Perennial ‘Chinese foxglove’ producing branching stems, bearing large, long-tubed, bright purplish-pink flowers with very conspicuous red spotted throats.

Mat-forming perennial from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Tightly-packed, rosettes of blue-green leaves. Clusters of tiny white flowers in summer.

Deciduous perennial climber from Mexico, with heart-shaped leaves flushed purple on the underside. Smothered in exotic looking, pendent, dark maroon, tubular flowers, with large pink calyces that remain on the plant long after the flower has dropped.

Deciduous shrub. Very fragrant, pendent racemes of tubular, golden-yellow flowers produced in spring. Bright green foliage turns shades of red and purple in autumn

An architectural, Victorian favourite. Stout branching stems, bearing glossy, dark bronze-red, deeply-lobed leaves and bright red, globular flowers, followed by ornamental, spiky seed cases. Usually grown as an annual.

Aromatic, evergreen, woody, Mediterranean shrub and culinary herb. Slender, grey-green foliage and pale blue flowers borne from mid-spring. Very good in dry conditions.

Vigorous, clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial. Stout stems bearing large, golden yellow daisy-like flowers with contrasting black disc-florets.

Rhizomatous perennial, bearing curious daisy-like flowers, each with very short, green petals surrounding a prominent, black, conical disc-floret. Very good for use in flower arrangements.

Fast-growing, deciduous tree, grown mainly for its yellowish, heavily contorted shoots and slender, twisted, mid-green leaves. Greenish-yellow catkins in spring.

Half hardy perennial native to California. Aromatic, lance-shaped, silver-grey leaves, and in summer tall silver-grey stems bear loose whorls of white flowers.

Rosette forming perennial with large, very hairy, silvery leaves giving it a soft, furry feel. White flowers borne on a central branched stem.

Long, drooping, heads of bright blue flowers surrounded by blue tinged bracts. A native of Bolivia, it flowers from autumn and requires winter protection.

Sometimes referred to as S. Africana Lutea. Evergreen, small shrub from the cape regions of South Africa. Rounded, woolly, grey-green leaves with wavy margins. Whorls of golden yellow to reddish-brown flowers.

Aromatic, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub. Larger, more showy flowers than the species. Beginning a dull yellow, the flowers turn a reddish russet-brown with tightly-packed, dusky plum-red calyces. Grey green, downy leaves.

Half hardy perennial bearing triangular leaves and panicles of slender, deep blue flowers on long, open, branching stems.

Woody perennial. Intense, deep violet-blue flowers in late summer.

Lax, woody shrub from Mexico. A cool combination of sky-blue flowers and silver foliage.

Woody perennial with deep violet-blue flowers.

A loose, spreading, aromatic, woody perennial, forming a loose mound, covered with slender purple flowers.

Woody perennial from Brazil. Tall spikes of densely packed orange-red flowers from late summer.

The name says it all! Aromatic pineapple scented leaves and slender, bright scarlet flowers from late summer.

Tender perennial often grown as an annual. Tight clusters of deep violet-blue flowers on slender, dark purple stems.

Large basal mid-green leaves and stout, branching stems bearing violet flowers with white tubes, and marked white on the lower lip.

Half hardy perennial producing spikes of glowing red flowers each with the lower lip covered in velvet-like hairs.

Vigorous, tender perennial. Large scarlet flowers covered in soft hairs produced over a long period. Winter-flowering if grown indoors.

Woody perennial with small, green, fragrant leaves and soft-orange flowers in summer.

Small, evergreen shrub forming a loose mound of glossy, dark green foliage and bright purple flowers.

Half hardy perennial. Tall, branching stems bearing large heads of deepest blue flowers with black calyces.

Hardy perennial from the Himalayas. Branching stems of large, wrinkled, dark green leaves and purple-blue flowers.

Clusters of large, bright cerise flowers on tall, open stems. Deeply veined, dark green leaves.

Woody perennial. White flowers, conspicuously and randomly marked with red on the lower petals.

Woody perennial. Creamy-yellow flowers flushed with pinkish-beige.

Evergreen, woody, aromatic perennial, producing glowing ruby-red flowers combined with dark green foliage.

Woody, evergreen perennial. Small, glossy, dark green, aromatic leaves and slender white flowers with a faint blush of pink.

Woody evergreen perennial. Masses of lilac-pink flowers over a long period and glossy, dark green, aromatic foliage.

Low-growing perennial. Racemes of lilac-coloured flowers from early summer. Deeply cut, hairy, grey-green leaves.

A rarely-seen species from Ecuador, producing congested heads of ruby-red flowers from late winter.

A North American native grown mainly for its dark green leaves heavily marked with maroon along the veins. Violet-blue flowers on maroon stems.

A variety of S. Lyrata, in which the entire leaf is coloured deepest maroon. Whorls of flowers in shades of pink to purple.

