Thousands of pink blooms adorn enormous flower spikes throughout summer. Commonly called the 'Tower of Jewels', Echium pinanana are truly impressive plants. Growing to form a handsome rosette of silvery green leaves in their first year, Echium pinanana will put on their best show in year two. When blooming, Echiums appear to be on steroids, rapidly shooting higher and higher to produce a gigantic flower spike made up of thousands of tiny pink blooms. Pollinating insects absolutely love Echium flowers!
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Surface sow the small seed. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
A beautiful deciduous tree commonly called the 'cockspur coral tree'. The leathery foliage is composed of 3 triangular leaflets that feature hidden recurved hooks on the underside (hence its common name!) Beautiful racemes of deep scarlet red, pea-like flowers or produce in summer and autumn on mature plants. Each flower can be over 5cm in length. The woody stem develops a great textured bark.
PACKET CONTAINS 5 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Soak the seed prior to sowing. Sow the seed to a depth of 1cm. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (20-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
A show stopping exotic plant unlike anything else! This plant spends its first year producing masses of exotic looking pinnate green leaves on thick burgundy red stems. As the stems mature they fold down to the ground and form a support framework that looks like something from a mangrove forest. In year two, Geranium maderense produces an enormous dome made up of hundreds of intense magenta pink blooms held up high above the plant. When in bloom, this plant will inevitably be the star of your garden and the talking point of your neighbours. Try planting Geranium maderense in a tall pot so that you can enjoy the exotic mangrove style stem as well as those stunning blooms.
Homegrown by us here in the UK, peat free using organic methods
Supplied in a 9cm pot
A reliable climber with intensely purple coloured blooms. Ipomoea 'Grandpa Ott' is a cultivar selected for its particularly deep purple flowers with a eye-catching red star shaped centre. The flowers of this cultivar combine beautifully with the rich green heart shaped leaves. Ipomoea 'Grandpa Ott' can grow to 5m in one season, climbing happily up a trellis or scrambling through larger shrubs. Though half hardy, this plant is best treated as a fast growing annual in UK gardens.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Sow the large seed to a depth of 5mm. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
The choice for commercial Banana fruit growers! The yellow 'Chiquita' banana fruits that are widely available in UK supermarkets are produced by this plant. Musa acuminata 'Grand Nain' is a very fast growing species that can produce huge fruit crops in a single season when grown in optimal conditions. This tropical species will need to be grown as a houseplant through winter to protects it from cold weather.
Current Size: Supplied as a plug plant.
An absolutely incredible Banana with red striped foliage on mature plants. Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ is thought to have similar hardiness to Musa Basjoo, surviving -5ºC with a light wrap of fleece in the Grow Paradise garden. Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ grows rapidly and can reach a height of 2.5m tall and 1m wide within 2 seasons. A fantastic specimen plant.
Please note: The red leaf markings are variable and will appear as the plants get larger and are exposed to more light. These plants have been cut back and are now pushing out their first leaves of the season. Current Size: Supplied as a jumbo plug plant.
