Soft Tones for Peonies

Alchemilla mollis, known as lady's mantle, is an indispensable perennial for anyone who wants to bring harmony and softness to the garden. Its home is the moister environments of mountain meadows and light forests, making it a very adaptable plant that will survive even severe frosts without problems in our climate. The 'Irish Silk' cultivar is prized for its vitality and abundant blooming, where clouds of tiny, yellow-green flowers float above clumps of gray-green leaves. It is precisely this neutral color that can work wonders in a flower bed – it softens overly sharp contrasts between other flowers and beautifully unifies the entire composition. Besides its ornamental function, lady's mantle also has practical uses. Thanks to its clumping growth and ability to quickly fill in, it is ideal for edging pathways or as an underplanting beneath taller shrubs and roses. Water droplets catch on its leaves, creating a magical spectacle in the garden. If you enjoy making bouquets, you will love lady's mantle as versatile filler greenery that matches almost anything. It will last beautiful for about ten days in a vase, and its inflorescences can also be easily dried without losing too much of their color or shape. Moreover, it is a magnet for pollinators, and its young leaves are even edible, so it also finds use in a natural kitchen.

Most daffodils have a bright orange or deep yellow center, but lately, more muted pastel colors have become increasingly popular. The Palmares daffodil is exactly the hit you've been looking for if you want something a little different. We explore every powdery, salmon, and apricot-colored daffodil we can get our hands on, and this cultivar absolutely charmed us. Although it is a simple daffodil, its center is made up of beautifully ruffled petals in a soft peach shade. Thanks to this detail, the entire flower has an unexpectedly rich appearance, softened by pure white outer petals. From the large bulbs you receive from us and plant directly into the soil, strong flowers will emerge in the spring. During April and May, these thirty to forty-centimeter-tall beauties will brighten up any sunny or semi-shaded spot in your garden. Palmares is a long-lived perennial and stands out in group plantings. In addition to its ornamental function outdoors, it is perfect for creating cut bouquets, to which it brings an elegant spring mood.

This species of sage originates from the steppe regions of Central and Eastern Europe. It forms abundantly flowering small clumps with straight upright stems. In beds, it looks best in groups. Traditionally, it is planted as a companion to roses due to the matching flowering time. However, it will look equally good in mixed drought-loving steppe plantings with grasses. It is an excellent food source for bees. It lasts 7 days in a vase. Schneehügel blooms white.

Cantabrigiense cranesbill Cambridge is an invaluable perennial that will reliably conjure up a dense and fragrant green carpet in the garden. It naturally originates from the crossing of mountain species coming from the Balkans and Southern Europe. Because of this, it is exceptionally tough and adaptable. It thrives best in full sun or partial shade, where it is perfectly happy with standard well-draining loamy soil. It is a low-maintenance plant that handles summer droughts and severe frosts wonderfully. From the received potted seedling, a compact cushion growing to a height of thirty centimeters will soon grow after transplanting. It will serve as a versatile groundcover perennial. From May to July, striking purple-pink flowers on upright stems emerge from the aromatic foliage. The garden will come alive thanks to them, as they reliably attract bees and butterflies. The flowers are also great for cutting into summer bouquets, where they beautifully complement other species. The Cambridge variety will also delight you with a beautiful autumn transformation. With the arrival of cold days, the green leaves change to impressive red tones. It does not suffer from pests or diseases, and caring for it is a joy even for beginners.

Catmints are ideal companions for roses, suitable for naturalistic gardens, and lower species also for boxes and pots. Some of them are an irresistible attraction for cats, caused by the hallucinogen nepetalactone. This should be present in the highest amount in the species Nepeta cataria. Conversely, lemon-scented catmints reportedly do not attract cats. The botanical name Nepeta likely comes from the name of the ancient Etruscan city Nepet - Nepi in the territory of today's Italian province of Viterbo, where the plant was once cultivated. Nepeta racemosa naturally grows on dry meadows and rocky, stony slopes from the Caucasus to Central Asia. It has aromatic grey-green leaves and forms a tufted semi-spherical bush. Walker’s Low got its name after an Irish estate where it was bred in 1970. It has the most intense blue-violet flower coloration.

The largest and most luxurious flower in the entire Tall Double Cornflower family. The blooms are full with plenty of tiny florets, appearing fluffy, like a feather.

Bred feverfew, the inflorescence consists only of tubular florets, i.e., a center without ray florets or petals. Lima is a commonly grown species in Holland and sells great at the flower exchange. It is therefore professional seed, but don't worry, we tested it and it can be grown both outdoors and in a polytunnel; both work perfectly. Lima has round-cut flowers with a yellowish dot in the center. The color is creamy white.

