24 of Dan’s key plants at Lowther

Parterre ‘Indigo’ 1 Salvia pratensis One calyces. of several Prune hardy by half Salvia its height with after attractive the first flush and it will flower again. 90cm. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b†.

2 Potentilla nepalensis ‘Miss Willmott’ An old hybrid of worth dating from 1920. Abundant, warm cherry-pink flowers, each with a conspicuous dark eye. 50cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-9b. 3 Baptisia australis A plant that enjoys full sun and deep soil. Your effort is rewarded with intense blue flowers and lupin-like foliage. 1.2m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 3a-9b. 4 Nepeta govaniana A plant that is often mistaken for something else. Its delicate, light yellow flowers last for many weeks. 90cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.

5 Campanula ‘Purple Sensation’ Dark-purple flowers emerge from near-black buds and hang in great profusion. 60cm. USDA 3a-6b. 6 Selinum wallichianum A wonderful ornamental cow parsley with finely cut leaves and umbels of white flowers in summer. Somewhat surprisingly prefers sun. 1.8m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 6b-10b. 7 Rosa rubiginosa A vigorous species rose with grey-green scented foliage, pretty pink flowers and attractive red hips. Best when allowed to scramble. 3m. RHS H7, USDA 4a-9b.

8 Actaea simplex ‘ James Compton’ Has leaves that start dark green and mature to matt olive-black. Creamy white flower spikes emerge from pinkish buds. 1.5m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 9 Cephalaria gigantea Tall, wiry stems emerge from dense, green foliage in midsummer, each branched and tipped with scabious-like, primrose-yellow flowers. 2.5m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b. 10 Eurybia divaricata Prefers slightly moist soil, but is happy in sun or shade. In late summer wiry black stems froth with starry white flowers. 75cm. USDA 3a-8b.

11 Thalictrum ‘Elin’ A hybrid between T. rochebruneanum and T. flavum subsp. glaucum. Sprays of palelavender and yellow flowers in summer. 2.5m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b.

12 Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’ A vigorous leafy perennial with pinnate foliage. Holds a mass of small, deep-red flowers in midsummer. 50cm. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b.

13 Gillenia trifoliata Cultivated for many centuries, its wiry reddish stems carry hundreds of small white flowers, reminiscent of a cloud. 1m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 4a-9b. 14 Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ This meadowsweet is tough, reliable and easy to accommodate and can add lightness to an otherwise dark corner. 2.5m. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 4a-8b. Castle interior 15 Papaver cambricum A useful native that gently seeds around, even in dense shade. Single yellow flowers are held above fresh green foliage. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 6b-10b. 16 Tropaeolum speciosum A vigorous rhizomatous climber with scarlet-red flowers. It sometimes seems difficult to establish, but will romp away if happy. 3m. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 8a-10b. 17 Epimedium wushanense An exquisitely elegant plant from China with long, narrow, spiny-edged leaves and myriad pale-yellow flowers held on wiry stems. 45cm. USDA 5a-9b. 18 Anemone rivularis A clump-forming perennial with saucershaped white flowers – usually of five petals – that favours the damper parts of the country. 1m. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9a. 19 Brunnera macrophylla ‘Betty Bowring’ An obliging ground-covering perennial with large heart-shaped leaves and long sprays of white flowers in spring. Likes moisture. 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b. 20 Onoclea sensibilis A moisture-loving fern with bold, arching, fresh-green fronds that are continually replaced through the summer. 1m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b.

21 Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’ A shrub for the connoisseur: numerous green flowers are surrounded by large creamy-pink bracts. 8m. AGM. RHS H5.

22 Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group A large shrub with hairy stems and velvety, deep-green leaves. The flowers are lilac blue and emerge in late summer. 2.5m. RHS H5, USDA 7a-9b.

23 Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis f. pteracantha Shrub rose from China valued for its attractive red thorns and neat fern-like leaves. 2.5m. RHS H5, USDA 5b-9b. 24 Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis Thrives in shade and sun, its fresh green foliage remaining attractive all season, with deep-red flowers arriving in summer. 60cm. USDA 4a-8b.