Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Atriplex hortensis var. rubra

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 5′.  Red Mountain Orach.  Asia, Central and South Europe, North America.  An ornamental Orach with glowing, blood red to purplish foliage.  We love the striking, lance-shaped foliage almost anywhere in the garden.  Tall, dense racemes of red-purple flowers are followed by decorative, terminal clusters of buff-coloured seeds that are wonderful too.  Gently self-sows.  Sun.  Best sown in situ or 3 & T2.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Bupleurum rotundifolium

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 18″. A carefree border plant. The Euphorbia-like flower is neon yellow surrounded by green bracts. Glaucous foliage is similar to that of Eucalyptus. Self-sower. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Crepis rubra

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 18″. Cretian Hawk’s Beard. We love this annual. Rosettes of toothed, pale green leaves with delicate flower stalks. Dandelion-esque heads one inch across are pale pink with darker centres. Adorable. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cuphea viscosissima

Family: (Lythraceae)

(A) to 20″. Blue Waxweed. A North American native and one of our most revered annuals. This non-stop summer bloomer has six deep, magenta-purple petals with the upper two being the longest and a tubular green calyx covered in fine purple hairs. An easy-care annual that requires no deadheading or staking. Very sticky stems trap unsuspecting insects. Self-sows. Sun. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum amabile ‘Firmament’

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Chinese Forget-me-not.  Producing all summer long a profusion of sky-blue, five-petalled flowers.  Reminiscent of the Forget-me-not, only taller.  Self-sows.  Sun.  3, D & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum amabile ‘Mystery Rose’

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 2.5′. We love this plant. This wonderful selection is smothered in dusty pink blossoms. A joy in the border. Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum officinale

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(B) to 3′.  Hound’s Tongue.  Europe.  Greyish green, silky foliage remains basal the first year.  Branched, one-sided cymes are covered with delicate, bell-shaped blooms of a dark, muted reddish purple.  Traditionally used to treat leg ulcers, bites, and minor injuries.  This herb can be now found naturalized around older settlements.  Sun.  Well-drained soil.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum wallichii

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 3.5′. Central and South Asia. Small, cerulean blue flowers bloom on long, terminal, scorpioid cymes. Leaves are elliptic, glaucous, and ribbed. The seed nutlets form a tenacious burr. Unique and architectural. Sun. 3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Emilia coccinea

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 3′.  We love this selection of Tassel Flower.  A native of Tropical Africa that produces a profusion of orange to scarlet, thistle-like flowers in terminal corymbs.  Best if inter-planted or grown closely together.  A real beauty in our Red/Orange/Yellow Bed.  Sun.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Euphorbia lathyris

Family: (Euphorbiaceae)

(B) to 3.5′. Caper Spurge or Mole Plant. Mediterranean. Upright, unbranched, red stems thickly covered with stiff, glaucous, blue-green leaves. In the second year it produces a fantastic, branching inflorescence of vivid chartreuse-green blooms with enormous horned, green bracts, followed by spongy, grey-brown seed capsules. Reputed to keep moles at bay. Self-sows. Sun. 3 & T2