Guide to Symbols and Abbreviations on our Website and Catalogue
21 February 2024
Types of Plants
A Annual A plant that completes its entire life cycle (growth, reproduction, death) in one season.
HA Hardy Annual Plants in this group do not need to be raised indoors, but can be sown directly into their flowering positions in the garden in spring.
HHA Half Hardy Annual Sown in early spring under glass or on a windowsill (see individual packet instructions). Most HHAs are frost-tender and must not be planted outdoors until all danger of frost has passed.
HP Hardy Perennial Living more than two years and usually flowering each year from the second season, unless indicated as first year flowering. Can tolerate frost.
HHP Half Hardy Perennial Living more than two years and usually flowering each year from the second season, unless indicated as first year flowering. Cannot tolerate frost, but maybe overwintered if given frost protection.
HB Biennial A plant that completes its entire life cycle in two years, growing in the first, reproducing (flowering) and then dying in the second.
G Greenhouse Plants generally grown as indoor plants or for summer outdoor container plants. Cannot tolerate frost, but may be overwintered if given frost protection.
F1 Hybrid The result of hand pollination between two parent plants resulting in a superior hybrid plant.
Note If gardeners save seeds from hybrids they do not come true.
F2 Hybrid The immediate descendants from selfed or inter-pollinated F1 plants. Plants have improved vigour and uniformity compared to open pollinated varieties, but will not be as strong as F1 Hybrids.
S/C Seed Count - The approximate number of seeds included in each packet.
Plants which have received the RHS Plants for Pollinators approval. For more information, please click the logo.
Plants which have receieved an RHS Award of Garden Merit. For more information, please click the logo.
Good Cut Flower
Pefect for Patios
Symbols on Suffolk Herbs' Seeds
Po - Poisonous plant or seed
S - Scarification - Rub hard seed between sand paper to fasten germination.
V - Vernalisation - Subject seed to the cold winter period for germinating in spring.
Vh - Vernalisation is helpful, germination is often improved.
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