Vigorous, woody perennial. Bright red flowers borne over a long period from midsummer.

Slightly hardier variety, with broader, cerise-pink flowers and larger, more rounded leaves.

Aromatic, woody perennial with slender, very deep red flowers and blue-black tinged sepals.

Woody perennial from South Africa. Masses of tiny, pale blue flowers throughout summer. Small, strongly aromatic, bright green, pinnatifid leaves.

An evergreen sage with grey-green leaves broadly edged with cream and flushed pink.

Perennial ‘Meadow clary’. Coarse, mid-green leaves and violet-blue flowers.

Half hardy perennial from South Africa, producing flowers in shades of blue and white.

Stout, branching stems bearing white or pale pink flowers flushed lilac, with prominent bracts and large, coarse, grey-green leaves.

Clump-forming perennial producing dense racemes of pinkish-violet flowers from early summer.

Herbaceous perennial producing whorls of deep violet flowers from early summer to autumn.

Tall, moisture-loving perennial from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, producing slender, branching stems of lance-shaped, toothed, mid-green leaves, and in late summer and autumn whorls of sky-blue flowers.

Clump-forming, herbaceous perennial, forming dense clumps of coarse, dark green basal leaves, and stems bearing whorled, violet-blue flowers.

Whorls of purple flowers on tall, branching stems, rising from a basal rosette of dark green leaves.

Masses of small reddish-pink flowers on slender stems, above a basal mound of coarse, greyish-green leaves.

Rhizomatous perennial. Spikes of deep maroon flowers on slender stems produced from late spring. Blue-green, serrated basal leaves.

Mat-forming perennial. Masses of carmine red flowers above a cushion of mid-green foliage.

Neat, mound-forming, evergreen perennial with glossy, spoon shaped, scalloped leaves and small mauve pincushion-like flowers on short stems.

Vigorous, clump-forming perennial ‘Kaffir lily’ from South Africa. Glowing, open cup-shaped red flowers.

Clump-forming perennial. Spikes of purple-blue, tubular flowers with white lower lips.

Herbaceous perennial, with toothed, mid-green, fleshy leaves on thick, densely-packed stems. Domed clusters of star-shaped, bright-yellow flowers.

Clump-forming, deciduous perennial. Flat corymbs of deep pink, star-shaped flowers from early autumn. Dark blue-green, fleshy foliage.

Large domed heads of deep red flowers from late summer. Fleshy, purple-tinged, mid-green foliage.

Low-growing perennial. Fleshy, toothed, purple-green leaves. Clusters of ruby-red flowers.

Fleshy, pale green leaves and large, domed clusters of small pink flowers. An excellent food plant for butterflies and bees.

Small, fleshy, mid-green leaves, tinged pink and domed heads of star-shaped pink flowers.

Clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial. Clusters of pink, star-shaped flowers above fleshy, dark bronze, glossy foliage.

Perennial succulent from South Africa. Erect, segmented fleshy stems, sprout crowns of blue-green fleshy leaves from the top, followed by small, yellow, daisy-like flowerheads.

Semi-evergreen, clump-forming, perennial ‘Red campion’. Branching stems bearing open, rounded, pink flowers from late spring.

Clump-forming, herbaceous perennial. Finely-fringed, white flowers with prominent large green calyces. Bright green foliage.

Evergreen perennial. Bright yellow, upward-facing, star-shaped flowers and short tufts of slender, iris-like foliage.

Creamy-white, star-shaped flowers with purple centres and tiny yellow eyes.

Evergreen perennial with deep blue, upward-facing, star-shaped flowers. Slender, iris-like foliage.

Long-flowering perennial producing horizontal, yellow saucer-shaped flowers on flat, branching stems.

Taller, border variety with grey-green, strap-like foliage and creamy-yellow flowers in tight clusters around stiff stems.

Evergreen shrub. Very fragrant, domed or conical heads of creamish-white flowers borne in early spring. Glossy, leathery, dark green leaves. 

A scrambling evergreen climber from Peru and Chile. Clusters of purple-blue flowers in summer followed by orange, ovoid fruit.

A vigorous, evergreen shrub from Australia and New Zealand. Large purple-blue flowers up to 2 inches (5cm) across, followed by ovoid, orange fruit.

A scrambling evergreen or semi-evergreen climber from Brazil. Pure white flowers from late summer into winter.

Evergreen, bushy climber from Western Australia. Small, bell-shaped, sky-blue flowers followed by cylindrical fruit.

Tall grass with arching green leaves striped with creamish-yellow. Panicles of green spikelets with purple anthers in late summer.

Upright shrub. Slender, dark green leaves and from early summer, golden yellow, fragrant, pea-like flowers.

Clump-forming, deciduous shrub. Bronze-red young leaves turn bright yellow, then later to green. Rounded corymbs of dusky-pink flowers borne from midsummer.

