AESCULUS glabra Anyone who searched diligently for conkers as a child will be familiar with the classic horse chestnut, which makes a big tree. However, there are smaller growers which have ornamental flowers in early summer (held in large upright panicles) as well as those typical spiky seed pods. Many have good autumn colour too. The Ohio Buckeye is native of south east United States and forms a small to medium sized tree. The flowers are yellow-green. Open-ground plants only from £28.00
	AESCULUS indica 'Sydney Pearce' Changing continent, A. indica comes from the Himalayas, but this rather gorgeous cultivar was selected at RBG Kew back in 1928. The flowers are wonderful - essentially pink, but with flushes of yellow and white. Very nice. Open-ground plants only from £32.00
	AESCULUS x neglecta 'Erythroblastos' (A. flava x A. sylvatica) A slow growing, medium sized tree which bears pale yellow flowers, but its main attraction is the brilliant shrimp-pink young growth as it emerges in the spring. It then turns to a more muted pale yellow-green, but that initial display is quite spectacular. From £32.00
	AGAPANTHUS campanulatus A departure from our usual range, but who could resist the intense blue colours of these? These are all hardy deciduous forms which survived last year's difficult winter. Much hardier than their evergreen cousins, they die back to a fleshy rootstock in winter. It is important that this is well insulated, so if growing them in a pot (where they can flower exceptionally well) remember to put it up against the house over winter for added protection. There are numerous named cultivars these days, but for me, this species is hard to beat. I don't need the massive flowers of some of the hybrids; indeed I actually prefer these smaller heads...and the richness of that blue is just breathtaking! Sold out at the moment
	AGAPANTHUS 'Indigo Seedling' This selection has slightly larger flowers than the species, in a shade of slightly more purple blue. Sold out at the moment
	AGAPANTHUS 'Jack's Blue' By comparison with the species, I would describe this one as having slightly larger flowers, of a slightly lighter blue. £10.00
	AGAPANTHUS 'Navy Blue' Smaller heads of rich, dark blue flowers. Sold out at the moment
	AGAPANTHUS 'Silver Mist' Such a difficult colour to describe...a sort of silvery lilac. Very delicate. Large flower-heads. Sold out at the moment
	AGAPANTHUS 'Wolga' This is a rather choice cultivar which stood out for me the first year I went in search of agapanthus. Good sized flowers of a superb deep, slightly purple blue. Sold out at the moment