The Plantsman's Preference

The Plantsman's Preference Mail order and retail nursery growing a wide range of Hardy Geraniums, Ornamental Grasses and new, rare & unusual perennials. South Lopham, Diss, Norfolk.

We have been selling an extensive range of Hardy Geraniums and Ornamental Grasses as well as many new, rare and unusual perennials (particularly those suitable for shade) since 1996, mail order since 1998 and online since 2000. We probably have the largest collection of Hardy Geraniums for sale in the UK, with at least 200 different varieties over the course of a year. We also grow a small, choice

, selection of shrubby plants has been added, particularly those from the Caprifoliaceae. The most important factors in our choice of what plants we grow have always been; good garden value, growable, and possibly most important - we have to like it! We are particularly keen that plants should get on with it without lots of fussing from the gardener so we generally do not grow anything that needs staking or deadheading! Our online shop enables you to buy securely from anywhere in the UK or EU. The website includes a sophisticated Plant Selector to enable those not so sure of what to buy to narrow down the selection a bit!

Aconitum sp ex Russia from Cally Gardens several years ago. Over 1.5m so it just about makes a good match with Helianthu...
02/09/2026

Aconitum sp ex Russia from Cally Gardens several years ago. Over 1.5m so it just about makes a good match with Helianthus maximilliani behind and one of the taller Molinia caerulea ssp arundinacea cultivars mingling through.

Last reminder: If you'd like to come and work here on the nursery, doing _all_ the nursery jobs have a look at plantpref...
29/08/2026

Last reminder: If you'd like to come and work here on the nursery, doing _all_ the nursery jobs have a look at plantpref.co.uk/work Closing date for applications tomorrow, Sunday 30th August

Kniphofia 'Penny Rockets' keeps sending up flowers all summer and should carry on into the autumn. It's been a while sin...
28/08/2026

Kniphofia 'Penny Rockets' keeps sending up flowers all summer and should carry on into the autumn. It's been a while since we've had spare stock but it's doing well this year so there's hope for dividing it in the spring.

Named by Jaime Blake at Bressingham.

Succisa pratensis with a self seeded Sanguisorba. Sometimes plants do the hard work for you! Love the buds on the Succis...
27/08/2026

Succisa pratensis with a self seeded Sanguisorba. Sometimes plants do the hard work for you! Love the buds on the Succisa too.

A self seeded Verbena hastata 'Blue Spires' working well with the bright lime green of Stipa extremiorientalis.I've been...
25/08/2026

A self seeded Verbena hastata 'Blue Spires' working well with the bright lime green of Stipa extremiorientalis.

I've been growing this Stipa for about 20 years waiting for it to be noticed. Maybe now is it's time?! Tall and arching from tight clumps, deciduous and flowers all summer to 1.5m. It can self seed occasionally but has never worried me! One for full sun and not too fertile a soil.

The Verbena looks a bit purple in the photo, should be bluer in reality. 'Blue Spires' is just a selling name for the ordinary form of the species I believe.

21/08/2026

That's more like it! After a few light showers earlier in the week we had a proper thundery downpour yesterday afternoon.

Just a reminder that there is a job opportunity here, applications close at the end of the month. See www.plantpref.co.uk /work for details.

The shade house has been a welcome refuge for the last few weeks. Carex 'Ice Dance' and Begonia grandis 'Snowpop' making...
18/08/2026

The shade house has been a welcome refuge for the last few weeks. Carex 'Ice Dance' and Begonia grandis 'Snowpop' making a good combination.

Solidago x luteus 'Lemore' used to be sought after and sell well when it was thought to be a hybrid between an Aster and...
13/08/2026

Solidago x luteus 'Lemore' used to be sought after and sell well when it was thought to be a hybrid between an Aster and a Solidago. When it's Aster parent was reclassified as a Solidago and it lost the fancy X Solidaster name it seems to have become "just another yellow golden rod"!

But it's not. Low growing compared to most at 60-75cm and with this different acid yellow billowing flower head. It's an unusual colour and works well with purples and blues.

Oh, and it's doing pretty well in this drought...

Silphium mohrii - well have some to sell eventually but in the meantime I get to enjoy it in the stock area at sunset! ...
11/08/2026

Silphium mohrii - well have some to sell eventually but in the meantime I get to enjoy it in the stock area at sunset!

Eragrostis curvula S&SH10 is a much finer, more elegant form of this species. Hardy in well drained sunny places it seem...
09/08/2026

Eragrostis curvula S&SH10 is a much finer, more elegant form of this species. Hardy in well drained sunny places it seems underused and totally happy in this year's weather!

Size and habit is similar to Deschampsia cespitosa but with more delicate looking greyish foliage. This form has rarely self seeded for us compared to the standard type of the species.

Should be a good candidate for all these new sand and rubble gardens!

&sh10

Address

Church Road, South Lopham
Diss
IP222

Opening Hours

Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+447799855559

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Plantsman's Preference posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Plantsman's Preference:

Shortcuts

Share