A stunning double-flowered tulip with deep maroon-black blooms with a satin sheen. This has been bred from the highly acclaimed tulip 'Queen of Night' and has the same distinctive midnight-black flowers, but with many more petals. Plant it somewhere prominent so you can really enjoy the flowers when they appear in MayPosition: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayFlower colour: dark maroon-blackOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil.

Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq. After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month. Once the foliage has died down...

Dramatic, blackish-purple, cup-shaped flowers with irregularly cut wavy petals in May and strap-like, grey-green leaves. These spectacular black parrot tulips, one of the darkest varieties currently available, make excellent cut-flowers. To prevent the exotic flowers from flopping they're best planted close together in a sunny, sheltered, well-drained spot.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayFlower colour: dark maroon-blackOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil.

Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq. After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first...

Not a true blue as the name might suggest, but it still produces a striking flower. The colour is more a pinkish-lavender-mauve with bronze-purple flushes inside the cup. The deeply fringed and curled petals open up completely to create big plate-like blooms.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayFlower colour: lavender-mauveOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil.

Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq. After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month. Once the foliage has died down naturally lift the bulbs and store in a cool greenhouse.

A lovely late flowering, peony shaped, double lilac-purple tulip. The flowers can grow into big rounded globes roughly 10cm in diameter so it really packs a punch in the border.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayFlower colour: lilac-purpleOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil. Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq.

After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month. Once the foliage has died down naturally lift the bulbs and store in a cool greenhouse.

An award-winning tulip which is a double form of Princess Irene. It has rich orange petals flamed garnet red that, are yellowish at the base and often tipped with green. The inside petals have a brownish tint.

These delightful, multi-coloured bowl-shaped flowers top sturdy stems in April.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: AprilFlower colour: orange flushed redOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil. Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq. After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month.

Once the foliage has died down naturally lift the bulbs and store...

Large ivory white petals that are deeply feathered, curled or twisted top stems that relax over time creating interesting shapes. As the flowers mature they open right out so they almost look flat. Plant these in a sheltered spot though as they are quite sensitive to cold, wet weather.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayFlower colour: whiteOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil.

Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq. After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month. Once the foliage has died down naturally lift the bulbs and store in a cool...

This is a lovely and delicate plant for alpine beds, rock gardens or pots. It has vibrant blood orange petals which have a dark olive blotch at their base - this is particularly noticeable when the petals open up to form big cup-shaped flowers.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: April - MayFlower colour: reddish-orangeOther features: excellent in meadow plantingHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil. Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq.

After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month. Once the foliage has died down naturally lift the bulbs and store in a cool greenhouse.

Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: June Hardiness: fully hardyDense, rich-purple globes held high on erect stems above strap-like, pale green leaves appear in early summer. They look spectacular grouped in a pot, or in a sunny border, dotted in groups among ornamental grasses, or as part of a Mediterranean scheme. Alliums look best planted between medium-sized herbaceous plants, which help to mask the strap-like leaves, which fade by the time the flowers appear.Garden care: Split and divide large clumps in autumn or spring.

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, well drained soilRate of growth: fastFlowering period: June to AugustHardiness: fully hardyA popular variety, with a long flowering season and semi-double, vivid scarlet flowers that appear from June to August among rosettes of puckered, scalloped fresh green leaves. This easy-to-grow geum looks best among other 'hot' coloured flowers towards the front of a sunny border. Garden care: To prolong flowering, deadhead regularly.

Lift and divide large clumps in early spring or late autumn.

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: average to fast growingFlowering period: May to SeptemberHardiness: fully hardyClusters of small, saucer shaped, purplish pink flowers are held on slender stems above strong aromatic, light green leaves from May to September. This is one of the most versatile and useful geraniums, as it will thrive even in dry shade. The deeply cut, semi-evergreen foliage also spreads quickly to form low hummocks that suppress weeds for most of the year.

It looks lovely with strongly shaped perennials, such as bergenia, or polemonium, or planted en masse under trees, and is also valuable for hiding the foliage of spring bulbs as they die...