Our seeds, bulbs, seedlings and plants are accompanied with symbols to give you a little more information about them. You can see the definitions at any time by hovering over the symbol with your mouse.
Below are all the different symbols we use around our website. For more information on the plants we sell, please see our bulbs, plants and seeds information page.
Plant types
For more information, please see our article on Understanding different types of plants.
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Hardy annual
- can withstand a degree of frost
- will flower, set seed and die within one year
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Half-hardy annual
- will need to be protected from frost
- will flower, set seed and die within one year
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Biennial
- will live for two years - flowering and setting seed in the second year
- may self-seed to replace itself
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Perennial
- can last substantially longer than one year
- a great investment as they will remain in your garden for years
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Tender perennial
- frost tender
- will need to be brought inside for the winter
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Short-lived perennial
- will flower in first and second years but may struggle after that
- often described as 'grown as a hardy annual' or similar
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Growing conditions
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Full sun
- needs a site with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day
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Partial shade
- needs sunlight for at least two or three hours a day, in the early morning or late evening
- part of the day may be screened from direct sunlight by an obstacle such as a fence, wall or tree
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Full shade
- needs a north- or east-facing site, or a thick canopy of trees or shrubs
- needs less than three hours of sunlight a day
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Needs staking
- a tall, climbing or top-heavy plant that needs support as it grows
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Perfect for pots
- recommended by Sarah to be grown in pots or containers
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Further information
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RHS Award of Garden Merit
- a mark of quality awarded since 1922 to garden plants by the Royal Horticultural Society
- award usually made after plant trials to judge the performance under UK growing conditions
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Cut-and-come-again
- will keep producing flowers/fruit if you keep harvesting
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Loved by pollinators
- full of nectar to provide a valuable food supply for bees and other pollinating insects
- encourages pollinators into your garden
- most on the RHS Perfect for Pollinators list, but some also recommended by Sarah from her own garden
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Good for cutting
- recommended by Sarah to add to your flower arrangements
- most have a good vase life
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Scented
- recommended by Sarah for its scented flowers or foliage
- grow in a position where the scent will be enjoyed
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Edible
- edible flowers or seeds to add to salads, baking etc
- Please exercise caution – check which parts of the plant are edible and if they need to be cooked first. Only proceed if you are certain.
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Organic
- seeds which have been produced by wholly organic means and certified as such by Organic Farmers and Growers
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Exclusive to Sarah Raven
- collections or mixes that work well together, carefully chosen by Sarah
- only available from Sarah Raven in the UK
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Bestseller
- a firm favourite with our customers
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