Cerinthe Major Purpurascens

Just for once forget the brightly coloured plants laid out to tempt you in garden centres in early summer and think of something a little more sophisticated, subtle perhaps, but of a distinctiveness that will excite friends' curiosity. This is just that plant. It has rather fleshy, blue-green leaves that, as they work their way up the stems, feel they should perhaps be rendering assistance in the bee-attraction department and change gradually to purple. And then you have the flowers - quite different from anything else you'll have in your garden, tubular and dark purple-blue in colour, and will gain the attention of any visitor and quite a border-filling spread. 2ft (60cm)

10 SEEDS