Plant in spring for summer flowers.
From gladioli to dahlias, from begonias to callas. Planting summer bulbs and perennial plants in spring means enjoying colour all summer long. Summer bulbs are the perfect way to add bright notes of summer colour to the border. An existing planting can always use some added sparkle. After all, a riot of colour is what summer is all about! Summer bulbs, - corms and - tubers can be planted from mid-March to mid-June, as long as the danger of frost has passed. They will then produce flowers in abundance that very summer. Some summer bulbs, like dahlias, crocosmias and begonias, can even keep on flowering into the autumn.
We ship our summer bulbs and perennials in spring, from late Feb through May, until stock runs out. It's the perfect planting time!

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Colourful summer garden essentials.
It’s hard to choose which Dahlias to plant these days. From the original 30 species, nearly 60,000 cultivars have been developed in nine categories - the choice can be almost mind-blowing. Dahlias are happy in borders or beds mixed with other flowers, or in a dedicated display. Wonderful cut flowers, they have a fantastically long vase life and any which are cut will be replaced with new ones. Flowering time is also extended by removing dead heads, often they'll bloom well into autumn! Dahlia tubers like full sun and a free-draining soil, and should be lifted and stored in winter, or at least protected with peat or straw. Dahlia flowers can range from 5 to 25 cm (2 to 10 inch) in diameter and those magnificent larger-flowering ones might appreciate a little extra support with canes.

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Continuous colour throughout summer.
Pretty and versatile, Begonias delight as outdoor and indoor plants, giving a showy display of colour wherever you choose to plant them. They flourish as houseplants, in hanging baskets or pots, as well as in borders. Multi-layered blooms of white, scarlet, pink or yellow are sometimes trimmed with a deeper or contrasting colour and contrast well with attractive and often variegated foliage. Sepals provide colour on the separate non-petalled male and female flowers which cohabit one plant. Plant in well-composted soil with good drainage in a light but shady area, out of the direct sun. Don’t overwater, but don’t let them get completely dry. Originally from warm tropical and sub-tropical areas, tuberous Begonias require winter storage in cold areas.

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Long-lasting, sturdy & resilient.
Create a summer border to be proud of with dazzling and dependable perennials. The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year – in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better! Whether they’re tender perennial bulbs like Cannas which can be stored for winter and then planted again the following year, or tough hardy types like Geranium, Rudbeckia, Echinacea and Daylilies which can just stay put and left virtually to their own devices, perennials grace your garden with their presence for years – not only is that rewarding in the garden long-term, but it’s excellent value for money too!

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Add Colour & Fragrance to your Garden.
Very popular cut flowers, Peonies produce flowers in almost every colour known, except blue, and come back to delight you year after year. It’s even been said that a peony plant can last for a century. While the stunning and often fragrant Peony flowers, which open in late spring or early summer, are the main attraction, the plant itself makes an attractive hedge or bush, even when the flowering is done. The glossy green foliage of Peonies lasts all summer long, finally changing to a purplish or gold colour in autumn. Peonies like deep, fertile and moist soil with good drainage, and your Peony bare roots should be planted in sunny locations where they are sheltered from the wind. Good companion plants are irises.

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Rare & unusual bulbs and plants.
You’re ready to take your Summer garden to the next level. Not for you the common-or-garden varieties. You want truly rare and unusual plants that are genuine collectors’ items. Because these varieties are truly scarce, early ordering is best – only limited amounts of bulbs are available to discerning gardeners like you. Discover remarkable colours and colour combos, crazy-cool pitch black blooms, plants that will amaze you even though you thought you knew what to expect, and the hidden delights within common bulb families right here.

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Tropical foliage to ‘leaf’ you breathless!
Turn your summer garden into a tropical paradise with the help of some of the biggest and brightest foliage plants around. Our range of high-impact Caladium, Canna and Colocasia varieties are bursting to bring out your garden’s exotic potential with a big show of lush leaves. Whether you want to add a tropical twist to existing schemes or go for a full-on jungle theme, these leafy delights are a must! Colocasia, Canna and Caladium are vibrant and vigorous, even in cooler climates. Just give them a warm start in spring and they’ll be well on their way to a great summer display!

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Streamlined Beauties in every Colour.
Calla Lilies, sometimes called Arum Lilies, Trumpet Lilies or even Pig Lilies, are indigenous to Southern Africa, but have become increasingly popular in other countries where their unusual flower structure gives a classic style to garden beds, containers, bouquets or arrangements. What appears to be the flower is actually a modified leaf which curls itself into a trumpet-like sheath for the real flowers – a cluster of tiny blooms on a central spadix. The Calla plants with their large bright green leaves, sometimes speckled with white are attractive even before the purple, pink, green, pure white, or yellow Calla “flowers” bloom in late spring or summer. Keep Callas exposed to the sun and in soil that is moist but not soggy.

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Stylish Summer Garden Classics.
As different categories of lilies have varying bloom times, it is quite possible to choose a selection of different ones that will keep you in flowers throughout summer. As an example, Asiatic lilies bloom first, followed by Trumpet Lilies and then the Orientals. Creating a flowering timeline of these three varieties will give you a sound base, after which you can have fun adding other lilies just for the love of doing so. Lilies like lots of sun and slightly acidic soil with good drainage so they do not stand in the water too long. Most are suitable in containers as well as in beds and borders and all make excellent cut flowers. Always choose large top bulbs for speedier results.

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