Shire Plants Blog

Viola sororia 'Freckles'

26th Mar 2021

Love this violet. It does just what it says on the tin. This one is in the pollytunnel so it's flowering early but the sororia violets usually flower after our native dog/wood violets, so they ar … read more

Primula 'Gold Lace'

22nd Mar 2021

Primula 'Gold Lace' was introduced by the Victorians and was much prized by gardeners in those times. Much prized by us now, it's a lovely spring flower. We have plants available and about to flower n … read more

Perennial Wallflowers

12th Mar 2021

Now is a good time to plant perennial wallflowers (Erysimum) for a good display of flowers this year and for several years to come. There is a lot of history associated with these plants. In the … read more

Viola odorata 'Princess Diana'

11th Mar 2021

This is Viola odorata 'Princess Diana' which is flowering in the polytunnel now. She has a gorgeous scent when the sun is on her.

New (to us) celandine

27th Feb 2021

Really like this unusual lesser celandine which we've grown for the first time this year. Lovely green petals with light streaks of lemon. Only available in small numbers this year but we should have … read more

Supporting Key Workers

10th Feb 2021

During this difficult time we are pleased to have teamed up with Blue Light Card, the discount service for the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces. If you are a key worke … read more

Dragon bites?

6th Feb 2021

Have you suffered from a dragon bite? If so, you may like to know that French Tarragon (Artemesia dracunculus) is alleged to have the power to heal their bites. On a more mundane level, it was tr … read more

Primroses

3rd Feb 2021

Primroses are a quintessential sign of spring and the word means 'prime rose', or the first rose of spring. The flower has long been linked to faeries and it was believed that growing both red and … read more

New life

30th Jan 2021

It doesn't matter how many thousands of seeds I sow, lifting a seed tray cloche and seeing the first shoots pushing out through the soil never fails to excite me.... possibly I should get out more?&nb … read more

Woad

27th Jan 2021

Woad has been an important plant for much of our history. Archaeologists have discovered the seeds in Iron Age pits in Lincolnshire and elsewhere but it's thought that it has been used since even e … read more

Bonking Grass

22nd Jan 2021

Regular readers will know that I am fascinated by the many and varied common names of plants and the stories and myths that surround them. One of the plants we sell, Selliera radicans, is known col … read more

Quaking Grass

21st Jan 2021

Quaking Grass is a British native grass which is sadly less common than it once was. It is found across the country and, like most native plants, it has different 'common' names in different areas.For … read more

Lady's Bedstraw

20th Jan 2021

This is Galium verum, a native wildflower found in meadows and along roadsides. As ever with native plants it has many wonderful common names, including Lady's Bedstraw, Gold Dust, Robin Run the Hedge … read more

Dispatching orders as usual

18th Jan 2021

Happy New Year to all our customers. We continue to dispatch orders as usual, with our couriers collecting from us and delivering to you in a contactless manner. We send plants out all year around, wi … read more

Know anyone with an overgrown garden?

13th Dec 2020

We have been contacted by a production company who are producing a new gardening show for Channel 5 and they have asked us to share this information. It may be useful for a neighbour or relative whose … read more

Early Violets

24th Nov 2020

This is one of the earliest violets to flower. Hence its name: Viola Christmas. 

Slug Acrobatics

13th Nov 2020

This slug is hanging from the polytunnel roof by an approx 4' long 'string' of its own slime. I'm told it's a mating ritual, although this guy has been left hangin' by the lady slugs.

Rainbows

2nd Nov 2020

This superb double rainbow was visible from the nursery this afternoon. Very windy but sunny between the showers!

Gift Vouchers

30th Oct 2020

Stuck for a gift idea? We have improved our gift voucher service and you can now order gift vouchers via our website and they can be emailed to you or directly to your recipient. You can add a message … read more

Autumn is here

20th Oct 2020

The clocks go back this weekend and this usually signals the start of autumn proper in our neck of the woods. Leaves are already turning wonderful colours and falling in large numbers at every brea … read more