SIX FAVOURITE PLANTS TO GROW AS STANDARDS

1. Citrus plants have to be top of my list, providing fragrance and fruit and an attractive form (especially in a large container where the height can be further emphasised). Shop for an existing plant with the natural shape for life as a standard and, once potted up, remove the side growth to reveal the central trunk.

2. Teucrium fruiticans (tree germander) is a silverleafed beauty that grows amazingly quickly and looks especially good when tightly clipped. It tends to be multi-stemmed from an early age, so you may need to strike a cutting to encourage a strong central stem.

3. Photinia x fraseri ‘red robin’ makes for a fabulous medium-to-large standard, dazzling in a sunny spot with its vibrant red foliage. Again, choose an existing plant with an appropriate natural form (a strong central stem or trunk), or, if necessary, strike a suitable cutting. 4. ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS ‘Tuscan Blue’ is an upright rosemary cultivar well-suited to life as a standard, with its strong growth habit and lovely rich green foliage – great as an ornamental addition to a herb garden or potager.

5. As if the gorgeous dark purple foliage of Loropetalum chinense ‘Burgundy’ wasn’t enough, this stunning plant rewards even further during the winter months with a display of fragrant pink flowers. Its fine foliage and growth habit make it an ideal candidate for DIY standardising – or if you just can’t wait, readymade standards are available online and at many garden centres.

6. For lovers of standard roses, consider the ever-popular floribunda ‘Sexy Rexy’ with its gorgeous, soft, free-flowering pink blooms. Quick repeating, this handsome beauty will do best in a sunny spot, sheltered from strong winds. Standard roses look particularly good when underplanted with favourite perennials, annuals or other lower-growing shrubs or ground covers.