About this box
In the rush for instant gratification with annuals, it's easy to overlook the plants that truly define the cottage garden: biennials. These are the flowers that fill the "June Gap" — the lull between the last tulips of spring and the first roses of summer — with scent and height exactly when the garden needs it most.
This box is planned to flower in sequence. Forget-me-nots and the pastel Wallflower 'Fair Lady' open in April, Honesty and white Sweet Rocket follow in May, and June brings Foxglove 'Primrose Yellow', Canterbury Bells and the clove-scented Sweet William 'Auricula Eyed'. From July, Hollyhock 'Blackberry' sends wine-dark spires up past two metres. Three heights — low at the front, middle and tall at the back — and three of the eight carry scent: the wallflowers, the sweet rocket at dusk, and the Sweet William.
Understanding Biennials
Year 1 (June–July sowing): The plant focuses entirely on building a strong root system and rosette of leaves — no flowers this year. Year 2 (spring–summer): It re-emerges from winter, sends up tall flower spikes, blooms spectacularly, sets seed, and completes its cycle.
Most plants in this box are prolific self-seeders — establish them once and they return year after year for free.
The Summer Sowing Method
Sow in June or July in a nursery bed or pots outdoors — no special equipment needed. Keep watered through the summer heat. In September or October, move young plants to their final flowering positions, such as into the beds where tulips are planted, and let them settle in before winter. Full instructions are printed on every packet.
Arrives in signature eco-friendly packaging — a thoughtful gift for the gardener who likes to plan ahead.
