Matthew’s favourite plants

Anemanthele lessoniana

I’ve propagated all the many plants that are now spread around the borders. Incredibly tolerant of sun or shade, this evergreen grass is also pretty when in flower. H/S: 1m (3¼ft).

Musa basjoo

For architectural interest, the iconic Japanese banana is hard to beat. It has yellowish flowers in summer and it once produced its tiny ornamental bananas for me. H: 5m (16½ft), S: 4m (13ft).

Dryopteris erythrosora

These are the best plants to go beneath trees. The bronze-coloured young fronds of the hardy deciduous buckler fern are particularly attractive. H: 60cm (2ft), S: 40cm (1¼ft).

Penstemons

I grow many penstemons because they flower for a long time. Pictured here is ‘Hidcote Pink’ and I’m especially fond of ‘Husker Red’, which has bronze stems and leaves. H: 1m (3¼ft), S: 50cm (1½ft).

Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’

Its bronze pointed leaves are fairly slug proof and the contrasting yellow flowers appear just in time for my garden opening. H: 1.2m (4ft), S: 60cm (2ft).

Spartium junceum (Spanish broom)

This plant self-seeded into my path so I dug it up and grew it on. It’s now smothered in yellow flowers that smell lovely. H/S: 3m (10ft).