Shire Plants Blog

Our blog features interesting plants we've noticed recently at the nursery, news and other information. For further inspiration, we recommend looking at our Caught Our Eye page, which lists many plants that have caught our attention recently.
The only truly black Perennial Viola

The only truly black Perennial Viola

The only truly black perennial Viola, 'Molly Sanderson' boasts masses of pure black flowers for much of the year. Perfect for containers or the ground, perennial violas provide years of value, unlike their annual cousins. Pair 'Molly Sander...
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Bachelor's Buttons

Bachelor's Buttons

Field scabious; Bachelor's buttons; Black soap; See less; Blue buttons; Blue caps; Clodweed; Egyptian rose; Gypsy rose; Lady's cushion; Purple buttons and Scabridge. All names of Knautia arvensis, as it is known around the country.The British native ...
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An exquisite Hardy Fuchsia

An exquisite Hardy Fuchsia

Fuchsia 'Dying Embers' is a Hardy shrubby Fuchsia with flowers of smouldering aubergine, almost black coloured corolla cloaked with neat, lacquered crimson red sepals. The foliage is a bonus, green with purple veins and stems, turning much darker as ...
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A Beautiful Perennial Wallflower

A Beautiful Perennial Wallflower

Erysimum 'Apricot Twist' is one of the longest flowering perennial wallflowers. Burnt orange and apricot flowers adorn the plant from spring into autumn. Erysimum are fast growing and happy in any sunny spot, provided the soil isn't boggy. They toler...
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Indian Valerian

Indian Valerian

Indian Valerian is a spreading perennial herb which is rarely found in UK nurseries. It comes from the Himalayas and China, where it grows in cool forests and meadows. Various parts of the plant were traditionally used in treatment of sleep problems,...
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A useful showy shade plant

A useful showy shade plant

Kitaibelia vitifolia (Russian hibiscus) is a wonderful plant that's often offered in the UK. Unusually, it's a tall, flowering herbaceous perennial that grows in shade and has impressive flowers.Related to hollyhocks, it can grow up to 8ft high ...
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The Ice Plant Cometh

The Ice Plant Cometh

Known as the Ice Plant, Delosperma are compact, succulent drought-resistant alpines which are perfect for a rockery, container or gravel garden. They have large obvious flowers from May to July. The green foliage turns red in autumn, adding further i...
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Recent Positive Feedback

Recent Positive Feedback

We are very pleased to have received some very positive feeback from customers who have received their orders this week:"Just a quick thank you, my plants arrived this afternoon, in splendid condition, they are resting in the cool part of the greenho...
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Ancient Britons' Facepaint

Ancient Britons' Facepaint

The leaves of the Woad plant were used to produce a blue dye that ancient Britons used as body paint when going into battle. Woad is also an antiseptic and it is likely that it was used on wounds at the time. The seeds make a nice olive coloured...
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Diascia for containers

Diascia for containers

Diascia 'Little Dreamer' is perfect for tubs and containers, with masses of delicate pink flowers throughout the summer and it will spill delicately over the edges.
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