Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
Rosettes of kidney shaped leaves that appear to be cut from grey velvet bear small clusters of brilliant magenta flowers year round.
Relaxed of habit and gently suckering, a colony lends itself to the company of other smaller plants of gorgeous foliage like succulents and grasses for the making of scrumptious compositions in large containers or tessellated over a greater garden area as hyperboles meadow. Otherwise just use it beside paths or to glam up the feet of shrubs as it's quite happy in partial shade.
From the Eastern Cape but hardier than many from the region. Easily grown in any well drained soil with some summer moisture.
An evergreen, herbaceous, perennial shrub. Pale green, red stalked leaves are paired along erect, four angled, branching stems. From autumn to winter, one sided spikes of, rich magenta, tubular, hooded flowers are produced. Cut back in spring to the point of new growth at the base.
Wand like stems lightly dressed in small divided leaves spring from a deep perennial taproot and are topped with small cone like heads of bright magenta flowers. Found throughout central North America and a natural component of the tall grass prairies, it is an appealing companion for your choice grasses, I might suggest Little blue stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and/or Big blue stem (Andropogon gerardii) which are both natural and stunning associations, scatter it through a gravel garden to exemplify its form or simply mass it for a swathe of unadulterated summer colour.
A nitrogen fixing legume well regarded for its ability to thrive in hot dry summers and poor soils in its native home. I will reserve my judgement until I have known it a little longer but strongly suspect we have a winner.
Winter dormant and attractive in seed. For any sunny reasonably well drained soil, some amount of summer irrigation will be appreciated.
Clusters of saturated (camera defying), darkest magenta, finely pinked, lightly perfumed flowers on tall, slender stems, dark and red tinted as are the neatly clumping, quadrangular rosettes of semi-gloss, lance shaped leaves.
Remarked on by all and an excellent cut flower of D. barbatus Nigrescens Group heritage, more exceptional and persistent than most.
Easily grown in light, well drained, sunny soil.
An alternative to G. maderense, prima donna of the genus, for those who find it a struggle or just want a more amenable, smaller statured and easier to accommodate plant. Forming evergreen mounds of five lobed, bright green leaves held on long fleshy stems which radiate from a central trunk or trunks. Into summer masses of purple-pink, crimson centred, saucer shaped flowers are produced in large loose clusters. Bold, yet softening and "cottagey", stunning en masse especially against a boldly coloured south wall.
From the Canary Islands, like its more famous cousin, and ideally suited to a mediterannean climate although more tolerant of heavy soil, excess summer moisture and cold.
Technically perennial but collect a few seed each year as it tends to be short lived and doesn't always self seed with reckless abandon.
A slowly spreading, semi-evergreen, rhizomatous perennial. Magenta, saucer shaped, (3cm), flowers are produced for a long period through spring to early summer and again in autumn. The stiff, slender stems clothed in finely dissected dark green leaves will form a dense clump or mix well with other plants, wandering between them.
Tough and easy.
Cut back hard if looking tired.
Permanent, excellent and occasionally self sowing.
An evergreen, shrubby perennial from Mexico. Many flowered, long, slender, arching wands of small, bright magenta pink, tubular, lipped flowers are held over glossy, green, oval shaped leaves.
Extremely floriferous and with good ornamental foliage, this is magnificent plant for any protected position with some shade, where it will lend a lush tropical look.
It's somewhat lax habit makes it ideal for the foot of larger plants or the top of retaining walls.