Flower Delivery UK 

The Florists Garden

Perennials for all Seasons

Perennials are non-woody plants that live for several years, they may be herbaceous,
 in which case they die down every year in winter, or they can be evergreen. 
The perennials which contribute contribute to a garden for all seasons are evergreen
or those which keep their leaves for a greater part of the year.

Ajuga repens - A partially evergreen mat of foliage makes this a great groundcover plant. 
It late spring it starts with deep blue flower spikes.  There are several forms with
'Burgundy Glow' being the brightest with its leaves splashed and stippled with cream,
pink, purple and green. 'Variegata' is more subdued but is still a nice show with
cream-tinged leaves while 'Purpurea' makes a vigorous mat of deep purple-bronze foliage.

Alchemilla mollis - Lady's Mantle - an absolute must for the florist.  It is 18 inches tall
 and looks good between April all the way through to November.  After a light summer
 shower or in the early morning dew the broad seven-lobed leaves of alchemilla
seem to be decked in pearls - just one of the charming charcteristics of a plant
whose free-seeding habit can be put to good use on borders or on terraces and patios. 
Sprays of lime green flowers in intricately branched heads appear in early summer and
last for weeks.  The handsome foliage of Alchemilla goes well with just about anything.
 On a patio or terrace plant lady's mantle to allow it to spread among the paving.
 The delicate flower stems are wonderful in bouquets and flower arrangement as the 'fluff'
they provide fill spaces and provide a great background to highlight feature flowers.

Arum italicum - Foliage of bright green, spear shaped leaves, strongly veined in cream
arrives in the autumn and remains throughout the winter and spring.  Then the creamy
 hood-like spathes, up to 1 ft. long with their upright spikes appear,
similar to 'Lords and Ladies' that appear naturally in woodlands.  They are followed by
scarlet berries in the autumn.  Sadly the appearance of the berries is short-lived
 as they are soon munched by hungry birds.  This plant ids great in borders
and the amazing variegated leaves will add great interest to any flower arrangement or posy.

Bergenia - This is truly good all year around.  An excellent groundcover Bergenia
has large leaves, crinkled at the edges and these contrast well with spiky or feathery foliage. 
Its large clusters of white and pink bell shaped flowers appear in March until June with
their reddish stems rising a foot or more above the leaves.  Autumn gradually turns the
large leaves to a glorious red colour.

Carex elata - Golden Sedge - Golden arching leaves striped with subtle shades of lime
green make this sedge  perfect for highlighting a border or an informal part of the garden.
The lovely ling grasses look super in a tall vase creating a simple elegant composition with say
 longiflorum lilies. In the early summer the gold stripe is intense taking on greener tones
as the year advances.  The Carex is useful in the garden to provide a golden-green
backdrop to other flowering plants.

Cortaderia selloana - the Pampas Grass - no large garden should be without the
 giant pampas. Its 8 foot height refers to its joyous feathered plumes that rear
up from the fountain of harsh spiky leaves whose tips curve elegantly back to the ground.
  The plumes appear in autumn and can be cut and brought into the house. 
When the heads have dried out it is best to give them a good covering of hairspray and this
will help reduce the plumes from dropping onto your best carpet!

Euphorbia characias - one of my favourite green flowers. Growing to a height of 4 feet,
 in mid-winter the bright green petal-like leaf bracts of this delightful plant appear
and open to reveal tiny brown flowers at their heart. In tightly clustered columns
at the head of tall stems they contrast handsomely with whorls of light green leaves.
 A variety which must also be included in your florists garden is E.characias 'wulfenii'
has broader spikes of yellow green flowers with citrus yellow centres. Both put on a good
display in winter, its long flowering season makes them a fine plant for spring and summer.

Helleborus angustifolius - even more lovely than Euphorbia, Helleborus is smaller
growing to about 2 feet.  Sprays of apple-green flowers up to 2 inches across burst
 forth from the Corsican hellebore's clusters of buds in mid winter.  The delicate shades are
nicely matches by the foliage which will now have aged into a luscious deep green. 
The variety H. atrorubens produce deeply bronzed foliage in the autumn and plum purple
flowers whilst H. lividus is one of the most beautiful Hellebores with grey marbled foliage of
deepest green, reddish stems and sprays of green flowers and a wonderful scent.
Helleborus niger is known as the 'Christmas Rose' and produces white flowers
whilst H. orientalis can be found in shades of crimson, white and pink.

Iris unguicularis - this iris produces lovely winter blooms around 3 inches across and dark
green blade of leaves all year around.  After a good hot summer, flowering can start as early
as November and can continue until March, but after a poor summer others may
not flower until February.

Phormium tenax - the New Zealand Flax growing to up to 10 feet really does
need some space! Its bold grey green foliage stands erect, like sword blades at a length
 of 5 feet with summer flower spikes towering above bearing 2 inch long dull red flowers.
 Later the fruits develop as conspicuous pods that range in colour from
 copper to green. P. 'Variegatum' has green and yellow striped leaves,
 P. 'Purpurea' has reddish-purple pods and foliage. P.cookianum is more compact
 with creamy leaves displaying a green stripe.

Pulmonaria angustifolia - the narrow leaved lungwort is only 9 inches tall. 
Its sprays of purple-blue bell shaped flowers have gem like quality against its dark foliage.
 Narrow leaves, brushed with down beneath develop into a luscious ground cover
 long after the flowers have gone.  Plant this along with your tulips and daffodils
 and they will flower together but the  Pulmonaria will give you a foliage display long after
the spring bulbs have died back. P.saccharata has broad silver-blotched leaves
and create a fine foil for the masses of flowers that appear in early spring, and are virtually evergreen.
 The flowers open pink and change to sky-blue before they fade.

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