A striking ornamental banana that is said to be cold hardy in the UK. Musa sikkimensis produces striking sail-like green leaves that are streaked with red markings, though these fade on older leaves. Musa sikkimensis s very fast growing once the seeds have germinated and can reach 1.5m in height in its first year. We find the leaves of Musa sikkimensis to be more wind resilient than the delicate leaves of Musa basjoo.PACKET CONTAINS 5 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Soak the seed prior to sowing. Sow to a depth of 1cm. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
A fast growing attractive climber that will flower from spring through to the first frosts. Heart shaped rich green leaves up to 8cm across combine beautifully with masses of singular tubular rich purple-black flowers with star cup shaped pink calyces. Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, sometimes called 'Purple Bells' is best grown as a climber against a trellis or as an unusual trailing plant from elevated pots and baskets.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Surface sow the small seed. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
Prolific scarlet red blooms throughout the season. This compact and colourful Salvia will produce masses of tubular bright red flowers that are very attractive to pollinating insects. Once established, this plant is very drought tolerant and will thrive in the heat of summer where other plants may struggle. Use Salvia 'Summer Jewel Red' to add colour to your borders and container displays. Very easy to grow and fast from seed.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Surface sow the small seed. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
A beautiful frost hardy evergreen ground covering plant, with tiny white flowers on tender upright stems that dance on a gentle breeze. The unassuming Saxifraga stolonifera is a delightful plant with intriguing silvery veined olive toned leaves with a reddish-purple underside. It is commonly known as the strawberry begonia. Saxifraga stolonifera is semi-hardy and is not often seen growing outside. Although dainty this plant has survived -5ºc in the Grow Paradise Nursery Garden. Take inspiration from its use as a house plant and place on the edge of pots and hanging baskets, for an abundance of foliage at eye level. Saxifraga stolonifera is a perennial that would be a perfect addition to a wide variety of planting schemes with its array of complimentary tones.
Homegrown by us here in the UK, peat free using organic methods
Current size: Sold in a 9cm pot.
An eye-catching evergreen variegated plant that will produce clouds of orchid-like blooms in summer. Saxifraga stolonifera 'Tricolour' is a spreading perennial that produces masses of rounded hairy leaves with a broad pink to white margin. In mild gardens is will remain evergreen, providing a unique and colourful ground cover throughout the year. It can also be grown in a hanging basket or container, where it's spreading stolons and young offsets will hang down providing visual interest. In summer delicate flower stems are held 30cm high and are covered in flowers that resemble miniature white orchids. We have used Saxifraga stolonifera as ground cover in the Grow Paradise garden for years, with it surviving a dry -6ºC unscathed.
Current height: 10cm, including pot.
Chelsea plant of the year 2022! Deep maroon fleshy leaves remain this colour even in winter, turning almost black under the summer sun. The notably glossy spoon shaped leaves of Semponium 'Destiny' have a slight veiny texture, making this a truly eye-catching cultivar. In time Semponium 'Destiny' will grow into a beautiful branching specimen.
Semponium is a world-first cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The stunning rosettes and shrubby habit of Aeoniums are combined with the reliable hardiness of Sempervivum to create a ground-breaking range of vigorous hybrid plants and new colours. Semponiums are hardy down to -4ºC, though young plug plants will need to be grown on in a frost-free spot. Semponiums are incredibly versatile, growing well in pots, gravel gardens and in gaps in exotic borders. A must have plant for any collection!
Current size: Rooted in a 9cm pot.
Satisfyingly geometrically arranged thick green leaves that are edged with orange when grown under intense sun. This ground-breaking hybrid will quickly branch out and form a beautiful specimen plant. Semponium 'Diamond' will quickly branch out to form a striking multi-headed specimen.
Semponium is a world-first cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The stunning rosettes and shrubby habit of Aeoniums are combined with the reliable hardiness of Sempervivum to create a ground-breaking range of vigorous hybrid plants and new colours. Semponiums are hardy down to -4ºC, though young plug plants will need to be grown on in a frost-free spot. Semponiums are incredibly versatile, growing well in pots, gravel gardens and in gaps in exotic borders. A must have plant for any collection!
Current size: Rooted in a 9cm pot.
Perfectly geometric pointed leaves that flush bright red in the summer sun. The centre of each rosette remains a beautiful contrasting lime green colour. Semponium 'Sienna' will quickly branch out to form a striking multi-headed specimen.
Semponium is a world-first cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The stunning rosettes and shrubby habit of Aeoniums are combined with the reliable hardiness of Sempervivum to create a ground-breaking range of vigorous hybrid plants and new colours. Semponiums are hardy down to -4ºC, though young plug plants will need to be grown on in a frost-free spot. Semponiums are incredibly versatile, growing well in pots, gravel gardens and in gaps in exotic borders. A must have plant for any collection!
Current size: Rooted in a 9cm pot.