Hosta undulata var. undulata or 'Mediovariegata' is an RHS AGM winning hardy perennial that strikes a rare balance between flowers and foliage. In July and August, its lavender-blue, funnel-shaped blooms look stunning on their tall stems, particularly when the plant is featured in a patio container or at the front of a border. However, the leaves over which they tower are equally attractive, with a creamy-white centre and an unusual, twisted growth habit. This foliage also provides good groundcover in cottage and woodland gardens. Indeed, to achieve the brightest colours, a shady setting with plenty of trees is an ideal setting for this understated Plantain Lily. Height: 45cm (1'6). Spread: 45cm (1'6).
Damp, dry or shaded areas are not the ideal place for a great many plants but Hostas are the ideal solution. They are easy to grow and will provide ground cover in the shaded border or you can make a feature of them in a container if you have areas of the patio that don't catch the sun. Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans is clump forming and has strong blue-green foliage with deep ridges that give texture to the display and during the summer months you can expect stems of pale lilac flowers too. The Giant Blue Hosta is a worthy RHS Award of Garden Merit holder and is the perfect plant for moist, damp, dark borders or difficult, dry shady borders.. Height: 100cm (39). Spread: 120cm (48).
With seemingly hundreds of deep blue blooms on enormous flower heads, Agapanthus 'Regal Beauty' is a showy, evergreen perennial that makes a real feature plant for borders and patio containers. It quickly forms large clumps of strap-shaped leaves, which are followed by flowers in late summer. This African Lily is best grown in a sheltered and sunny position, and requires some winter protection, but adds a wonderful exotic feel to your garden. Height: 1m (39). Spread: 50cm (20).
Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' bears stunning flower spikes all around the stem and is guaranteed to bloom in its first year of planting, maintaining a colourful appearance in your garden over many years. This delightful F1 hybrid Digitalis is the perfect choice for brightening up your cottage garden border. Height: 120cm (48). Spread: 45cm (18).
Pretty coppery-red petals form an elegant skirt around spherical brown centres. Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty', also known as Sneezeweed, is an upright herbaceous perennial which blooms throughout summer and is great for bringing late season colour to the garden. This RHS AGM variety looks stunning grown with Asters, Rudbeckia and ornamental grasses for a prairie style theme, or makes a warm addition to cottage garden borders. Hardy and reliable, Heleniums flowers are also excellent for cutting. Height: 90cm (36). Spread: 60cm (24).
Cornus canadensis or Creeping Dogwood can be planted in woodland gardens to prevent weeds from growing at the base of other, larger shrubs. It provides equally good ground cover in sunny borders, where its small, white flowers will stand out against rosettes of green, oval leaves in the late spring and early summer. These cross-shaped blooms are succeeded by scarlet berries, making the hardy perennial a colourful and practical choice of plant. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: 1m (3'3).
When it flowers in the summer, Silene x robotii 'Rollys Favourite' is sure to be one of the brightest plants in your garden. The hardy perennial produces bubblegum pink blooms in abundance throughout June, July and August. These flowers are sure to catch your eye when placed at the front of a sunny or partially shady border. Campions also make great patio plants despite their sprawling habit; such versatility makes them suitable for novices as well as experienced gardeners. This Catchfly has been crossed with Lychnis to form a unique, hybrid plant that will stand out in any cottage garden. Height: 40cm (1'4). Spread: 40cm (1'4).
This dwarf conifer, that is super low maintenance, is an excellent addition to gravel gardens, Japanese gardens, and rockeries. Picea abies 'Little Gem' is evergreen, and slow growing, reaching a maximum height of just 50cm. A minature Norway Spruce, with a compact cushion habit, it has fresh green growth every year, that contrasts with the mature dark green needle foliage. The RHS have awarded the plant its Award of Garden Merit. Height and Spread: 50cm (20).
Sarcococca confusa, known more commonly as Sweet Box or Christmas Box, is the perfect way to ensure there is colour and life in your garden during the long, dark winter months. White flowers are produced on the underside of stems which are full of green waxy leaves and followed by long lasting black berries. The distinctive, pleasant honey like fragrance adds to its winter appeal. Sarcococca confusa is an easy to grow evergreen shrub that requires little maintenance to grow well in shade and partial shade. Height 2m (6.6'). Spread: 1m (39).
Pyracantha 'Orange Glow' is a tough and resilient, evergreen shrub - perfect for adding year-round colour and interest to your garden. This RHS AGM Firethorn has dark and glossy foliage, a lovely backdrop to the small white and lightly fragrant flowers that form in late spring. Shiny orange-red berries give a glowing display in autumn, and provide a valuable source of winter food for wild birds.
