amongst other brightly-coloured flowers. Ht 12 - 18 ins ( 30 - 45 cm). Poor, dry soil. Sun.

Cowslip (primula veris)
HP. CG. Rosette of basal leaves and yellow, nodding bell-shaped flowers in clusters on stems during April and May. Ht 12 in (30 cm). Well-drained, sunny spot, particularly partial to chalky sites. Rare in the wild. Picture.

Deptford Pink (dianthus)
Rare wildflower. Narrow green leaves and bright red flowres 0.5 in (1 cm) across from June to August.

Elecampane (inula helenium)
HP. H. Ht 4 - 5 ft (1.2 - 1.52 m). Large, wrinkled, downy leaves and very large yellow flowers during summer. Looks like a jungle plant!

Evening Primrose(oenothera biennis)
B. CG. H. Ht 2 ft 6 in (80 cm). Yellow flowers that open in the evening from June to October - so a particularly popular plant with moths. Plant in a sunny position, sheltered from winds. Doesn't like cold, damp sites. Picture.

Germander Speedwell (veronica chamaedrys)
HP. Creeping plant producing blue flowers with a white "eye" during early spring to summer. Ht 8 - 16 in (20 - 42 cm). Resistent to trampling so good for planting in lawns.**

Goat's Rue (galega officinalis)
HP. Wf. Ht 2 - 5 ft (60 - 152 cm). Bright green foliage and lilac pea-like flowers. Typical cottage garden plant.

Golden Rod, "Golden Baby" (solidago canadensis)
HP. CG. H. Vast plumes of yellow flowers from July to August. Ht 2 ft (60 cm) high.**

Great Burnet (sanguisorba officinalis)
HP. H. Ht 1 - 3 ft (30 - 92 cm). Oval heads of deep red flowers on tall thin stalks in mid-summer. Sun or partial shade.

Herb Robert (geranium robertianum)
HP. H. Dark to bright-green, finely-divided frondy leaves and pinky-red 5-petalled flowers. Ht 12 in (30 cm).

Lady's Bedstraw(gallium verum)
P. Tiny yellow flowers on tall, thin stems. Flowers June to September. Ht 2 ft (60 cm). Spreads.

Marshmallow (althea officinalis)
P. H. Ht 2 - 4 ft (92 - 122 cm). Downy leaves and whitey-pink Hollyhock-type flowers. Very attractive. Good for pondside or damp spots.**

Meadow Cranesbill (geranium pratense)
P. Pretty, cut frondy leaves and wide-open, cup-shaped purple flowers from June to September. Ht 2 ft (60 cm). Picture.

Meadowsweet (filipendula ulmeria)
HP. H. Can grow to 6 ft (2 m). Branched clusters of frothy, creamy flowers. Very pretty plant. Flowers June to August. Thrives best in light shade and grows in the wild in damp areas.

Monkey Flower (mimulus guttatus)
HP. Toothed, paired leaves and large, bright-yellow flowers resembling monkey faces (allegedly!). Good for damp spot. Ht up to 20 in (51 cm). Spreads. Flowers summer to autumn.**

Nettle-leaved Bellflower (campanula trachelium)
HP. Ht 39 ins (1 m). Nettle-like leaves and clusters of purple bell-shaped flowers from July to September. Shade.**

Oxlip (primula elatior)
P. H. Rosette of leaves and stalks of yellow flowers. Very similar to a Cowslip. Shade.

Pasque Flower (pulsatilla vulgaris)
HP. Good rockery plant. Feathery, silky leaves and purple flowers with yellow centres. Favoured by bees. Ht 6 - 12 ins (15 - 30 cm).

Perennial Flax (linum perenne)
P. Wiry stems and five-petalled blue flowers with cream throats. Ht 1 ft (30 cm). Flowers June to August.

Primrose(primula vulgaris)
HP. CG. Pretty pale yellow flowers on 6 in (15 cm) stems and rosette of fat leaves in spring. Partial shade. Rockery.

Purple Loosestrife (lythrum salicaria)
HP. H. Statuesque, very attractive plant growing to about 6.6 ft (2 m). Tall stem with many small leaves and purple-red starry flowers along stem. Likes boggy ground so good for near pond areas. Flowers June to September. Picture.

Quaking Grass (briza)
P. Nodding, diamond-shaped striped, purple flowerheads on long branching stalks from June to August. Ht 2 ft (60 cm). Meadow plant.

Red Campion (melandrium rubrum)
HP. Ht 1 - 3 ft (30 - 92 cm). pretty bright-red flowers and sticky leaves. Floewrs May to October.

