Town and country gardening supplies

Echinops are undemanding plants that tolerate a wide range of conditions but do best in poor soil and full sun. They form large architectural plants which require some space. The flowers are made up of a ball of spiny bracts and attract large numbers of bees and butterflies. They also make good dried flowers.

Autumn-flowering sedum is an 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 gradually open to reveal masses of tiny flowers, which are bright pink. They are highly attractive to butterflies and bees making an additional attraction in the autumn garden.

'Schorbuser Blut' is a low, mat-forming, evergreen perennial with fleshly leaves that have scalloped, purple-tinted margins. In late-summer, it bears low clusters of deep-pink, star shaped flowers with prominent stamens.

This penstemon has lovely delicate pink flowers which appear in summer. Grow in a mixed or herbaceous border.

Plant in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Large plants in 1 litre pots.

Height 60cm

Pot size 1 litre

Crocosmias produce dense clumps of upright iris-like foliage. In midsummer this makes a good background for the small, profuse flowers. 'Lucifer' is an aptly-named variety because its flowers are the hottest coloured of all - a searing paprika red. The individual blooms are not as big as other crocosmias', but small-flowered varieties such as this are the hardiest which makes them a wise choice in cold districts. Grown in a flower border, they provide structure and colour. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Pot Size 1-2litre

Is a clump forming plant with sword shaped leaves in fan like tufts and pink, crocus like flowers.

Pot size 1 litre

A hary perennial. Airy and light lilac flowers that look fabulous in a bedding border. Ideal for cut flowers production.

Height 120cm

Pot size 0.5 L

An odd name like Obedient Plant needs some explanation. It arises from the peculiar property of the tubular flowers on the upright spikes when moved away from their natural position. Instead of breaking off or springing back like blooms of other plants, they stay in the position to which they have been pushed.