Shire Plants Blog

Interesting Mints

4th Dec 2024

After Eight Chocolate Mint, anyone?"The savor or smell of the Mint rejoyceth the heart of man, for which cause they use it to strew in chambers and places of recreation, pleasure and repose, and where … read more

Autumn Plant Sale

10th Nov 2024

The Shire Plants Autumn plant sale is now on! There's still time to plant hardy perennials to get established before winter. Autumn is the traditional time for planting, because they establish (r … read more

Asiatic Drumstick Primula

3rd Nov 2024

These Asiatic Primulas give great value. They flower for much of the summer and into autumn, if it stays mild like this year, sending up tall 'drumsticks' of purple-blue flowers above neat clumps of f … read more

Hardy Chrysanthemum 'Bretforton Road'

23rd Oct 2024

Hardy Chrysanthemum 'Bretforton Road' has been grown for generations in gardens in Worcestershire and proved its worth. It's flowering now and looks wonderful.Tough and strong growing, it doesn't requ … read more

Sweet Violets

18th Oct 2024

This is Sweet Violet, 'Bournemouth Gem'. In the early 1800s, there was a successful trade in sweet violet posies and this variety is one of many which were bred at that time, valued for its … read more

Hardy Geraniums

2nd Oct 2024

Hardy geraniums are reliable, long-flowering, easy-to-grow plants. They are commonly known as cranesbill geraniums, cranesbills or true geraniums and have been grown in British gardens for hundreds … read more

Cyclamen

26th Sep 2024

We have some lovely Cyclamen in flower now. These are Cyclamen hederifolium, which are the easiest and most reliable garden Cyclamen, are available in white or pink and have the added benefi … read more

Old Fashioned Pinks

19th Sep 2024

Old fashioned pinks, cottage pinks, old world pinks, garden pinks. All common names for Dianthus. The Greeks called the Pink, 'The Flower of Zeus' or 'The Divine Flower' and the word Dianthus is … read more

Root Cuttings

13th Sep 2024

We grow most of the plants we sell ourselves and one way we produce new plants is by taking root cuttings. Pictured are Symphytum roots, taken today. With luck these will each turn into a small plan … read more

Get planting now! Autumn is the perfect time.

4th Sep 2024

We are often asked when the best time to plant is, or whether our plants can be planted in autumn.Our plants are all pot-grown and they can be planted at any time of the year, but autumn is the trad … read more

Dianthus 'Letitia Wyatt'

3rd Sep 2024

Dianthus 'Letitia Wyatt' is a double pink Dianthus with a lovely clove scent. Its tall, strong stems make excellent cut flowers. Unlike some 'Pinks', this is a strong grower and has been awarded th … read more

Chinese Blackberry lily

2nd Aug 2024

Known variously as Chinese Blackberry lily, Chinese leopard flower and Dwarf tiger lily, Belamcanda chinensis flowers for weeks on end. Distinctive leopard-coloured flowers are held on tall … read more

Balloon Flower

2nd Aug 2024

Platycodon is known as the Balloon Flower due to the large flower buds, which resemble hot-air balloons. Available in blue or white, these hardy perennials flower for much of the summer and are i … read more

Blue Fumewort

11th Jul 2024

This stunning new Fumewort has electric blue flowers and attractive grey-blue foliage. A really eye-catching plant which is not at all fussy and is easy to grow and scented flowers over a long period. … read more

Geranium 'Sirak'

24th Jun 2024

Geranium 'Sirak' is new to us this year and it has already become a favourite. Like many of the Hardy Geraniums we sell, it grows pretty much anywhere and has a long flowering period, from June to … read more

Newts

15th Jun 2024

This is one reason why we don't use chemicals on our plants. This little chap was waiting to surprise me as I was moving plants this morning.... … read more

​Purple Four-Leaved Clover

23rd May 2024

Grow Purple Four-Leaved Clover and be forever lucky. Perhaps! The leaves are edged with fresh green and white flowers emerge from May to September.Easy to grow and suitable for use in summer … read more

Beautiful Camassias

13th May 2024

We really love these Wild Hyacinth which are in flower now. This hardy plant comes back year after year and will gently spread. Bees love the flowers and they're largely untroubled by slugs and s … read more

Granny's Bonnets

10th May 2024

Aquilegias have been cultivated in Britain since the 13th century and are one of the most traditional cottage garden plants. Their many common names include Columbine, Granny's Bonnets, Doves in the A … read more

​Night-flowering Catchfly

19th Apr 2024

Night-flowering Catchfly is an interesting and unusal native plant which is rarely seen. As night falls the flowers of the night-flowering catchfly open and release a strong fragrance which attracts n … read more