Dichorisandra pendula

I don't normally do houseplants but I'm making an exception for this lovely species from Brazil, which is still rare in the trade but easy to grow with ordinary home temperatures, moderate to bright light and the compost kept evenly moist. Humidity doesn't seem to be an issue.

It has an exceptionally elegant graceful habit - somewhat like a willowy ginger, and produces lavender blue flowers all summer. Like most commelinaceae (Tradescantia etc) the individual flowers only last a day but are produced continuously throughout the growing season. The foliage is deep glossy green.

A lovely thing - every home should have one. Incredibly slow to produce however, hence the price.

In production

Persicaria filiformis Guizhou Bronze PAB 9127

A rather gorgeous form of the species with less conspicuous black markings than normal filiformis but the leaves have a wonderful rich brassy tint and the whole plant is more luxuriant. 

Adaptable but best in moist rich soils in semi shade.
£8

Plectranthus, Isodon, Rabdosia and so forth

Despite the indecision over the names, a splendid, if understated group of hardy late flowering perennials - adaptable but at their best in moist semi shade.

Plectranthus excisus

A succession of violet labiate flowers in long slanting racemes in late summer and autumn. The foliage is unusual in shape with dark purple tints. 

Very adaptable and fully hardy here

£8

sold out for now

Rabdosia longitubus

Clear blue flowers over a long period from late summer onwards. The flowers really glow in the low autumn light like tiny gas flames. Any soil in sun or semi shade. Easy but may not emerge until May or June.

£8

Iris lazica

A deservedly popular winter-flowering species related to unguicularis but happiest in woodland conditions. 

Flowering sometimes as early as November but usually in February/March. Low-growing with violet flowers over broad fresh evergreen foliage.

£8

Digitalis obscura

A very distinct small, almost shrubby species from Spain with 8-10in spikes of brownish orange glossy flowers over narrow evergreen leaves. 

Quite charming and generally hardy in the southern portion of the UK, especially in drier areas but worthy of a special place in a sunny raised bed or container.

sold out for now

Cardiocrinum cordatum red flowered form

Actually I’d describe the flowers of this form as a deep chocolate brown, with paler edges. Otherwise typical of the species – the bulbs take a few years to get big enough to flower – during which time it produces rosettes of glossy arum-like leaves. Then, one spring it’ll produce a 12in stem with several 6in long flowers. 

Mine have taken 6 years to start flowering from seed. Some should flower next year while others have flowered and will be making several off-sets, ready to flower in a few years time. Best in moist woodland conditions but surprisingly tolerant of recent dry summers here.

£15