Shire Plants Blog

Greater Knapweed

Greater Knapweed

Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) is a British native wildflower which grows in many different environments, including dry chalky grasslands, roadsides, hedgerows and cliffs throughout the UK. Like most wildflowers, it is very drought-tolerant an...
[ Read More ]
Drought-tolerant Teucrium

Drought-tolerant Teucrium

Teucrium 'Purple Tails' is a very drought tolerant plant and it's often one of the last plants standing in the border during very dry summers. Bold spires of purple flowers rise above bushy, green aromatic foliage. An attractive, vigorous perenn...
[ Read More ]
Gran's Favourite 'Pink'

Gran's Favourite 'Pink'

We have some lovely Dianthus Gran's Favourite plants at the nursery at the moment and I've taken the opportunity to pick a bunch for the office. They smell heavenly. There is something timeless of the scent of 'Pinks'.Gran's Favourite is a strong per...
[ Read More ]
Banana Mint

Banana Mint

This is Banana Mint, one of several intersting mints we sell (others include Chocolate, Ginger, Basil and Lime). The foliage of this variety has the unmistakable smell of banana overlaying the scent of mint. Mauve flowers in summer are loved by bees....
[ Read More ]
Monkey Flower Red Dragon

Monkey Flower Red Dragon

I love the scarlet red flowers of this Monkey Flower, 'Red Dragon'. It flowers all summer and is happy in sun or shade, as long as the soil isn't too dry - it grows in many situations, from boggy pond edges to containers.The name Monkey Flower c...
[ Read More ]
A Hairy Strawberry?

A Hairy Strawberry?

Fragaria vesca 'Muricata' is a very interesting strawberry which was first recorded in ‘Gerard’s Herball in 1597 but then disappeared from all record. The flowers are not white, as most strawberry varieties are, but green. The fruits also appear gree...
[ Read More ]
The Plant for Chocolate Lovers

The Plant for Chocolate Lovers

The Chocolate Cosmos has dark brown, almost black flowers which are strongly scented of chocolate, in mid and late summer. It loves a hot sunny position and needs protection from severe frost. We grow ours at home in a large pot and move it into...
[ Read More ]
Old 'Pink' Cranmere Pool

Old 'Pink' Cranmere Pool

Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' is a beautiful repeat-flowering Dianthus with very pale pink double flowers, flushed darker towards the centre, which consists of a bright red zone. The flowers have a lovely clove scent and they make excellent cut flowers, h...
[ Read More ]
Purple Comfrey

Purple Comfrey

Symphytum 'Moorland Heather' has dark dusky purple flowers from spring to early summer and then again later in the year if cut back. This variety doesn't spread and take over as some comfrey's do and the flowers are loved by bees.Comfrey foliage is e...
[ Read More ]
Stunning Corydalis

Stunning Corydalis

This stunning Fumewort has electric blue flowers and attractive grey-blue foliage. A really eye-catching plant which is not at all fussy and is easy to grow and scented flowers over a long period. It's most happy in shade, where it stands out we...
[ Read More ]