A large-flowered, white-blooming ornamental allium with a flower head diameter of about 12 centimeters. It blooms slightly later than similar purple-flowering species. It has sturdy stems, yet a location protected from the wind is better for it. Its leaves are fresh green in spring but begin to yellow during flowering. Therefore, we plant it in mixed beds with lush perennials.

Larkspur Benary’s Pacific Galahad is an unmissable classic and a true dominant feature among border perennials. Its wild ancestors originate from the mountain meadows and light forests of the Northern Hemisphere, so even in the garden, it will appreciate a sunny location and well-drained, yet nutrient-rich loamy and humous soil with plenty of moisture. You will receive a mature seedling in a pot from us, which just needs to be transplanted directly into the flowerbed, ideally at a spacing of sixty centimeters, so that it has enough clear space around it for growth. It belongs among plants for intermediate growers, because for its majestic growth to a height of one hundred to one hundred and fifty centimeters, it needs regular fertilizing and copious watering. It is also good to watch out for snails and slugs, which like to feast on its young leaves, and throughout the season to protect the plant from powdery mildew. Larkspur is fully frost-resistant and can handle temperatures dropping to minus thirty-four degrees without difficulty. The entire plant is poisonous, which is good to keep in mind when choosing its spot. You will often see it in the company of roses and peonies, where its pure white flowers form a perfect color contrast. It blooms first in June and, after being cut back in time, usually repeats blooming during August and September. The snow-white flowers reliably attract bees as well as other beneficial pollinators and are an excellent choice for cutting into vases. They will last about seven days in clean water, one just needs to pay attention to the proximity of ripening fruit, because the plant is very sensitive to the released ethylene and would fade faster. If you dry the flowers, they serve excellently for floristic purposes and will retain their shape and fresh color for a long time.

Graceful Beauty allium is a charming North American species that brings delicacy and lightness to garden beds at the turn of spring and summer. The individual inflorescences of this ornamental allium are composed of tiny, pure white florets adorned with striking pink stamens and delicate veining. The flowers grow on sturdy stems reaching a height of around fifty centimeters, and the plant emits a pleasant fragrance. During May and June, the fragrant white heads act as a magnet for bees and butterflies. In the garden, this allium complements lower perennials perfectly, which cleverly cover its green leaves, as they naturally die back and disappear during the summer. Our customers also often appreciate its versatility, as the flowers are absolutely ideal for cutting. They remain fresh in a vase for a long time and can also be beautifully dried for winter decorations. Furthermore, the entire plant is edible, so you can safely use the white-pink florets as an unconventional garnish for your favorite dishes.

Mountain garlic (or German garlic) is an undemanding yet very valuable allium for flower beds. Its leaves remain beautifully green throughout the season until well into winter. It sprouts early in spring, filling empty spaces in the beds with its foliage. This is followed in July and August by light purple flowers. It is suitable for rock gardens and container growing. And although its stems are not very long, it is also excellent for cutting.

Large-flowered catmint comes from the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, where it naturally grows in open meadows and pastures. It is a vigorously and uprightly growing clumping perennial that will bring a pleasant aromatic scent to the garden. It thrives best in full sun or light partial shade, in well-drained loamy-sandy soil. It is an absolutely undemanding plant that does not suffer from diseases or pests, requires no support, and playfully handles even severe frosts down to -34 °C. Therefore, even complete beginners can easily manage its care. The Dawn to Dusk cultivar stands out with its delicate flowers in shades of light and old rose. In the garden, it grows to a height of about one meter and reliably attracts bees and other pollinators. It is excellently suited for flowerbeds as a traditional companion to roses, but it also fits beautifully into wilder meadow compositions with ornamental grasses. It blooms profusely from June to September. After the first wave of blooming, we recommend cutting the plant back, which will encourage further growth and the catmint will bloom once more. Furthermore, its flowers are edible and you can successfully cut them for summer bouquets.

Kalimeris originates from East Asia, where it grows in open, light forests and meadows. It forms firm upright clumps; it is a healthy and very long-flowering perennial. Its blooms resemble autumn China asters, and it complements them perfectly in beds, as it begins blooming as early as July. The Antonia cultivar has blue-violet flowers.

This species of iris probably originates originally from the Mediterranean. It has long been a very popular ornamental garden plant, bred into many cultivars. Allegedly, the Celts already cultivated them, it was popular in the Middle Ages and became a heraldic plant. It lasts 3–7 days in a vase. Lugano has ivory white flowers with a sulphur-yellow throat and beards. It can repeat flowering once more in autumn.

