Plant Library

A compact, neatly rounded perennial flowering steadily from mid-summer into autumn with pale mauve-blue flowers. The aromatic foliage releases a mint-like scent when handled, while the plant itself remains well-behaved, neither running nor self-seeding. Particularly effective at the front of the border or planted in groups, where its long season and calm structure carry plantings through late summer.

A white-flowered form of calamint with a slightly looser, more open habit than the species. Flowering steadily from mid-summer into autumn, it maintains the same long season of bloom while tolerating a little shade. Light self-seeding can occur, but the plant remains easy to live with and effective at the front of the border or in mixed plantings.

A trailing bellflower producing small white flowers lightly flushed with blue from early summer into autumn. The flexible stems weave easily through neighbouring plants or spill over walls and edges, creating a soft, informal effect. Best used where its spreading habit can be accommodated and guided rather than constrained.

A herbaceous caryopteris valued for its late-summer blue flowers and upright habit. Caryopteris divaricata comes into flower as the season turns, adding colour and structure when earlier plantings are beginning to fade. Best grown in full sun with good drainage, it is cut back in spring as new growth emerges and integrates easily into mixed borders.

A tall, clump-forming centaurea with sturdy flowering stems held above finely divided foliage. Dark red, thistle-like flowers appear in early summer, emerging from neatly formed buds and giving the plant a strong vertical accent. Native to rocky slopes of the western Balkans, it is best suited to open, sunny sites with good drainage, where it remains contained rather than spreading.

A bushy, clump-forming centaurea with bright pink flowers held above grey-green foliage in late spring and early summer. When deadheaded promptly, ‘John Coutts’ produces a second flush later in the season, extending its presence well into late summer. Best grown in full sun on lean, well-drained soils, where its stems remain upright and the plant holds a tidy shape.

A clump-forming centaurea with narrow, dark green foliage and softly coloured flowers held on branched, upright stems. Pale yellow blooms emerge from honey-toned, papery bracts through summer, giving the plant a light, dry-garden character. Native to the Balkan steppes, it has proven reliable over many seasons and remains well contained, making it an easy choice for sunny borders.

A tall, airy centaurea with finely divided, grey-green foliage and soft pink, thistle-like flowers held on slender stems in early summer. ‘Major’ brings a light, open quality to borders, sitting comfortably among grasses and other perennials. Best grown in full sun with good drainage, where its relaxed habit reads as intentional rather than loose.