Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis jalapa White

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(TP) to 2.5’. Four o’Clock, Marvel of Peru. Gardeners delight at the time-conscious way these flowers open at 4 p.m. Delicate trumpets of mottled white rest in calyx-like fused bracts, above fresh green, ovate leaves. Later, one can discover the black, artichoke-shaped seeds resting in place of the blooms. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nicandra physalodes ‘Black Pod’

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 4′. Shoo-fly Plant, Apple of Peru. A sturdy, free-flowering, wide-spreading annual with pale blue, bell-shaped flowers with a white central ring and a deep purple, five-pointed star at the very centre. Blooms throughout the summer. Decorative, papery, five-winged, green with black pods are great for drying. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nicotiana sylvestris

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 6′. Flowering Tobacco. This tobacco plant adds boldness to the flower border. Slender, pendulous, scented trumpets make this another indispensable Nicotiana. The heavenly evening fragrance invites you back into the garden. Self-sows. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Onopordum acanthium

Family: (Asteraceae)

(B) to 6′. Scotch Thistle. A very stately, very prickly, and very beautiful plant. Cobweb-like hairs cover broad, silver-grey, deeply lobed, spiny leaves. Light purple thistles are held upright in a tight crown. Self-sows. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Papaver somniferum Mix

Family: (Papaveraceae)

(A) to 3.5′.  Southeast Europe, West Asia.  We are lucky to have a number of showy variants of the classic Opium Poppy that self-sow each year in the Flower Garden.  Stems and leaves are a glaucous, greyish-green and sparsely covered with coarse hairs.  Jaggedly incised and toothed leaves clasp the upright stems at the base.  Tissue paper-like flowers are typically four-petalled, but often double, vary widely in colour and can have dark makings at the petal bases.   Flower centres feature many attractive stamens arranged in multiple whorls.  The beautiful and persistent fruits are hairless, rounded, many-seeded capsules opening by pores just below the apex.  Whilst we cannot promise specific colours, we can assure you great satisfaction in establishing these self sowers in your full sun garden.  Best sown in situ upon receipt.

This year’s colours include: 

Lavender, Magenta, Orange, Pink, Peach, Purple and Red. 

 

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Perilla frutescens Green Leaf

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 4′.  Shiso.  Himalayas to East Asia.  A selection of superb, iridescent foliage plants.  Try one, or all of them in the flower border.  Easy to move around the garden to “fill in” when you need a good block of colour.  Self-sows.  Sun.  Best sown in situ or 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Persicaria orientalis (syn. Polygonum orientale)

Family: (Polygonaceae)

(A) to 7′. Kiss-Me-Over-The-Garden-Gate. Southeastern Asia and Australia. A spectacular, old-fashioned cottage garden favourite with lush, heart-shaped leaves and fast growing, stout, branching stems bearing in late summer flamboyant, arching, three to four inches long, pendulous, crimson-pink flower clusters. Makes an excellent cut flower too. Self-sows. Prefers moist, rich soil. Flowers from midsummer until frost. Direct sow or 3 & 7 for 3 weeks then T2.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Reseda luteola

Family: (Resedaceae)

(A/B) to 5’. Dyer’s Rocket. Long, meandering, slender spikes of small, yellowish flowers top narrow, lance-shaped leaves. A dyer’s plant yielding flavone, used to colour textiles yellow. Long blooming and self-sows. We just love it. Sun. 4 & T2. Best in situ.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’

Family: (Euphorbiaceae)

(A) to 10′.  Castor Oil Plant.  Although the common name tells of one of childhood’s most unpleasant associations, this plant’s best incarnation is in the large border.  New foliage is a lustrous, dark bronzy red maturing to huge one to three feet long lobed leaves of dark, glossy blue-green with prominent pink veins.  Striking, dense inflorescences of up to 15-inches are comprised of small male flowers with creamy yellow stamens that are held below terminal female flowers which have three conspicuous, bright red, star-shaped stigma lobes. The small spiny ovary of the female flowers develop into a golf-ball sized fruit after pollination.  Each spherical seed capsule is thickly covered with soft, flexible spines.  Sun.  SEED IS POISONOUS.  2B & 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Silene armeria

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(A) to 8″.  Sweet William Catchfly.  Europe.  Grey-green, glaucous leaves and loose clusters of tubular, bright rose-pink flowers with five notched petals.  Flowers profusely July through August.  A cheerful and easy self-sower.  An old fashioned beauty that is a mainstay in grandmother’s garden.  Sun.  3 & T2