Perennial

Garlic Chives

(Allium tuberosum)

Garlic Chives are a versatile, perennial herb prized for their mild garlic flavour and tender, flat green leaves. Widely used in Asian and modern kitchen gardens, they offer a gentler alternative to garlic, with a fresh, onion‑garlic aroma that complements both raw and cooked dishes.

This productive plant forms neat clumps of grass‑like foliage that can be harvested repeatedly throughout the growing season. In late summer, tall stems produce delicate, star‑shaped white flowers that are not only attractive to pollinators but also edible, adding a subtle garlic note to salads and garnishes.

Easy to grow and reliable year after year, Garlic Chives are ideal for garden beds, borders, and pots. Regular cutting encourages fresh growth and helps keep plants compact and productive.

🌿 Why You’ll Love It

• Mild garlic flavour without the heat
• Leaves, buds & flowers all edible
• Hardy perennial – returns each year
• Excellent for containers and small gardens
• Attractive late‑season blooms for pollinators

🌱 Growing Notes

• Position: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well‑drained, moderately fertile
• Height: Approx. 30–45 cm
• Harvest: Cut leaves regularly to promote new growth
• Approx 80 seeds pkt 

Garlic Chives can self‑seed if flowers are left to mature; deadhead to limit spreading if desired.

Oregano heracleoticum

Greek Oregano • Perennial culinary classic

Oregano heracleoticum, commonly known as Greek Oregano, is the most prized oregano for cooking, valued for its intense aroma and robust, peppery flavour. Native to the Mediterranean, this hardy perennial produces compact, silver‑green foliage and small white flowers in summer, thriving in warm, sunny garden positions.

Renowned as the traditional oregano used in Greek and Italian cuisine, this variety offers a stronger, more authentic flavour than common oregano. The leaves can be used fresh or dried, and many cooks find the flavour deepens even further once dried.

In the garden, Greek Oregano is easy to grow, drought tolerant once established, and well suited to herb beds, borders, and containers. Regular harvesting encourages bushy growth and prolonged productivity, making it a dependable and long‑lived addition to any kitchen garden.

🌿 Why You’ll Love It

• Authentic Greek oregano flavour
• Strongly aromatic, ideal for Mediterranean cooking
• Hardy perennial – returns year after year
• Drought tolerant and low maintenance
• Excellent for pots, borders, and herb gardens

🌱 Growing Notes

• Position: Full sun
• Soil: Free‑draining, light soil
• Height: Approx. 30–60 cm
• Harvest: Pick leaves regularly; prune to keep compact
• Approx 500seeds pkt 

Oregano heracleoticum prefers lean soil and dry conditions – rich soil produces softer growth and milder flavour.

Lovage

(Levisticum officinale)

Lovage is a bold, aromatic perennial herb prized for its rich, celery‑like flavour and impressive garden presence. A traditional cottage‑garden favourite, lovage produces lush green foliage on tall, sturdy plants that return year after year once established.

Often described as a more intense version of celery with hints of parsley and anise, lovage is a powerful culinary herb — a small amount goes a long way. The leaves are especially valued for flavouring soups, stocks, stews, and savoury dishes, making lovage a kitchen essential for cool‑season cooking.

In the garden, lovage is hardy, long‑lived, and generous, forming a large clump that can be harvested regularly through the growing season. Its height and fresh green foliage also make it an attractive backdrop in herb beds and mixed plantings.

🌿 Why Grow Lovage

• Strong, aromatic celery‑like flavour
• Classic herb for soups, stocks & slow cooking
• Hardy perennial — returns year after year
• Productive plant with generous leaf harvests
• Traditional cottage‑garden herb
• Approx 30 seeds per packet 

🌱 Growing Notes

• Position: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Rich, moist, well‑drained soil
• Height: Can reach 1.5–2 m when mature
• Harvest: Pick leaves as needed once established

Lovage likes space to grow and rewards the patient gardener with years of flavour and abundance.

PRIMULA ELATIOR ‘COLOSSEA MIXED’

Elegant spring blooms in soft, classic colours

Primula elatior ‘Colossea Mixed’ is a beautiful strain of cowslip primula, producing large, delicately shaped flowers in a charming mix of pastel and richer spring tones. Blooming in clusters above neat rosettes of fresh green foliage, these primulas bring long‑lasting colour to shaded garden beds, borders, woodland gardens, and pots.

A cool‑season favourite, Primula elatior thrives in part shade and moist, well‑drained soil, making it ideal for areas where many flowering plants struggle. Once established, plants are hardy, reliable, and return year after year with an impressive spring display.

🌸 Key Features

• Large‑flowered cowslip primula
• Soft mixed colours with classic cottage‑garden appeal
• Perfect for shade and cooler garden areas
• Ideal for borders, underplanting, and containers
• Hardy perennial in suitable climates
• Approx 70 seeds 0.50g per packet 

Seed Sowing Instructions

Botanical Name: Primula elatior
Plant Type: Perennial
Flowering: Late winter to spring

When to Sow

• Sow late summer to early autumn for spring flowering
• Can also be sown in early spring in cool climates

How to Sow

1. Sow seeds on the surface of fine, well‑drained seed‑raising mix
2. Do not cover seed – light aids germination
3. Gently mist to moisten the soil
4. Keep trays cool and consistently moist

Germination: 14–28 days at 10–18°C
(Cold conditions improve results — avoid warm locations)

Transplanting

• Transplant seedlings once large enough to handle
• Handle carefully to avoid root disturbance
• Space plants 20–25 cm apart

🌱 Growing Tips

• Grow in part shade to full shade, especially in warmer climates
• Soil should be rich in organic matter and free‑draining
• Keep soil consistently moist, particularly during flowering
• Mulch well to keep roots cool and retain moisture
• Remove spent flowers to encourage extended blooming
• Best suited to cooler garden areas and protected positions

Helpful Note

Primula elatior seeds may benefit from a brief cold period. If germination is slow, move sown trays to a cooler location or refrigerate (sealed) for 1–2 weeks before returning to a bright, cool spot.