Farmyard Nurseries prides itself on the range of unusual herbaceous plants on offer. We don’t grow obscure varieties, which may be difficult to cultivate or produce indifferent flowers. Rather we offer a wide selection of garden worthy plants, unusual – yes, novel – yes, but worth growing.
Plants to make your garden a little different, plants you wouldn’t find in the normal garden centre. We don’t for example offer one variety of Ligularia but ten!! They don’t need special care and are usually easy enough to cultivate. The herbaceous plants we aim to produce are large and well established, plants that will give a good show almost in their first year, and above all reasonably priced.
Listed below are a small selection of our unusual herbaceous plants, there are many hundreds more.
Click on thumb nails for larger picture
Alstroemeria psittacina An unusual and reasonably hardy plant with clusters of small intricately marked trumpet like flowers borne in clusters throughout the summer months. A good cut flower.
Anemone rivularis A beautiful and delicate anemone, pure white with a definite blue outer edge to the throat. Requires a well-drained humus rich soil in sun or partial shade. Rather select.
Campanula lactiflora ‘White Pouffe’ A dwarf form of this campanula, forming small neat compact clumps, topped with a mass of white outward facing bell-like flowers. Needs a fertile moist but well drained soil, neutral to alkaline. Sun or partial shade.
Campanula trachelium ‘Alba Flore Pleno What a superb plant. Tall spikes of semi double pure white bell-like flowers are borne throughout the summer months. Attractive nettle-like leaves add to the attraction.
alstroemeria psittacina Anemone rivularis Campanula lactiflora ‘White Pouffe’ Campanula trachelium ‘Alba Flore Pleno’
Campanula punctata ‘Rubriflora’ A very free flowering and spreading border plant, whose large deep pink bell-like flowers are borne in profusion throughout the summer. A rather exotic looking plant, but totally hardy.
Epilobium angustifolium var. album An interesting white form of the common Rosebay Willowherb. Easy to grow and reliable, its stately spires of flowers add a grace and informality to the herbaceous border.
Erigeron ‘Dimity’ A clump forming plant topped with a mass of pinkish-lavender flowers, front of the border plant that blooms for ages. Will grow in almost any type of soil but best in a sunny aspect.
Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Rubra’ Of all the Euphorbias this one has to rank among the best. Evergreen deep plum purple foliage in neat mounds glow throughout the winter months. As spring approaches tall clusters of lime green reddish tinged flowers are borne well into early summer, fading as they age.
Campanula punctata ‘Rubriflora’ Epilobium angustifolium var. album Erigeron ‘Dimity’ Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Rubra’
Francoa sonchifolia Clumps of architectural deeply cut foliage give rise to tall very narrow spikes of pretty pink flowers during the height of summer. Prefers a sunny sheltered site where it will reward you handsomely.
Galega officinalis If you are looking for a large spectacular herbaceous perennial then look no further. This majestic plant growing up to 6′ in height is smothered with clusters of lilac and white vetch- like flowers. Rather select.
Galtonia viridiflora Whilst strictly speaking not an herbaceous perennial this lovely bulbous plant is easily grown and gives a show of lime green pendulous flower during the summer months. Easily raised from seed, it may need a light mulch in the hardest of winters.
Geranium x oxonianum ‘David McClintock’ A rather unusual starry flowered form of geranium which blooms throughout the summer months. Easily grown and very reliable. One of many new oxonianum hybrids now available.
Francoa sonchifolia Galega officinalis Galtonia viridiflora Geranium x oxonianum ‘David McClintock’
Geranium himalayense ‘Plenum’ A lovely free flowering and easily grown form of the common geranium. Its fully double deep lilac-blue flowers are borne over a long period. A plant of distinction.
Geranium ‘Little Gem’ Another fairly new hybrid that is worth its weight in gold. Small bright magenta flowers are borne on low spreading stems from about May right until the autumn. It is a real gem!
Geranium x oxonianum ‘Rebecca Moss’ A lovely hardy, easy to grow and reliable plant with intricately veined pale pink flowers borne over such a long period. One of the larger Geraniums.
Hemerocallis ‘Bonanza’ A lovely bright yellow form with a deep reddish brown throat. Easily grown, even at home in marshy ground, it flowers for most of the summer months.
Geranium himalayense ‘Plenum’ Geranium ‘Little Gem’ Geranium x oxonianum ‘Rebecca Moss’ Hemerocallis ‘Bonanza’
Hemerocallis ‘Greendrop’ A personal favourite. A clump forming plant that requires a sunny or semi shaded site. One of the smaller day-lilies with unusual pale lemon to lime green flowers. Flowers for weeks and like all day lilies is exceptionally easy and reliable.
Iris douglasiana An attractive evergreen species with delicate mid blue flowers that are heavily veined on the falls. 30-45cm
Iris ensanta ‘Gracieuse’ What an Iris, just look at the picture and see what I mean. 30-60cm. Needs sun.
Kirengeshoma palmata Koreana group One of the loveliest of the late summer or early autumn flowering plants, pretty primrose yellow bell-like flowers are borne on tall stems. Attractive foliage add to the beauty.
Hemerocallis ‘Greendrop’ Iris douglasiana Iris ensanta ‘Gracieuse’ Kirengeshoma palmata Koreana Group
Leucanthemum superbum ‘Summer Sunshine’ An unusual pale yellow form of the common Shasta Daisy. Rather select and pretty without losing that beautiful simplicity.
