Dig into the joy of a life outdoors
Find peace and purpose by reconnecting with nature, creativity and the joy of making things in your own patch of paradise.
Discover extraordinary, unusual, and beautiful plants from around the world — each with growing and care tips to help you cultivate these weird and wonderful species in your own space.
Hyacinthus orientalis
Hyacinth
A spring bulb with dense, intensely fragrant spikes of starry bells, for pots, borders and forcing…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 20–30 cm (8–12 in)
- H4 · Zone 8
Helianthus annuus
Sunflower
The classic tall annual with huge yellow flower heads in late summer, feeding bees and then…
- Full sun
- 0.6–3 m (2–10 ft)
- H3 · Zone 9
Astrantia major
Great masterwort
A clump-forming perennial with papery, pincushion flowers in white, green and pink all summer, superb for…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 50–90 cm (20–35 in)
- H7 · Zone 5
Aquilegia vulgaris
Columbine
A native cottage-garden perennial with nodding, spurred flowers in blue, purple, pink and white in late…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 50–90 cm (20–35 in)
- H7 · Zone 5
Lonicera periclymenum
Common honeysuckle
A native twining climber with richly scented cream and pink flowers in summer, followed by red…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 4–7 m (13–23 ft)
- H6 · Zone 6
Wisteria sinensis
Chinese wisteria
A long-lived twining climber with cascades of scented lilac flowers in spring, for strong walls and…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 8–12 m (26–39 ft)
- H6 · Zone 6
