Machaeranthera commixta          sold out 

From limestone shale screes in Iron County, Utah, comes this fine, silvery-blue leaved, six-inch tall perennial. Narrow leaves clothe the short upright stems which terminate in large violet daisies with bright yellow centres.

 x Mahoberberis aquisargentii          1 ltr...£3.25

Spiky, glossy leaves, red-tinged in Winter, make a 'foliage-statement' in a shady corner, under trees etc. Heads of yellow flowers in Spring. 

 MAIANTHEMUM bifolium          7cm...£3.00

A tiny 'lily of the valley' relative with two small heart-shaped leaves clasping a spike of fluffy white flowers. Only two or three inches tall and best in cool shade.

 MAIHUENIA poeppigii          9cm...£2.75

(Chile/Argentina) This is hardy in a cold greenhouse, forming a 'mat' of small spiny barrels which, in time, can produce yellow 'prickly pear' flowers. Full sun.

MANDRAGORA officinarum          9cm...£3.25

From Southern Europe and a favourite of that famous gardener of Middleton, E.R Bowles. Clump-forming and in time producing mauve-blue flowers and following these, a peculiar crop of tomato-sizwd emerald fruits.Good soil required and preferably part-shad.

 Massonia species         7cm...£7.00

 MAZUS radicans          9cm...£3.00

From moist mountain meadows in New Zealand and forming creeping, dense mats of ovate, greenish purple-brown leaves and large white flowers with a striking violet blotch, in May.

 Mazus reptans          9cm...£2.50

 Melianthus major          sold out 

A fine and exotic-looking perennial for a rich, sunny border. Glaucous grey-green, deeply toothed, pinnate foliage brings a 'touch of the tropics' to the garden along with racemes of deep crimson, tubular flowers.

 Melianthus villosus          1ltr...£4.00

Commonly known in Africa, apparently, as 'Kruidiie roer my nie' ...hmm. Anyway, over here it makes a lovely glaucous silver-grey, cut-leaved sub-shrub, which in a hot summer or warm-sheltered position, will produce black-purple flowers, somewhat reminiscent of an insects wings; and followed by pale green, inflated fruits. A touch of the exotic for a sunny, mixed border.

MELICYTUS angustifolius          2ltr...£3.50

( syn.Hymenanthera ) Tasmania and New Zealand are home to this small, upright-growing shrub with dark brown branches and small dark green leaves and spidery yellowish flowers. White berries, blotched purple, decorate the branches in Autumn.

 Merendera montana         9cm...£3.00

MICROSTROBUS fitzgeraldii         1ltr...£3.50

From the Blue Mountains in Australia comes this low-growing, arching mound of whipcord-type foliage but with the small blue-green leaves slightly raised from the stems. An attractive plant in both form and colour.

MINUARTIA inamoena        9cm...£2.25

(Caucasus) Short linear leaves form a low-growing mound and stemless white flowers on this attractive prickly cushion.

Minuartia saxifraga s.sp tmolea          9cm...£2.50

(Turkey) Less spiky than many of its cousins, this forms tight rosettes of deep green, acute leaves from which arise short stems carrying several, quite large white flowers. Likes cool roots in a gritty crevice.

(?M.petraea x M.suffruticosa) Small mound-forming sub-shrub with long linear, blue-green leaves spaced around the stems and with many deep, clear blue flowers on arching stems.

Moltkia petraea           7cm...£2.75

A slightly twiggy small shrub with small, pale blue-grey leaves and heads of bright, intense blue flowers. Sunny spot.

 MONARDA didyma          1ltr...£3.00

According to the butterflies and bees you can never have too much of this. Seed grown from a mix of forms, predominantly a rich dark purple form which is my favourite.

 Monarda didyma ex 'Petit Wonder'          9cm...£3.00

Seed from a dwarf form of the type with clear pink fringed flowers. Hopefully will inherit the 'dwarf' gene and be ten-inches tall like its mother.

Morisia monanthos 'Fred Hemmingway'         sold out

Geometrical, lacy rosettes of dark green leaves surround substantial, four-petalled, rich yellow flowers in April/May. This is really an excellent plant and should be more often grown; having no complex demands other than gritty soil in sun or part-shade.

 Mukdenia rossii         1ltr...£3.50

MUTISIA spinosa          sold out

(Argentina) Coarsely toothed, pale mat-green leaves on this exotic, gently scrambling climber which has been grown outside in the south, but probably deserves the protection of a sunny greenhouse in colder climes. Large, broad-rayed pink flowers make it worth the effort.

MYOSOTIDIUM hortensis         sold out 

The 'Chatham Island Forget-me-Not' with lush green foliage and large heads of brilliant blue flowers make this a stunning plant for a rich soil in a sheltered position.

Myosotidium hortensis 'Alba'         sold out 

The less-often encountered white-flowering form, enjoying the same conditions in a rich, moist soil.

Delicate white, yellow-eyed flowers appear on softly hairy rosettes making tight, compact mounds.