In an extract from her new book, The Atlas of Deadly Plants , author Jane Perrone takes us on a journey into the history and dangerous allure of popular plants such as lily of the valley

Primroses are one of the earliest flowers to appear each year. Their name is derived from the Latin phrase prima rosa, literally meaning the ‘first rose’ of the year. Our native primrose, Primula vulg

Early June in the Dolomites. Out on a hike, I’m amazed by the abundance of the high Alpine meadows stretched out before me. A thousand mauve dashes of scented orchids, shoal upon shoal of clear blue h

At a time when much of the garden sleeps, winter flowers are all the more precious for their scarcity; an irrepressible bunch, undaunted by wind, frost or even a blanket of snow. Many are small, yet t

When I entered the world of snowdrops over 30 years ago, I quickly came into contact with some formidable female galanthophiles. They often wore hats and they nearly always had a silver snowdrop brooc

Rosie Irving explains why this resilient, wildlife-friendly plant has a place in every garden