A real eye-catcher, Virginia Creeper will quickly cover a wall or fence with attractively shaped leaves which turn the most beautiful shades of crimson, apricot and yellow in autumn, sometimes bearing clusters of blue-black berries at the same time. A vigorous and easy-to-grow climber, Parthenocissus quinquefolia is a useful choice for sun or shade. But don't underestimate its zest for growth - it really does need plenty of space! Height: up to 12m (39'). Spread: 4m (13').
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is valued for its attractive variegated leaves, with white edging. It has a dense, compact habit and is a shrub suitable for a range of settings, from patio planters to borders and raised beds. This Spindle plant can even be trained up the sides of walls and fences. It is extremely durable and can be planted in all types of soil types and is drought and shade tolerant. Height: 1m (3?). Spread: 1.5m (5?).
The foliage of Juniperus chinensis (also known as Juniperus x pfitzeriana) 'Blaauw' has an unusual blue-grey tone. Its colouring makes this dwarf conifer stand out in rockeries and other sunny or partially shady parts of the garden. Alternatively, the Chinese Juniper can be grown as a specimen plant or tree. Like most Sabinas, it is slow-growing, but requires little maintenance once mature. The plant is therefore a useful and long-lasting hardy shrub. Height: 1.2m (3'11). Spread: 1m (3'3).
The Sweet Bay is an attractive evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves and small yellow flowers in springtime which attract bees and beneficial insects. It looks good among naturalistic planting, but can also be used in formal or contemporary gardens, and is often clipped into topiary shapes, or grown as a Standard 'lollipop' Tree. Laurus nobilis is also at home in a patio container or in the herb garden where its leaves are highly prized for flavouring curries, soups and stews. Bay Laurel holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Height: 12m (39'). Spread: 10m (32').
Such an unusually shaped flower with Clematis 'Princess Diana'. Instead of the more common large open-faced blooms this attractive variety of clematis has trumpet shaped magenta pink flowers that are narrow at the base then flaring as a star shape that gives a view of the contrasting stamens. The overall effect is as beautiful as it's namesake. Clematis 'Princess Diana' is a late flowering texensis cultivar which will be in flower from mid-summer through to autumn. The maintenance is minimal as all that is required is that it's cut back to almost ground level to ensure yearly displays. Height: 4m (12'). Spread 1m (3'). Pruning group 3.
No perennial border would be complete without at least one variety of Sedum, and if you?re looking to encourage a host of pollinating insects into your garden, together with attractive foliage and flowers, look no further. Sedum 'Matrona' is one of the best, blessed with succulent leaves flushed bronze, with purple stems and clusters of soft pink umbel flowers in late summer. This hardy perennial will provide years of joy and happiness, due to its long lasting nature and structural habit. The seedheads not only add a splash of colour late in the year, but remain most attractive through winter, especially when frosted. Very easy to propagate and a valuable plant that makes an excellent cut flower too. Height: 75cm (30). Spread: 30cm (12).
Leucothoe 'Scarletta' is an attractive shrub, loved for its vibrant glossy foliage that turns maroon red in autumn. It grows well in shaded areas with acidic soil and is fully hardy. Where soils are not naturally acidic, grow Leucothoe in patio containers using an ericaceous compost mix. It is a good shrub for a medium sized garden and is great for groundcover to suppress unwanted weed growth. Height: 1.5m (4'.9). Spread: 2m (6'.5)
An extremely versatile ornamental shrub that can be grown as an upright specimen plant or even trained as a hedge. Thanks to its prickly nature, it is the perfect choice for creating a secure property boundary. These plants require minimal maintenance or trimming and have an upright, columnar habit. Berberis 'Orange Rocket' is suitable for a range of soils and positions, especially difficult, exposed areas.
Hypericum 'Hidcote', more commonly known as St John's Wort, a plant used traditionally to lift mild depression, has bright yellow flowers, with orange anthers in the centre, from summer through to autumn. Its evergreen foliage provides greenery all year round. It's a nice shrub for small and medium sized gardens and makes a colourful low hedge if planted in a line. It can be planted in all types of soil and prefers a sunny or partial shade position. Height: 1.2m (3.9'). Spread: 1.5m (5').
With glossy evergreen foliage, and lemon yellow flowers in spring, Mahonia aquifolium makes a fantastic informal low hedge or planted as a stand alone specimen alongside other shrub varieties. The masses of yellow flowers are followed later in the year by deep blue, autumn berries. Also, at this time of year the leaves gain a purple flush. The leaves are prickly, making it useful for security planting, to deter cats and burglars. It thrives in shade, making it ideal for gardens with tall trees, or in a woodland garden. Very low maintenance. Height: 1m (39). Spread: 1.5m (59).