Red/White Valerian (centranthus)
HP. CG. Fluffy masses of red or white flowers on 3 ft (92 cm) high stems. Flowers May to July. ** Picture.

Salsify (tragopogon porrifolius)
HP. H. Unusual pink flowers with petals that look as if the ends have been chopped off! Flowers May to August. Ht up to 3 ft (1 m).

Self-heal (prunella vulgaris)
P. H. Unusual purple flowers. Creeping. Meadow plant.

Sheep's Bit (jasione montana)
P. Ht 20 in (45 cm). Stalks of blue-mauve Scabious-like flowers and basal rosette of small narrow leaves. Flowers May to August. Picture.

Small Scabious (scabiosa columbaria)
HP. Ht 12 in (30 cm). Flowers July and August, small pincushion of lilac flowers, rarely pink or white. Good butterfly and bee plant. Birds love the seeds. Sun.

Soapwort (saponaria officinalis)
HP. H. Ht 1 - 3 ft ((30 - 92 cm). Four-petalled pale pinky-white flowrs in clusters on tall stems from June to September. As the plant tends to have a flopping habit, it is useful for border edges.**

Sweet Violet (viola odorata)
HP. H. Scented, deep-purple Pansy flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Flowers early spring. Ht 2 in (30 cm).

Toadflax(linaria vulgaris)
HP. Snapdragon-like flowers of yellow or orange. Ht 2.5 ft (76 cm). Flowers June to October. Full sun. Picture.

Vervain (verbena officinalis)
HP. H. Ht 1 - 2 ft (30 - 60 cm). Spikes of tiney pale lilac flowers - planted inclumps amongst cottage garden flowers they look very effective, a sprinkling of pale lilacamong the other colours.

Viper's Bugloss (echium vulgaris)
HP. Ht 1 ft (30 cm). Spikes of deep blue flowers with red stamens. Wild flower of shingle beaches so good for coastal areas. Sun. Picture.

White Campion (silene latifolia alba)
Ht 3 ft (1 m). Large white flowers, scented in the evening. Very pretty plant. Flowers May to October.

Wild Clematis (clematis vitalba)
Hardy climber with pretty white flowers changing to fluffy seedheads. Sun or partial shade. Picture.

Wild Strawberry (fragaria)
P. Ht 5 - 30 cm. Flowers April - July. Smaller, tastier fruits than garden strawberries. Many medicinal uses. Sun or partial shade.

Yellow Loosestrife(lysimachia punctata)
P. Ht 2 ft (60 cm)/. yellow star-like flowers during June to August. Any soil.

Wildflower Collections
Box of 15 plants in 3 in (7 cm) pots to get your wildflower area off to a flying start! Cost �20.00 including P&P.; If part of a larger order, or if you are collecting or having them delivered, each collection is �9.50. As wildflowers are notorious for taking ages to germinate or only germinating sporadically over many months, it is not possible to provide set collections. Therefore, if you order the Wildflower Collection you will receive 15 plants selected from what is available at the time.

r Typical Cottage Garden Plants
r Miscellaneous
rBack to top

Herbs
Many wildflowers have also been, and still are, used as herbs. If you are interested in the herbal use of wildflowers, then consult a good herb encyclopaedia. Remember, herbs needn't just be confined to their own special area - they can be interspersed with other plants or grown in containers. If planting herbs in pots, place crocks in the bottom as herbs require good drainage, and pick regularly to avoid overcrowding. If you're a bit adventurous, you may fancy creating a herb wheel with, for example, a birdbath as the centrepiece or an elegant statue.

WARNING: Please note that herbs should not be used for internal or external medicinal purposes without first consulting a qualified herbalist.

Alkanet (alkanna tinctoria)
Dye and medicinal plant. Hairy leaves and funnel-shaped blue flowers. Ht 4 - 12 ins (10 - 30 cm).

Angelica (angelica archangelica)
B. Ht 6 ft (2 m). Striking plant with large leaves and umbels of yellow flowers.

Basil (ocimum basilicum)
A. Popular culinary herb. "Bush" - not as "strong" as Sweet Basil.
"Lemon" - grey-green leaves which taste and smell of lemon.
"Sweet" - "traditional" Basil.
Companion use - plant Basil at the base of tomato plants to deter aphids.

Bergamot (monarda didyma)
HP. Ht 18 - 36 ins (45 - 90 cm). Velvety red flowers and oval leaves with toothed edges. Very nice-looking. Sun or partial shade.**

Caraway (carum carvi)
B. Flat clusters of tiny white flowers and feathery leaves. Ht 3ft (90 cm). Full sun.

