10 of the best knot garden plants

Buxus sempervirens Small, rounded glossy evergreen leaves respond well to clipping. Needs fertile soil; grows well in shade. Unclipped H5m (16ft) S3m (10ft)

Santolina chamaecyparissus Compact, rounded silver foliage shrub for well-drained soil and full sun. Remove its yellow flowers. H50cm (20in) S1m (3ft 3in)

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Evergreen shrub with white-margined green leaves, tinged pink in winter. Prefers a shady spot. H1m (3ft 3in) S1.5m (5ft)

Hyssopus officinalis Semi-evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves and blue flowers midsummer-autumn. Likes sun and welldrained soil. H60cm (2ft) S1m (3ft 3in)

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ Compact easy-to-prune lavender with fragrant blue-purple summer flowers. Needs full sun. H45cm (18in) S60cm (2ft)

Thymus vulgaris Evergreen herb for full sun, low-growing thyme has small leaves and purple, pink or white flowers springearly summer. H and S30cm (12in)

Teucrium lucidrys Woody evergreen perennial with small, aromatic, dark green leaves and small pink flowers midsummer onwards. Prefers sun. H and S30cm (12in)

Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’ Compact marjoram has aromatic golden leaves and small pink flowers midsummerautumn. Plant in sun. H and S30cm (12in)

Rosmarinus officinalis Upright woody shrub with aromatic needlelike leaves. Needs full sun and well-drained soil. Should regenerate from base if frosted. H and S1.5m (5ft)

Berberis thunbergii ‘Bagatelle’ Small, tight-growing deciduous shrub with wine-coloured foliage. Best in full sun but tolerates part shade. H and S45cm (18in)