Shire Plants Blog

Freckles

Freckles

This is the lovely flower of the North American woolly violet, Viola sororia 'Freckles'. Easily grown in the garden in the ground or in a container. Spreads gently to form a nice sized clump and self-seeds. This variety tends to flower later than our...
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Hardy Geranium Sirak

Hardy Geranium Sirak

Geranium 'Sirak' is a lovely Hardy Geranium with masses of lilac-purple flowers held above green foliage over a long period from June to October.It's suitable for sun or partial/dappled shade in any soil except waterlogged and is an excellent ground-...
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Some Great Feeback This Week

Some Great Feeback This Week

We've had some great feedback this week, including the following four comments from customers who have received their plants:"Just wanted to say how much I was looking forward to receiving my plants.  Arrived yesterday and I wasn't disappointed,...
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Perennial Viola Etain

Perennial Viola Etain

Viola 'Etain' is a wonderfully scented perennial Viola which grows happily in the ground or container. It has masses of creamy-yellow flowers edged with lavender-purple from spring to autumn. Perennial Violas last for several years, are remarkab...
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Large Toothwort

Large Toothwort

Cardamine maxima provides good groundcover when planted in a woodland situation, or under shrubs in dappled shade. It comes from North America, where it grows on forest floors, floodplains and rocky slopes. Clusters of pure white flowers stand o...
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Viola odorata 'Royal Robe'

Viola odorata 'Royal Robe'

Viola odorata 'Royal Robe' is a Sweet Violet with large, deep-purple flowers which are good for cutting. They are held nicely above the foliage so they stand out well. Very fragrant.Sweet violets have been grown for over 2000 years and were the symbo...
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Batchelor's Buttons

Batchelor's Buttons

This is the beautiful native Cornflower, also called Batchelor's Buttons, which traditionally grew in meadows and verges across the country but is now sadly fairly rare due to modern farming methods and land use. It's easy to grow in the garden,...
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Hemerocallis 'Buckingham Orange'

Hemerocallis 'Buckingham Orange'

We are very pleased to introduce this Hemerocallis, which has been named by us as it's real name is unknown. It was given to us by a local customer who tells us:"This plant has been flowering in Buckingham every year since the 1890’s... I first came ...
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Fried Eggs?

Fried Eggs?

Ficaria verna 'Fried Egg' is a delightful Celandine. It has buds that open orange-yellow and then petals fade to white with an orange-yellow centre, making the flower resemble a fried egg. Bronze-green foliage completes the package. It was discovered...
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Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot

Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot

Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot is lovely at this time of year. Unusual pale-pink drumstick flower spikes appear in very early spring, before the foliage. Large, jagged umbrella shaped leaves provide interest for the summer after the flowers. Grow in ful...
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Wood Anemones

Wood Anemones

The sight of a carpet of white Anemone stars on a sunny day is a true sign that spring has sprung. The spring flowers are a useful source of food for sleepy foraging bees.Anemone nemorosa is our native Wood Anemone and it is excellent for underplanti...
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Corydalis

Corydalis

Such a delicate looking plant, but Corydalis 'Beth Evans' is a tough old thing, perfect for livening up a shady spot in the garden. It's easy-to-grow with eye-catching spires of coral-pink blooms in late spring. Attractive foliage too, which is tinge...
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Viola 'Arkwright's Ruby'

Viola 'Arkwright's Ruby'

Perennial Viola 'Arkwright Ruby' has flowers of gorgeous shades of glowing coppery, ruby-crimson fading to terracotta. The medium sized flowers are fragrant too. Violas are plants with real personality and they can't help but lift you as you see...
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Brazen Hussey Celandine

Brazen Hussey Celandine

This is the stunning Celandine 'Brazen Hussey'. The yellow flowers stand out beautifully against the dark-bronze polished foliage from early spring. It's good for under-planting trees and shrubs or alongside a hedge. Also works well in large con...
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Narcissus 'Pheasant's Eye'

Narcissus 'Pheasant's Eye'

Narcissus 'Pheasant's Eye' has to be my favourite Daffodil. In addition to being beautiful, it is late-flowering, so it flowers after most varieties have finished, in April and May. This variety grows well in the ground and containers and the flowers...
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Snake's Head Fritillaries

Snake's Head Fritillaries

The Snake's Head Fritillary is an attention grabbing bulb which is classed as native, although Gerard (1597) says it was introduced by his friend Jean Robin. It flowers in March and April and can be cut for the vase. Although mostly purple, occasiona...
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Native Wild Carrot

Native Wild Carrot

Daucus carota is the British native wild carrot. Lage white umbel shaped flowers of white, or very pale pink, from June to September are loved by lots of pollinators. After flowering, the flowerhead folds inward to develop a concave head of seeds, re...
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Native Bluebells Available Now

Native Bluebells Available Now

Bluebells are steeped in tradition, myth and legend. A wish made when you see the first bluebell open in spring will come true. It is said that if you turn a bluebell flower inside out without tearing it, you will win the heart of the one y...
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Bronze Celandane

Bronze Celandane

This is a beautiful form of Celandine with double bronzy-orange flowers which have attractive darker markings as they age. Green foliage with lighter markings completes the package.Celandine are one of the delights of early spring and among the first...
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