Chamomile, Lawn (chamaemalum nobile)
HP. Scented frondy leaves and white daisy flowers. Good compost activator. If wishing to plant a Chamomile lawn (or even a Chamomile seat), work out the number of plants you need at 4 in (10 cm) intervals. Also looks good dotted in between paving slabs. Good companion to cabbages and onions. Alleged to cure poorly plants if planted next to them. Tray 20 small plants - �6.00.

Chives (allium schoenoprasum)
HP. Tall, thin, hollow leaves provide the onion-like flavour of this plant and form an attractive clump. When flowering, it produces balls of purple, fluffy blooms in summer. Ht 12 in (30 cm). Sun or partial shade. Companion use - can be planted among other plants to help deter aphids, mildew and apple scab. Planted amongst carrots, they will deter carrot fly. Chives multiply rapidly into clumps so they also make a good edging plant.

Coriander (coriandrum sativum)
A. Ht 2 ft (60 cm) in height. Bushy, frondy herb with pink flowers in summer. Must-have ingredient in curries - either by crushed seed in the curry powder itself, or by adding chopped leaves to the dish just before serving.

Curry Plant (helichrysum italicum)
HP. Grey-green soft leaves that smell distinctly of curry, and yellow flowers. Ht 2 ft (60 cm). Attractive plant for both the herb garden and the border.**

Dill (anethum graveolens)
A. Fine ferny leaves and yellow flowers. Attractive culinary and medicinal herb.

Elecampane
HP. Wf. Ht 4 - 5 ft ((1.2 - 1.52 m). Large, wrinkled, downy leaves and very large yellow flowers during summer.

Evening Primrose (oenothera biennis)
B. CG. Wf. Ht 3 ft (92 cm). Large, bright-yellow floewrs from June to October. Sunny spot, sheltered from winds.

False Saffron Kinko (carthanus tincturius)
HA. Orange flowers. Dye plant.

Fennel (foeniculum vulgare)
P. Ht 6.5 ft (2 m) tall. Tall stem, tendril-like leaves and a yellow umbel of flowers in summer. Aniseed flavour. Not to be confused with the bulbous Florence Fennel.**

Great Burnet (sanguisorba officinalis)
HP. Wf. Ht 1 - 3 ft (30 - 92 cm). Oval heads of deep red flowers on tall thin stalks in mid-summer. Sun or partial shade.

Hyssop (hyssopus officinalis)
P. Narrow leaves and spikes of dainty pink, white or blue flowers mid- to late-summer. Companion use - Grow near cabbages to lure away cabbage whites. Sunny, non-acid spot. Makes a good hedging plant.

Lavender (French and English) (lavendula stoechas/spica)
HP. Drought-tolerant. Narrow, grey leaves and brachts of tiny purple flowers in summer. Very fragrant. Ht 2 ft (60 cm). Useful for creating a low hedge to keep back those plants which tend to sprawl more.
"Munsted" - dawrf lavender, about 2 ft (60 cm) "Hidcote" - blue flowers, 1 ft (30 cm)
Companion use - Plant Lavender with roses to deter aphids. Full sun.

Lemon Balm (melissa officinalis)
P. CG. Lemon-smelling leaves and small white flowers. Ht 30 in (76 cm). Sunny position.

Liquorice(glycyrrhiza glabra)
HP. Ht 4 ft (120 cm). Divided leaves and violet pea-like flowers followed by long seedpods. Used in herbal remedies and liquorice sweets.

Lovage (levisticum officinale)
HP. Ht 6 ft (2 m). Glossy, divided leaves and yellow flowers. Sun or partial shade.Can be eaten, as well as medicinal.

Marshmallow (altheae officinalis)
P. Wf. Ht 3 - 4 ft (92 - 122 cm) high. Downy leaves and small pink, Hollyhock-type flowers in late summer. Very attractive. Prefers damp soil. **Picture.

Oregano, Greek (oreganum vulgare)
P. Leafy herb with culinary uses. Sun. Will also grow well in stony soil.

Parsley (petroselinum)
Biennial, leafy herb. Rich in Vitamin C and commonly used as a garnish and in sauces. Likes sun or shade and can be kept indoors over winter. Has yellow-green umbels of flowers in summer.

