Known for its glossy dark-green foliage and late summer deep-blue flowers, Caryopteris ?Petit Bleu? is a low-mounding, deciduous shrub with an elegant free-branching habit. Not only does the foliage and flower colour contrast well, providing the garden with a late summer splash of colour, this shrub is extremely attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects, due to its nectar-rich blooms. What?s more impressive is that wherever you choose to site this superior cultivar, it will continue to produce a dramatic and eye-catching feature, especially when planted in a sunny spot. Height: 60cm (2?). Spread: 90cm (3?).
Perfect, pure white flowers create a head-turning stir in early summer, drenching every graceful, arching branch of this elegant shrub in an amazing floral display. In autumn, attention turns to the leaves as they take on gentle shades of orange and gold. Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride' has a pleasing, rounded habit. Also known as the Pearl Bush, this deciduous shrub holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It's a superb performer for the garden border or woodland edge. Height: 2m (6'). Spread: 3m (10').
Fothergilla major is covered in an abundance of scented, white, fluffy bottlebrush flowers in May, just as the leaves are beginning to unfurl. This compact, deciduous shrub, a relative of the witch hazel, features dark green, shiny, textured leaves that turn to well-known vibrant orange and red shades as autumn approaches. Also known as Mountain Witch Alder, this shrub has a neat, slow-growing habit, making it a favourite for the edges of woodland gardens, cottage gardens and in mixed borders. Winner of an RHS AGM, Fothergilla major grows happily in partial shade but produces the best leaf colour when situated in a sunny position. Height: 2.5m (8?). Spread: 2m (6.5?).
Hydrangea arborescens 'Strong Annabelle' produces giant globes of pure white flowers which are held on extremely strong stems. It is similar in appearance to the well-liked Hydrangea 'Annabelle', but offers better wind resistance and reduced flopping for a more impressive garden display. The huge flower heads appear from midsummer through until autumn and make superb cut flowers with impressive longevity. This Sevenbark variety is ideal for cottage gardens, woodland gardens, borders or even large patio containers. Height and spread: 1.5m (5').
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bloomstar', part of the 'Endless Summer' series, features an abundance of stunning flowers from May all the way through until September. The giant flower heads are initially green, slowly developing into shades of blue-purple or vivid pink with creamy white centres, depending on the pH of your soil. The deep green leaves feature red veining and the stems are also bright red, adding further interest. Hydrangea 'Bloomstar' makes ideal cut flowers, as well as being perfectly suited to patio containers, woodland gardens and mixed borders. Height: 1.2m (4'). Spread: 1.5m (5').
Prepare to be blown away by the spectacular displays of this impressive dwarf Hydrangea. A mass of gorgeous white, conical blooms appear in late summer, becoming flushed with pale pink as the season progresses, followed by impressive vibrant autumn foliage. Hydrangea paniculata ?Bobo? is extremely reliable, blooming year after year and ever so easy to grow. Plus, since it blooms on new wood, there will always be masses of buds waiting to put on a show, even after a hard winter. Its neat, compact habit makes this undeniably beautiful shrub ideal for small gardens, adapting well to many situations, whether it be in a border or patio pot. Height: 90cm (36?). Spread: 120cm (46?).
Equally as impressive as its sibling ?Limelight?, Hydrangea paniculata ?Little Lime? maintains a much more compact habit, making it suitable for small gardens and containers. Fantastic displays of conical, lime-green flowers float above lush green foliage which changes to glorious hues of red and orange in autumn. As the blooms age, they fade through creamy white to a soft shade of pink. Who?d have thought, for a shrub with so many colour changes through the seasons, this unique introduction will cope in most conditions and still manages to maintain its vigour. Height and spread: 150cm (60?).
Tree Peony 'Luoyang Hong' is a gorgeous spring flowering shrub with large showy flowerheads up to up to 25cm (10) in diameter. The petals are magenta pink, with yellow stamens in the centre. Deciduous, but hardy and disease resistant it prefers a sunny or partial shade position and looks great, alongside other varieties of Paeonia suffruticosa, in garden borders. As a native of China, it is a perfect plant for oriental style gardens, but equally at home in a traditional British cottage garden. Height and spread: 150cm (60).
With a mass of pretty pale pink flowers from May right through to September, Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty' is a treasure for the cottage garden border. It loves a hot sunny position, is easy to grow and tolerates drought. This deciduous Shrubby Cinquefoil can be grown as a low hedge or grown in a container on the patio or even in a roof garden. Height and spread: 1m (39).
