 |  Plant list: Biennials
If you sow biennial seed, you’ll get leaves in year one, followed by flowers in year two. Many biennials are sold as two year old plants, ready to flower.
| | | | Latin name: | | Digitalis | | | | Common name: | | Foxglove | | | | Type of plant: | | Biennial | | | | Hardiness: | | Hardy | | | | Flower colour: | | White, pink, purple and yellow | | | | Leaf colour: | | Mid-green | | | | Height and spread: | | 25cm x 30cm (10in x 1ft) | | | | Description: | |
From a rosette of soft hairy oval leaves grows a tall flowering spike that bears tubular, downward pointing flowers, which are very popular with bees. Left alone, foxgloves self-seed very easily. Perfect for a shady spot.
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| | | | Latin name: | | Erysimum cheiri | | | | Common name: | | Wallflower | | | | Type of plant: | | Biennial | | | | Hardiness: | | Frost-hardy | | | | Flower colour: | | White, yellow, red, orange and purple | | | | Leaf colour: | | Mid-to deep green | | | | Height and spread: | | 25cm to 30cm x 30cm to 40cm (10in to 1ft x 1ft to 15in) | | | | Description: | |
Actually an evergreen, bushy, perennial, wallflowers are grown as a biennial. The upright stems have short, lance-shaped leaves and heads of sweetly fragrant, velvety flowers.
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| | | | Latin name: | | Onopordum acanthium | | | | Common name: | | Cotton thistle | | | | Type of plant: | | Biennial | | | | Hardiness: | | Hardy | | | | Flower colour: | | Pink | | | | Leaf colour: | | Silver-grey | | | | Height and spread: | | 180cm x 90cm (6ft x 3ft) | | | | Description: | |
Tall thistle-like plant with prickly leaves. Will grow in sun or partial shade. To prevent self-seeding remove dead flowers, and protect leaves against slug and snail damage.
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| | | | Latin name: | | Dianthus barbatus | | | | Common name: | | Sweet Wiliam | | | | Type of plant: | | Biennial | | | | Hardiness: | | Hardy | | | | Flower colour: | | Pink, white and red | | | | Leaf colour: | | Mid-green | | | | Height and spread: | | 30cm to 45cm x 20cm (1ft to 18in x 8in) | | | | Description: | |
Traditional cottage garden plant which produces beautifully scented heads of flowers. Requires spot in full sun, and prefers a slightly alkaline, well-drained soil.
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| | | | Latin name: | | Lunaria annua | | | | Common name: | | Honesty | | | | Type of plant: | | Biennial | | | | Hardiness: | | Very hardy | | | | Flower colour: | | Deep purple to white | | | | Leaf colour: | | Mid-green | | | | Height and spread: | | 75 cm x 30 cm | | | | Description: | |
An erect fast growing biennial with attractive, oval, serrated leaves. The flowers appear on short stems and are followed by silvery coloured seed pods. Prefers a spot in partial shade.
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