Mat-forming perennial ‘Lambs’ ears’. Bright magenta-pink flowers borne on woolly stems from early summer. Basal rosettes of soft, woolly, silver-grey, leaves.

Erect perennial bearing dense spikes of hooded, pinkish-purple flowers from early summer.

Evergreen ‘Giant feather grass’. Strong stems and graceful, open, oat-like, spikelets of purple-green, ripening to golden-beige and lasting into winter.

Fine, light green foliage with masses of flower panicles turning beige in winter.

A hardy perennial from northern India. Dense spikes of tubular, purple flowers in summer. Suitable for sun or light shade.

Perennial from Central and Eastern China for a cool shady position. Golden-yellow, poppy-like flowers followed by long, slender, green seed pods. Unusual, toothed, pinnatisect leaves with a large terminal segment. 

A shorter variety of comfrey with loose cymes of pink tipped buds opening to cream coloured flowers.

Clump-forming, herbaceous perennial. Larger daisy-like flowers in shades of red or pink, with a yellow central disc-floret.

Crowded spikes of deep purplish-red flowers. Dark green foliage.

Evergreen, dwarf subshrub. Masses of small, rose-pink flowers. Small, glossy, dark green, leaves. 

Domed heads of small, pink or white flowers. Blue-green, aquilegia-like foliage. Perennial.

Panicles of small, pale yellow flowers. Blue-green, much divided leaves. Perennial.

Panicles of small, greenish-yellow flowers on much branching stems. Glossy, fern-like leaves.

Vigorous, rhizomatous perennial ‘Carolina lupin’. Clusters of downy, yellow, pea-like flowers borne from late spring. Mid-green leaves are silky hairy on the undersides.

Discovered in our own garden, and identified as a new variety in the Coccineus Group, during an RHS survey of this genus. A low-growing form producing tightly-packed deep magenta-flowers on a cushion of dark green aromatic foliage.

Half hardy perennial. Densely-packed, violet flowers on dome-shaped corymbs.

Deciduous perennial grown mainly for its striking pink, white and green variegated foliage.

Deciduous perennial. Deep violet-blue, triangular flowers. Slender, pointed, fleshy, mid-green foliage.

Rhizomatous perennial from Japan. White, waxy-looking star-shaped flowers, heavily spotted with reddish-purple are produced from late summer.

Clump-forming perennial. Bowl-shaped, golden yellow flowers in midsummer.

Multi-flowering, dwarf tulip. Dark reddish-pink flowers with blue centres ringed dusky pink.

Multiple heads of bright orange-red flowers.

Evergreen twining subshrub from Brazil and Uruguay. Five-petalled, sky-blue flowers from summer, followed by attractive, long seed pods.

A rarely-seen perennial from the Mediterranean. Clumps of basal leaves and pale yellow, daisy-like flowerheads.

Spikes of white flowers, flushed with pink. Basal rosette of dark green, glossy, crinkled leaves.

Tall spikes tightly packed with white flowers, each with purple-pink eyes.

Spikes of large, scented, primrose-yellow flowers with purple filament hairs.

Dark purple flowered, shorter variety. Self-seeds freely and has a tendency to cross with other verbascum grown nearby, producing some interesting seedlings.

Early-flowering half hardy perennial with a trailing habit. Dense heads of purple flowers throughout summer and fine, deeply cut foliage. Often grown as an annual.

Tall perennial variety with stiff, open, branching, dark green stems bearing many dome-shaped clusters of small purple flowers.

Upright perennial from North America. A more bushy plant than V. Bonariensis and bearing terminal clusters of many long spikes of purple flowers.

Tall, herbaceous perennial from North America. Large, flat heads of purple, aster-like flowers borne from late summer. Slender, dark green foliage.

Low-growing, scrambling perennial. Masses of cascading, deep blue flowers and dark green foliage.

Vigorous evergreen shrub from Chile. Glossy dark green foliage, and in spring, clusters of pendent, pale yellow, fuchsia-like flowers in abundance.

‘Greater periwinkle’. Evergreen perennial. Long, arching shoots, bearing creamy-yellow margined, glossy green leaves and violet-blue flowers.

Evergreen perennial. A shorter variety with burgundy coloured flowers and dark green foliage.

Spreading perennial with purple flowers and deep purple-green leaves.

Clump-forming perennial. White flowers, sometimes flushed with pale pinkish-blue and speckled violet-blue.

Deciduous shrub. Clusters of deep red, trumpet-shaped flowers.

Deciduous shrub. Clusters of pale pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. Boldly marked, creamy-yellow variegated foliage. 

Deciduous shrub. Large clusters of pink and white, trumpet-shaped flowers on long, arching stems.

Woody shrub. Bold, sword-shaped, blue-green leaves edged with yellow. Large panicles of ivory-white, pendent flowers on stout stems.