Betony, or woundwort, is an ancient medicinal and magical protective plant. However, we also appreciate its charm in perennial beds. Apart from the pink dead-nettle-like flowers, its great advantage is its ability to spread over time into dense stands. The flowers are a source of nectar for bees and butterflies.

Peonies are valuable in gardens for their large and impressive flowers. They are long-lived perennials for patient gardeners. It takes them several years to grow to full beauty and before you see abundant blooming. Therefore, a blooming peony right the first year after planting is rather an exception, definitely not the rule. To bloom, it needs time and the right conditions. Study our growing guide. Herbaceous garden peonies are one of the longest-bred garden plants and most cultivars have their origin in Chinese and medicinal peonies, which have long been part of monastery gardens. Today we combine them with perennials, grasses, and bulbs. But we always give them enough space in the bed. Alertie is a light pink peony with a delicate fragrance and earlier flowering time. The flowers gradually fade to white. Potted peonies can be planted from spring to autumn.

Larkspurs are spring beauties that nothing compares to. However, if you want to harvest them for cut flowers, you must be vigilant and harvest quickly before all the buds open. They finish blooming quickly, especially during the warm springs of recent years, so we sow several batches 14 days apart just to keep up with the harvest. Larkspur QIS White is a soft white that fits beautifully into wedding floristry. You harvest one stronger stem and 4-5 smaller side stems from a single plant.

Our favorite foliage and filler. It grows beautifully and binds famously! The flowers are yellowish, so they don't color-match every bouquet, but we still never have enough of it! And after flowering, tiny seed pods form which are also beautifully decorative and don't wilt; we love collecting those too.

Orlaya is a floral variety somewhere between Ammi and ornamental carrot. However, it also has outer flowers with large petals, creating the impression of lace or embroidery. The stems are strong and straight, fitting beautifully into bouquets. And after flowering, tiny seed heads form which are also beautifully decorative and do not wilt; we love harvesting those too.

Lupins are striking for their unmistakable flowers and decorative compound leaves. Naturally, they are rather short-lived perennials. Their lifespan tends to be around five years. They are valued for their use for cutting and as pasture for bees. A smaller cultivar with flowers in pink shades.

The common columbine is a popular and versatile perennial that inherently belongs in both rustic and modern gardens. In the wild, it grows on forest edges and clearings throughout Europe, so a sunny or partially shaded spot with slightly moist, loamy, and humus-rich soil will suit it best in your garden. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you simply need to transplant into a flowerbed. There, it will become a valuable element early in the spring thanks to its early sprouting green leaves. The flowers themselves then enter the scene in May and June. Although it is a short-lived perennial, it reliably self-seeds in a suitable location, so you definitely won't lose it in your garden. Columbine flowers act as a great attraction for bees and bumblebees, and the entire plant is absolutely low-maintenance, making it easy to grow even for beginners. It does not require support and can withstand very severe frosts dropping below thirty degrees. The 'White Barlow' cultivar stands out with an unmistakable appearance; its pure white, double flowers bring airiness and lightness to any planting. It grows to a height of about sixty to eighty centimeters and grows nicely in clumps. Columbines are excellently applied in wild natural plantings as well as thoughtfully planned perennial compositions. The double flowers of the 'White Barlow' variety look magnificent not only in the flowerbed but also in fresh bouquets, to which they add a tender and romantic element. For cutting, it is best to choose freshly opened blooms, and they will last about seven days in a vase. Since the plant is not suitable for drying and all its parts are poisonous, it will bring you joy primarily outdoors in the garden or in the aforementioned spring vases. During the season, just occasionally check if it is bothered by aphids or powdery mildew; otherwise, it needs no special attention.

Feather grass is an ornamental grass that brings incredible lightness and movement to your garden. Its original home is the sunny and gravelly slopes of Southern and Central Europe. It loves the sun and well-drained sandy or loamy soil. It grows in neat clumps reaching a height of around seventy centimeters and is among the longest-blooming grasses. As early as June, it produces feathery inflorescences in silver and beige shades that bend into graceful arches and react to every gust of wind. It works as a perfect filler plant in flowerbeds. It is an absolutely undemanding perennial ideal for beginners, does not suffer from pests or diseases, and handles even deep frosts. In a suitable location, it readily self-seeds, and a huge advantage is its wonderful winter effect under a layer of frost. For florists, feather grass is a tremendous asset. The stems with blooming panicles are perfectly suited for cutting into fresh bouquets as well as drying for winter decorations, where they hold their shape. We send you a beautifully grown seedling in a pot, which you just need to transplant into the ground and watch it grow.