Plants marked with an asterisk * will not be ready until May or June – or even later

Vancouveria hexandra
Unusual Epimedium relative from North America forming loose panicles of usually
deciduous leaves over which hover small white flowers. Good ground cover.
Sun or shade. Spring. 12” £3.60

Veratrum album var. flavum
Grown from seed collected by Jim Archibald. A wonderful sight when in flower, with
spectacular pleated leaves and spikes of large dense heads of palest green, almost
white, flowers. Magnificent 9 year old flowering sized plants in 5-litre pots.
Prefers shade, moist rich soil. Beware slugs. Summer. 5ft. £9.80

Veratrum nigrum
Gorgeous corrugated leaves and stout stems ending in a plume of starry purple
flowers. Strong 9 year old flowering sized plants in 3-litre pots.
Best in part or full shade, rich soil. Beware slugs. Summer. 6ft. £8.80

Verbascum ‘Annie May’
Completely hardy and perennial, with large basal leaves and statuesque spikes
of pretty damson pink flowers. Cut down spent flower spikes to encourage
new ones. Few only. 2-litre pots.
*Sun, well drained soil. Summer onwards. 3-4ft. £5.00

Verbascum ‘Daisy Alice’
One of the exciting new Breckland Verbascums bred by Patricia Cooper.
Completely hardy and perennial, with large basal leaves and statuesque spikes
of very pretty deep pinkish-mauve flowers. Cut down spent flower spikes
to encourage new ones. Few only. 2-litre pots.
*Sun, well drained soil. Summer onwards. 3-4ft. £5.00

Verbascum ‘Norfolk Dawn’
The most vigorous of the new Breckland Verbascums, forming large foliage
rosettes with bold spikes of large buff and biscuit flowers. Cut down spent flower
spikes to encourage new ones. 2-litre pots.
*Sun, well drained soil. Summer onwards. 4-5ft. £5.00

Verbascum ‘Patricia’
My favourite Breckland Verbascum. Flower spikes of rich biscuit pink
and buff, with bronzed buds. A few only in 2-litre pots.
*Sun, well drained soil. Summer onwards. 3-4ft. £5.00

Veronicastrums - a first rate addition to any border. Unlike the shorter, more common Veronicas, these have strong erect stems up to 6ft. with leaves in whorls along their length. These retain a strong mildew free perpendicular accent well into Autumn. Seldom needing staking, most flower in Midsummer, with the occasional secondary spike later. They grow in sun or dappled shade and prefer fertile soil that is not too wet or too dry. For the first time I offer the following from my growing collection.

Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Fascination’
Classy erect spikes of two-tone flowers – lilac buds open to lilac pink.
Sometimes needs staking. 2-litre pots.
Sun or light shade. Mid summer. 5ft. £4.80

Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Lavendelturm’
Branched spikelets of lavender flowers top this stately variety, which seldom
needs staking. 2-litre pots.
*Sun or light shade. Mid summer. 6ft. £4.80

Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Pointed Finger’
In this form the lavender pink flower spikes bend at right angles to point an
accusing finger ! 2-litre pots.
Sun or light shade. Mid summer. 4ft. £4.80

Veronicastrum virginicum roseum
One of my favourites, later flowering than the last two with neat erect spikes of pale
pink flowers. V.’Pink Glow’ is almost identical. 2-litre pots.
Sun or light shade. Late summer. 5ft. £4.80

Violas prefer semi-shade and a position that is not too dry. Dead-heading regularly to prevent seed pods forming helps to encourage more flowers. Slugs and greenfly are their main enemies.

Viola ‘Blue Moonlight’
Pretty Viola with elongated pale creamy-yellow flowers edged with pale blue. Summer. 6” £3.00

Viola cornuta 'Victoria's Blush'
Pretty cornuta with pale lilac flowers and prominent cats-whisker markings. Summer. 5" £3.00

Viola ‘Graziella’
New scented seedling named after a young friend of mine. Unusual
lavender-grey flowers with yellow centres. Summer. 5” £3.00

Viola ‘Heaselands’
My all-time favourite. Produces non-stop displays of large scented
long-stemmed lilac-blue flowers. Summer. 8” £3.00

Viola ‘Huntercombe Purple’
Old-fashioned Viola with dusky purple elongated flowers.
Makes good groundcover. Summer. 5” £3.00

Viola ‘Ivory Queen’
Pure cream flowered tough old variety. Summer. 6” £3.00

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