An extra robust native bugle selection. Effective evergreen groundcover for shade. Chocolate glossy lvs. Deep blue spires in April/ May 15cm. Great for wildlife and as an edging plant.

Unusual biennial sage that will seed about. Above the architectural leaves come the most glorious big flowers in shades of amethyst. Needs good drainage and a sunny spot. Flowers June July 50cm 9cm pots supplied

All phlox are summer stalwarts with whorls of scented upright flowers and neat leaves coping well in sun or shade. This gem however has one other trick up its sleeve - handsome cream foliage which illuminates dark corners all summer. Soft pink scented flowers with a darker eye complete the picture 30cm

Mexican Ponytail grass. This small textural mass of blond leaves is popular with garden designers. Great in sunny places such as gravel gardens Year-round interest. Just cut off at the ground in Spring to refresh. Ht 30cm

Unusual and dainty shrub that only reaches a meter high but decks itself in Chamaeleon-like leaves which change from shrimp-pink in spring to cream and finally green by summer when attractive, white spirea-like flowers appear on the branches. Will slowly sucker about in sun or part shade. May - Jul Ht 1m

The best of the dark purple-leaved sedums. This perennial really stands out in the border with its rosy red flowers through September set above dark purple leaves followed by decent winter seed heads too. 30cm 9cm Pots

Old-fashioned but elegant plant with unique rows of ivory bell flowers hanging from ranks of lustrous leaves in May. This is a tough perennial which is best in shade and a hearty soil. See it growing wild in the woods of the local Nettlebridge Valley 50cm.

Big name for a pretty little ground covering fern. This unusual variety is frilly and a fresh lettuce green all year-round making it a great companion for early spring bulbs and as a tight understorey to roses and shrubs. Ht 25cm. Spread 40cm after 2 years

This cottage garden plant has a unique colouration - irridescent blue/purple flowers above purple -tinged foliage. Blooms appear in June to July; they smell sweetly and last a long time on compact plants in sun or shade and no staking required 50cm

Jerusalem sage is a tough but sumptuous groundcover plant with bold - almost evergreen mats of foliage from which rise yellow whorls of flower in pom-poms up the stem in June. Great seedheads last well through winter. Ht 40cm. spread 1m +

Japanese Black Mondo Grass makes neat little clumps of shining dark foliage. A perfect foil for small cyclamen and miniature bulbs such as snowdrops and crocus. Good in sun or shade to edge borders and paths. Evergreen and easy. Ht 10cm

Plume poppy. A great stately foliage plant with bold blue-grey leaves and subtle tawny panicles of flower that catch the evening sun. Tends to spread rapidly so good in wilder places or confined spaces. Ht 2m.

A new twist on the tough old cottage garden favourite. The same cheerful spikes of neat flowers in June but beautiful creamy variegations in this cultivar which have pinky tinges as they sprout in spring. Not invasive like the original form. No staking required. Ht 40cm

Unusual and dainty shrub that only reaches a meter high but decks itself in Chamaeleon-like leaves which change from shrimp-pink in spring to cream and finally green by summer when attractive, white spirea-like flowers appear on the branches. Will slowly sucker about in sun or part shade. May - Jul Ht 1m

Dusty Miller. No other plant looks like this. Ghostly skeletal, upright structure above a rosette of evergreen grey furry leaves. This is a short-lived perennial for sun and good drainage but it will seed about generously and is long flowering - effective in gravel areas. Carmine flwrs June – Jul. Ht 40cm

Unusual evergreen perennial. Above a grassy green mound of foliage, strings of small purple flowers emerge like clusters of tiny grapes in early autumn. A neat and easy plant for dry, shady places. Good as an edger too and nice with hostas and trycertis lily. Ht. 30cm.

Chilean Iris. Unusual evergreen perennial. Makes a grassy mound 80cm high. In spring wiry wands of pure white flowers rise above the leaves. Will eventually seed about and can get quite large. Ht 80cm. Fertile, well-drained soils.

A striking and vigorous little groundcover making sheets of stunning silvery leaves topped with pretty mauve-purple hooded flowers in May - June. Clip over in summer and it will look tidy all year. Easy to remove where you don’t want it. Great in shade. Ht 15cm.

A mini waterfall of golden tresses make this compact little Japanese grass a stunner in both the border or as a feature container plant. No flowers as such but great foliage all year - even in winter when the leaves take on a parchment colour for months. Ht 20cm Spread 60cm.

Unusual and classy geranium in being very neat and compact making it a great edging plant. The crinkled and scalloped leaves are as much a feature of the plant as the large saucer- shaped flowers that come in spring in an unusual indigo purple shade. 20cm

Clouds of dark burgundy flowers through May rise up above leaves stained prettily with a purple splash in the centres. An easy background perennial for shade and gently self seeds about. Cut back after flowering for the best summer foliage. Ht. 50cm

An unusual evergreen plant with apple-green frilly and succulent leaves rather like lettuce above which elegant tall spikes of pinky starry flowers appear mid-summer to 50cm. Seedheads in Autumn too. A good plant for edging , containers, or for semi shaded corners.

Euphorbias are handsome evergreens with architectural foliage and huge spring panicles of lime green flowers when little else is looking interesting. This species needs full sun, good drainage and plenty of space as it gets up to 1m high by the same across. Gently seeds about in time. The milky sap is a skin and eye irritant so handle with care when removing the spent flowerheads in spring. Ht 1m

Stunning and dramatic hardy Summer bulb from South Africa with purple sword leaves making a bold presence even before the towers of pink flowers on purple stems arrive and last for months. Flowers July - Sep. Stake each flower for best effect. Provide sun and good drainage and plant bulbs on soil surface. Flower height 50cm

One of the longest flowering plants in the garden. This makes an evergreen shrub with a mound grey foliage above which rises spikes of mauve flowers. Trim over in winter and take cuttings to be ready to replace tired plants every few years. 50cm

Unusual and tough geranium relative but with attractive ferny leaves - a neat clumpy habit and always flowering through summer from July to October. Deadhead for a long display. Ht 25 cm

Easy good looking evergreen groundcover. The glossy leaves often turn purple in winter but it’s best to trim away last years foliage by March to make way for dainty little clouds of pale orange star-like flowers in April. Good in dry shade where it makes dainty carpets. 20cm

Water saxifrage. A bold statement for heavy soils or waterside planting. The huge, rounded leaves (40cm across) make a small-garden alternative to giant rhubarb and turn rich red colours in Autumn. In Spring, large heads of pink flowers rise from the bare earth. A tough - dramatic plant. 80cm

A black leaved form of cow parsley and a welcome herald of early summer as it drifts and seeds about between other plants. Elegant and delicate and great for pollinating insects. Some seedlings come up green so be sure to weed them out in spring. Flowers May Ht 1.4m

One of the best hardy salvias purely for its longevity of flowering. A great bee plant if you keep deadheading you will have masses of purple spikes from June to November. Protect new shoots in spring from slugs. Ht 40cm by Width 50cm Full sun and good drainage.