Ligularia dentata One of our many forms, large architectural foliage bears tall spires of ver bright orange daisies during the summer. Prefers a moist sunny site where drifts can be quite spectacular.
Lobelia ‘Pink Elephant’ Now a very popular group of plants the tall herbaceous lobelias are very much at the fore. This lesser known variety is much more reliably perennial than a lot of the newer almost annual varieties. Prefers a moist sunny sheltered site. Easily grown from autumn basal cuttings.
Meconopsis cambrica ‘Frances Perry’ An unusual coloured version of the welsh poppy. Will cross pollinate with the wild forms.
Leucanthemum superbum ‘Summer Sunshine’ Ligularia dentata Lobelia ‘Pink Elephant’ Meconopsis cambrica ‘Frances Perry’
Morina longifolia An unusual plant with thistle like leaves that throw up interesting spikes of attractive pink & white lipped flowers.
Parahebe catarractae ‘Delight’ One of the most attractive plants that we grow, and one of the most underrated. Forms neat sprawling mounds that are covered with sprays of small lilac-blue flowers during the summer. A real beauty.
Persicaria campanulata A rather vigorous but nonetheless garden worthy plant for those difficult to garden places. Reliable, tolerant and easy-to-grow it provides colour for many months. Flowers can be picked and dried.
Polemonium cashmerianum A rather select form of ‘Jacobs Ladder’ with tall spires of soft pale lavender flowers during the early summer months.
Morinia longifolia Parahebe catarractae ‘Delight’ Persicaria campanulata Polemonium cashmerianum
Potentilla ‘Master Floris’ A bright scrambling plant that is true cottage garden. Its wandering habit softens harsh edges and its flowering period is such that it never seems not to have a flower. A lovely subtle plant
Potentilla ‘Volcan’ A recent introduction with deep bright red flowers during the early summer. A very striking plant.
Primula florindae red and orange forms An exciting range of coloured ‘Giant Cowslips’ bred by ourselves. All shades from deep red to pale parchment-orange. With their clove scent and their ability to grow in all but the driest of places this plant is worthy of any garden. Needs full sun, and may even be grown as a shallow water plant.
Potentilla ‘Master Floris’ Potentilla ‘Volcan’ Primula florindae Tan Shades Primula florindae Red Shades
Rubus ulmifolius belidiflorus A very unusual form of double blackberry, easily grown and suitable for almost any site. Interesting.
Saxifraga stolonifera An interesting plant with almost succulent-like leaves and delicate sprays of pure white curiously lipped flowers. A good reliable hardy spreading plant that will stand partial shade.
Schizostylis ‘Jennifer’ One of the best kafir lilies with its large pink flowers and prolific growth. Excellent late autumn colour. A sunny sheltered site is needed and a little mulch in the hardest winter.
Schizostylis varieties We are at present growing 14 different varieties of this superb late autumn flowering plant, and what a garden plant it is. Tall sprays of lily-like flowers are borne during those dismal months when any flower is worth its weight, but especially these. Prefers a sunny sheltered site. An excellent cut flower.
Rubus ulmifolius belidiflorus Saxifraga stolonifera Schizostylis ‘Jennifer’ Schizostylis ‘Sunrise’
Sedum ‘Frosty Morn’ A new variegated form of these stunning plants. Attractive succulent like leaves are edged with white. Easily grown, need sun.
Sedum spectabile ‘Alba’ If you like butterflies in your garden then grow this plant!!!
Stachys macrantha A pretty, long flowering unusual member of this versatile family. Spires of lipped mauve flowers are borne during the Summer months.
Thalictrum kiusianum Again while not strictly speaking herbaceous this low growing Thalictrum never seems to lack a flower during the summer season. A very choice plant.
Sedum ‘Frosty Morn’ Sedum spectabile ‘Alba’ Stachys macrantha Thalictrum kiusianum
Tricyrtis varieties A lovely group of autumn flowering plants equally at home in sunny or semi shaded woodland sites. We have the national collection of Tricyrtis, see the tricyrtis page for details of varieties and cultivation
Verbascum blattaria A short lived perennial or even biennial plant with lovely flower spires in subtle shades of creamy white. Freely self seeds.
Verbena corymbosa ‘Gravetye’ A rather unusual plant which will scramble through your herbaceous border aimlessly, helping to achieve that natural look in a cultivated border that is so sought after in the true cottage garden.
Veronicastrum virginicum Another of those plants that softens the herbaceous border. Not spectacular but free flowering and long lasting. A very popular plant.
Tricyrtis variety Verbascum blattaria Verbena corymbosa ‘Gravetye’ Veronicastrum virginicum
Zantedeschia ‘Green Goddess’
Zantedeschia ‘Green Goddess’ A luscious leafed plant with slightly marbled leaves and a beautiful green sheath type flower, a flower arrangers dream. Will grow in most places but best in wet parts of the garden and on the edge of ponds. Watch out for our new pink variety maybe in late 1999!
If you would like a full catalogue then please e-mail us and ask for a copy of our electronic listing. However, as we are always taking on board new varieties and some plants are only available in small numbers, do let us know if you have specific requirements.
