Unflowered as yet but with very hairy rosettes of dissected leaves emerging from the below-ground caudex. This is a dwarf species of 'Balsamroot' with three-inch flowers of golden yellow on short stems.
Bellevalia forniculata 7cm...£3.75
Lovely bright coloured flowers of almost irridescent pale electric blue. Sunny spot.
Bellevalia pycnantha 7cm...£2.75
Startling turqouise-blue flowers are held in dense, pyramidal heads on stout four-inch stems. A lovely species that soon increases to form free-flowering clump in March.
Bellevalia romana 7cm...£2.50
Makes a sturdy 10-15cm stem of pinched white tubular flowers which appear from the centre of three channelled leaves. Not too tricky given sun and reasonable drainage.
BERBERIDOPSIS Flacourtiaceae
Berberidopsis corallina 2ltr...£5.00
A fantastic twining climber for a shady position. Dark, matt green, toothed leaves on fleshy, green stems and in Summer, unbelievably bright red, tubular flowers dangle down in clumps. A really excellent plant for that tricky position where you thought nothing would grow.
Slow-growing little alpine American native; small basal rosette of leathery spathulate leaves with a delicate purple tinge and in time, short spikes of violet-purple flowers.
Besseya rubra 7cm...£2.50
Bright red feathery spikes over basal clumps of softly hairy and gently serrated, rich green leaves.
BIARUM Araceae
Biarum dispar 8cm...£9.50
Unusual compact form of this readily grown species with an attractive red-brown urn-like spathe at ground level and an elongated deep maroon-black spadix. Sardinia
Biarum ditschianum sold out
Biarum marmarisense sold out
Biarum eximum 9cm...£8.50
An autumn flowering bulb which produces its sumptuous (some might say 'sinister') deep purple spathe at ground level - no more than 10cm high and with a creamy-yellow spadix: the leaves follow and continue growing through to the following Spring. I find most of the Biarums I've grown follow a similar pattern - once bulbs manage to flower they 'pass on' but produce numerous small bulbils/seed which start into growth the following Autumn. These are 4/5 year olds needing another year to flower.
Biarum ohridense 8cm...£9.50
Smaller growing species with smokey green stained black-brown spathes and protruding deep velvety black spadix. Macedonia.
Biarum spruneri 9cm...£11.50
A rare species from Southern Greece which has short, deep purple spathes around an equally dark purple spadix in early Autumn. A small choice species best managed in a pot in the cold greenhouse.
Biarum tenuifolium 9cm...£4.50
BLETILLA Orchidaceae
Bletilla 'Penway Rainbow' 1ltr...£8.00
Bletilla striata 1ltr...£5.00
Bloomeria crocea 7cm...£2.00
BONGARDIA Berberidaceae
Bongardia chrysogonum sold out
A curious combination of parts making a strangely alluring whole. Tuberous with highly divided pale blue-green leaves, often with distinct pale red-brown markings; and above these, clusters of rich yellow flowers in Spring. Six to eight inches high in flower after which it quickly dies down.
X BRIGANDRA Gesneriaceae
x Brigandra calliantha 'Tinney's Rose' sold out
A cracking bi-generic Gesneriad. Softly ridged, pale green leaves and narrow stems carrying lovely pale yellow flowers, flushed palest pink. When grown well - moist, sheltered shade - this is an excellent form.
BRIMEURA Hyacinthaceae
Brimeura amethystina 9cm...£1.75 ( 3 per pot )
Charming small bulb for a pot or sunny trough; small spikes of rich blue flowers in late Spring.
Airy heads of pure white flowers in early Spring, along with the unfurling new leaves make a pleasant change from the usual blue forms.
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' 1ltr...£3.00
A favourite plant of all who venture out in the early Spring garden - highly silvered, heart-shaped leaves provide the perfect backdrop to the sprays of numerous small, bright blue 'forget-me-not' flowers.
BULBINELLA Asphodelaceae
Bulbinella hookeri 1ltr...£3.00
A lovely plant for rich moist soil in sun or part-shade. From New Zealand and makes strong clumps of bronze-green erect, linear foliage and, in summer, stout spikes of numerous orange-yellow, star-shaped flowers.
Bulbinella talbotii 9cm...£3.00
Narrow rigid leaves of brow-purple and spikes of contrasting yellow flowers. Light shade and moist soil.
( Pyrenees ) This is a lovely variant with tufts of long narrow leaves and 15cm stems of small green-yellow flowers contrasting wonderfully with the attractive bronze bracts.
Bupleurum spinosum 9cm...£2.50
A curiously attractive small shrub with glaucous blue stems making a compact woody framework armed with rigid spines. Flowers are typical of the genus being of a strange lime-green colour.