Plant Advice Blog

For almost two centuries these beautiful plants have been known as tree peonies – a term that is technically incorrect. Despite producing woody, perennial stems, they are actually shrubs not trees. 

Very upright yet self-supporting, these handsome plants add grace to a border with pointed flower spikes opening in a candalabra formation above whorls of long, pointed leaves. They are wonderful f...

(Bear's Breeches) Despite being a bit of thug, these stately plants add a touch of grandness to a border. Both varieties produce white flowers with two floppy lips that shelter under a shell-like p...

(Yarrow) These colourful plants are incredibly useful for growing in borders with other perennials. They add a horizontal accent to the who layout of the border, breaking what might otherwise be a ...

Aster plants are bee friendly plants that are a must for the autumn border. In recent years, some Latin names of these colourful late summer and autumn blooming hardy perennials have changed to inc...

Among the loveliest border perennials, the distinctive, papery flowers of this pollinator friendly plant look like small pin cushions. Astrantia are great for spots in the border that become shady,...

(Elephant's ears) Mention to a gardener that you like Bergenia and you get a long, confused stare as though to say ‘what those boring things!’ But I really do like and respect these robust, immense...

There are lots of types of Campanulas, all of which provide the border with a flowery, cottage feel. The other name for this variable bunch is Bellflower for the obvious reason as the flowers are b...

These free-flowering, clump-forming plants can be divided into two groups: tall and upright with large, knob-like flowers or short and mounding with flat, wheel-like flowers.

These stalwarts of the grand herbaceous border offer structure and well-defined height. Although there are many named varieties, most are expensive and difficult to obtain.

Put Echinacea (Coneflower) into Google; and the few first pages list the plant's medical properties. But there is more to an Echinacea than a pill or powder.

Echinops, or Globe Thistles, are one of those plants that you either know or you don’t. Popular with gardeners who have space and big, deep herbaceous borders, they tend to be ignored by those who ...