Pennyroyal (mentha pulegium)
P. Semi-evergreen. Creeping. Ht 6 in (15 cm). Small, round leaves smelling strongly of Peppermint.**

Purple Coneflower(echinacea purpurea)
HP. CG. Mauve petals pulled down from a brown conical middle. Flowers late summer and autumn. Ht 4 ft (120 cm).

Purslane (portulaca oleracea)
A. Ht 12 in (30 cm). Pink, much-branched stems and round, fleshy, bright-green leaves. Very small yellow flowers in late summer. Culinary and medicinal herb.

Rosemary (rosemarinus officinalis)
Perennial evergreen shrub. Thin leaves and blue flowers in summer. Plant in a sheltered but sunny spot. Companion use - Good deterrent for cabbage whites and slugs. Doesn't like soil that's too wet.

Rue (ruta graveolens)
P. Evergreen bush with interesting foliage and yellow flowers. Ht 3 ft (90 cm).**
CAUTION - severely toxic to skin if sap gets on skin and then exposed to strong sunlight.

Sage (salvia officinalis)
Bushy perennial. Narrow grey leaves and pink flowers. Particular favourite in stuffings. Companion use - Another good cabbage white and slug deterrent.

Self-heal (prunella vulgaris)
P. Wf. Unusual purple flowers. Creeping. Meadow plant.

Soapwort (saponaria officinalis)
HP. Ht 1 - 3 ft (30 - 92 cm). Four-petalled pinky-white flower stars in clusters on tall stems which flop attractively so would make a good edging to hide a straight edge, for example. Flowers June to September. Picture.**

Spearmint (mentha spicata)
HP. Spearmint flavour and smell. Ht 1 - 2 ft.**

Thyme (thymus)
HP.
"Serpyllum" - creeping Thyme with mauve flowers.
"Vulgaris" - common Thyme
Companion use - Will deter cabbage whites and slugs. Plant in sun.

Vervain (verbena officinalis)
HP. Ht 1 - 2 ft (30 - 60 cm). Spikes of tiny pale lilac flowers - planted in clumps amongst cottage garden plants, they look very effective - a sprinkling of pale lilac amongst the other colours.

Wild Strawberry (fragaria)
P. Ht 5 - 30 cm. Flowers April - July. Smaller, tastier fruits than garden strawberries. Many medicinal uses. Sun or partial shade.

Woad (isatis tinctoria)
B. Wf. Ht 20 in - 4 ft (50 - 120 cm). Rosette of oval leaves from which branching stems with yellow four-petalled flowers grow in summer. Wound and dye herb - this is the plant used by ancient Britons to paint themselves blue.

Herb Collections
Box of 15 plants in 3 in (7 cm) pots to whet your appetite! Cost - �20.00 including P&P.; If part of a larger order, or if you are collecting or having them delivered, each collection is �9.50. Herb Collections are only available May to September. Any plants unavailable will be substituted.

Collection 1 - Scented:
Sweet Basil x 2, Chives, Coriander, Lavender x 2, Lemon Balm, Oregano, Rosemary x 2, Sage x 2, Hyssop, Thyme

Collection 2 - Culinary:
Bush Basil, Lemon Basil, Sweet Basil, Chives, Coriander, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Purslane, Bergamot, Lemon Balm, Hyssop, Wild Strawberry

Collection 3 - Mixed: Woad, Milk Thistle, Purslane, Hyssop x 2, Basil, Rosemary, Purple Coneflower x 2, Marshmallow, Bergamot, Liqourice, Oregano, Lovage, Sage



Seeds

50p per packet - generous amount of seed.

Alpine Aster
Bladder Campion
Caraway
Chervil
Chicory
Chinese Lantern
Columbine
Comfrey
Corncockle (CAUTION - toxic if eaten)
Corn Marigold
Cumin
Evening Primrose
Foxglove (CAUTION - harmful if eaten)
Honesty
Love-in-a-Mist
Love-lies-Bleeding
Lupin - mix of colours
Marigold - various types, some double
Marjoram
Mullein (verbascum phoenicium
Red Campion
Salsify
Scarlet Pimpernel
Shasta Daisy
Sheep's Bit
Sweet William
Wild Pansy
r Typical Cottage Garden Plants
rWild Flowers
rBack to top


Miscellaneous

Don't know what plants to give someone? Then order our Gift Collection, which includes 5 herbs, 5 cottage garden flowers and 5 wildflowers (chosen from plants available at the time, information sheets and a copy of our catalogue - �20.00 inc P&P; (�9.50 if part of a larger order).


We can grow plants to order - please contact us for details.


r Typical Cottage Garden Plants
rWild Flowers
r Herbs
rBack to top