Team Chatto's favourite plants - part 2

Kathy - Production Assistant

"Sisyrinchium 'Californian Skies' is such a pretty little perennial. Despite being delicate in appearance, it is a hardy little grass-like plant with beautiful bright blue, star-shaped flowers. Happy with full sun in a well-drained soil, it is an ideal addition to any scree garden, butler sink or garden trough."

Mel – Acting Growing Manager

Melica uniflora f. albida

"What is there not to love about this plant? I first saw it at Beth’s 10 years ago. After potting many seedlings, I never realised its true beauty until I went into the growing tunnel a few weeks later and was amazed that what I had potted had grown into something quite so beautiful.

I find it so elegant, with its fine, lineal leaves. I love how the arching stems sway in the breeze, and how the delicate white/cream buds, which look like grains of rice, sparkle in the light. Being a shade-loving plant, it gives a touch of brightness and a glimmer of shine, which I find quite magical and relaxing to watch.

It has a flowering period from April to June. Being clump-forming and fully hardy, I find this an excellent plant, as it can be planted in most types of soil. At home in my garden, I have planted it with dicentra and ferns, as I find they complement each other rather well."

Pratham – Seasonal Production Assistant

"Agapanthus ‘Twister’ is one of those plants that quietly steals the spotlight. The white and deep blue flowers look like they are hand-painted and really stand out without being too bold.

What I find most interesting is its resilience - thick, water-storing roots make it naturally drought-tolerant, flourishing in full sun with very little maintenance. Flowering through summer, it brings both structure and nuanced drama, especially in containers or sunny borders.

I would say It’s a perfect balance of beauty and efficiency - a plant that looks refined yet works hard behind the scenes."

Kirsten – Growing Assistant

"Nepeta nuda ‘Romany Dusk’ is one plant I love to see growing in a garden as it brings me joy with their beautiful aromatic silvery foliage, dark stemmed spires of tiny pale lilac flowers. As it originates from southern and Central Europe, it loves a well-drained soil in a warm, sunny position. Best grown in the middle or towards the back of a border as it reaches 90cm in height. Cut back after flowering and it will reward you with a second flush of flowers."

Rob – Growing Assistant

Steve – Head of Horticulture

"Whorled Solomon's seal, Polygonatum verticillatum, provides a dramatic, frothy vertical in a shady corner of the water garden, mixing well with Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ and Actaea matsumurae 'Elstead Variety'. I love the new shoots erupting from the ground in spring, slender stems, with dusky tones, before they green up and the narrow leaves helicopter out, providing a backdrop for the many clusters of creamy-green flowers. The stems gently arch over through the year, gradually colouring to yellow and amber.

As a bonus, it is a rare UK native, now restricted to a few Scottish sites. A rewarding plant for a good soil, in shade."