A wonderfully decorative shrub with black foliage and panicles of starry pink, citrus fragranced, blooms from early summer. Autumn sees the emergence of glossy black berries that are a useful food source for birds. Ideal for a patio container when young, then transfer to the garden when larger. Ht. 4-6m.
An all-round brilliant performer in almost any garden situation, boasting dark orange foliage in spring, changing to golden yellow in summer and fiery golden-orange shades in autumn. All summer long, large pink flowers provide an outstanding display and are particularly attractive to butterflies. Spiraea japonica ?Double Play Gold? is a deciduous shrub which looks superb planted on mass and individually, in borders and wildlife gardens. Easy to care for and very resilient, perfect for beginner gardeners and those looking for sudden impact. Height and spread: 90cm (3?).
From late spring, Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' produces violet blue flower spikes that really stand out against its thick mat of shimmering black foliage - which becomes even darker when grown in full sun. ?Black Scallop? is more tolerant of sun that many other Bugle varieties, and makes an excellent groundcover plant, thriving in almost any soil conditions. Use it to attract pollinating insects to your wildlife garden, or allow it to creep through rockeries or the front of borders. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 60cm (24).
Bergenia 'Dragonfly Sakura' is a sturdy evergreen with shining, rounded foliage that emerges a lush green and matures to a deep purple-black during the winter. It attracts pollinating insects into your garden with its delightful candy pink flowers in March. These Elephant?s Ears make delicate cut flowers, and Bergenia 'Dragonfly Sakura' is a hardy and low-maintenance perennial that is idea for the front of cottage garden borders. Height: 25cm (10). Spread: 30cm (12).
The arching, strap-like variegated foliage of Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' is particularly eye-catching, and this elegant sedge also produces small, white flower spikes in late spring. Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' is a hardy perennial grass with a clumping habit, making it a perfect choice for the front of border, rockeries and patio containers. It needs very little maintenance to keep it looking fantastic, is evergreen, and thrives in rich and fertile soil. Happy in light shade, it makes a very useful and charming addition to the garden. Height: 40cm (14). Spread: 60cm (24).
This enchanting plant emerges from the ground each spring, forming a clump of fresh finely cut leaves, followed by the most dainty white heart-shaped flowers born above the foliage and hanging along fine stems. Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' flowers through April and May, brightening a shady corner or woodland area. Also known as the Lyre Flower, Dutchman's Breeches or Bleeding Heart, this spring beauty likes to grow in moist conditions. Height: 120cm (48). Spread: 45cm (18).
A great choice for a splash of lemon yellow in a sunny spring border, Geum 'Banana Daiquiri' has an enchanting little flower with a swirl of yellow anthers surrounded by the most delicate lemon yellow petals, each one lined with almost-transparent veins. The flower grows on a tall fuzzy stem above the neat clump of semi-evergreen leaves. This little Avens looks good at the front of the border and makes a nice cut flower in a spring arrangement. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 35cm (14).
A real dazzler, Geum 'Fireball' is easy to grow in a sunny spot and comes back year after year with its fine display of fiery blooms. The ruffled orange flowers with scalloped edges are borne on thin stems above clumps of leaves and last from May right through to July. They contrast wildly with strong blues and purples. Loved by pollinating insects, Avens also make great cut flowers. Height and spread: 45cm (18).
Keeping the garden bright and lovely well into October, Helenium 'Double Trouble' has flowers of gold with narrow ruffled petals around a button-like centre. The flowers grow on tall branched stems and bloom from July until early autumn, providing a great source of nectar for wildlife and attracting pollinating insects and bees. Helen's Flower is a well-loved traditional cottage garden plant and looks great in a vase on the kitchen table too! Height: 80cm (31). Spread: 60cm (24).
Here's an amazing plant that can transform a damp, shady, neglected corner of the garden with its great beauty. 'Great' is an appropriate description as this is the largest of all the blue Hostas. It will slowly grow to form enormous clumps with grey-blue leaves up to 40cm (1'4) long. In early summer it produces white flowers on erect stems which grow up to 1m (3'3) high. Hosta 'Blue Angel' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its excellent garden performance. Plantain Lilies prefer moist soil and a shady location. Height: 90cm (3'0). Spread: 1.2m (4'0).