30 KEY PLANTS

1 Linaria purpurea Thin spires of mauve snapdragon flowers held atop tall stems. Plants prefer free-draining soil and will self-seed. 60cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b†. 2 Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye daisies have large white flowers with yellow eyes. An opportunist that can grow in a meadow, or even a wall.

50cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b.

3 Lotus corniculatus Bird’s foot trefoil, a wonderful meadow creeper with yellow flowers. Common blue butterfly caterpillars rely on the foliage for food. 70cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-9b.

4 Rosa ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’ Lightly scented with deep-purple flowers.

Prune and feed to ensure good flowering. 1.2m. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.

5 Valeriana officinalis Excellent selfsowing perennial with tall, slender stems topped with clipped small white flowers. Weave through borders for continuity. 1.5m. RHS H4, USDA 4a-7b.

6 Ilex aquifolium Common holly with lustrous, spiny leaves. Grow as a tree, hedge or clip into topiary. Red berries. 12m. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 7a-9b.

7 Thalictrum ‘Elin’ Produces mounds of glaucous-purple foliage in spring and cream flowers on slender stems in summer. 2.5m. AGM. RHS H7.

8 Geranium nodosum Long-flowering, drought-tolerant and produces pale mauve-blue flowers throughout the summer. A must for a woodland garden. 40cm. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b.

9 Malva moschata f. alba Short-lived perennial with clusters of white flowers on rangy stems. Can flower first year from seed and will naturalise. 90cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b.

10 Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ Makes tight mounds of evergreen, aromatic foliage. Thin stems carry short panicles of lavender-blue flowers. 60cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b.

11 Centaurea nigra Important nectar plant for wildlife. A tough perennial wildflower with branched stems and purple-pink, thistle-like flowers.

1m. RHS H6, USDA 5a-10a.

12 Papaver somniferum An excellent self-seeding hardy annual. Makes large poppy flowers in shades of pink and mauve. 1.5m. RHS H5, USDA 3a-7b.

13 Rosa Queen of Sweden

(= ‘Austiger’) English shrub rose with lovely, soft pink, open flowers that are myrrh-scented and continue into autumn. 1m. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.

14 Origanum vulgare Perennial, aromatic herb, with small, ovate leaves and masses of tiny pink flowers in summer. 90cm. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.

15 Taxus baccata The native common yew is a good evergreen for hedging or clipping into smart topiary shapes. Be careful because all parts are poisonous.

15m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 6a-7b. 16 Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’ A dark plum-coloured opium poppy. Will come true from seed if not polluted with inferior forms.

1.5m. RHS H5.

17 Myrtus communis Small, shiny green leaves and masses of small, white flowers in summer.

3m. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 8a-10b.

18 Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’ Dark-red flowers appear above attractive, blue-grey foliage from summer through to autumn. 50cm. AGM.

RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b.

19 Hydrangea arborescens ‘ Annabelle’ Makes huge, white flowerheads on new growth. Prune in winter to a few buds and feed well with compost. 2.5m.

AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-9b.

20 Dianthus carthusianorum Forms cushions of narrow, bright-green foliage, with clusters of nectar-rich magenta flowers. 40cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b.

21 Rumex acetosa Leaves have a sharp lemony taste. Cut back flowerheads before seed ripens to prevent excessive self-sowing. 1.5m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b. 22 Eryngium giganteum A biennial with sharp silver foliage and bracts with conical umbels of small, blue flowers. Brilliant for bees. 80cm.

AGM. RHS H6, USDA 4a-7b.

23 Teucrium fruticans Mediterranean shrub suitable for warm, sunny and freedraining sites. Attractive grey foliage and lavender-coloured flowers. 1m.

RHS H3, USDA 5a-9b.

24 Rosa William Shakespeare (= ‘Ausroyal’) Large, double crimson red blooms that are strongly scented. May need assistance as it is susceptible to disease. 1.5m. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.

25 Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ Makes good displays of strong lavenderblue flowers atop typical, aromatic grey foliage. Needs a sunny, free-draining position. 60cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b. 26 Rosa Susan Williams-Ellis (= ‘Ausquirk’) Makes small trusses of double, white flowers throughout summer. Extremely disease resistant. Feed and prune well. 1.5m. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.

27 Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’ Muted purple foliage makes a wonderful foil for more vibrant flowers. Cut back in spring. 50cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b. 28 Geranium x johnsonii ‘Johnson’s Blue’ In early summer masses of glowing, pale-blue flowers are held above mounds of bright-green foliage. 80cm. RHS H7, USDA 4 to 8b.

29 Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’ Spikes of white flowers from mid to late summer. 1.3m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 7a-10b.

30 Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’ Spreading mounds of green foliage topped with white geranium flowers. A white version of the native bloody cranesbill. 30cm. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 4 to 8b.