Hannah Gardner

Hannah is a widely travelled horticulturist and garden writer. She is currently head gardener at Blackland House, an organic garden and flower farm in Wiltshire.

1 Borago officinalis ‘Alba’

Both the young leaves and white flowers of this fast-growing annual are edible, and bees love the nectar-rich flowers. Sow 1cm deep and at three to four weeks, thin to 25cm spacing. Deadhead after flowering to avoid an invasion of seedlings. 75cm. RHS H5.

2 Visnaga daucoides ‘Green Mist’

A great textural ‘filler’ with large flowerheads in versatile, lime-green/white tones. Good for cutting and attractive to pollinators.Just cover seeds lightly. Germination takes seven to 21 days. Thin to 20cm and consider twig supports as required. 1.2m. RHS H6.

3 Hordeum jubatum

This eye-catching, early annual grass provides movement and texture. Feathery, silver seedheads are held on arching stems and tinge pink with age. Ideal for cutting and drying as well as providing a low-level foil for later perennials. It does, however, require some moisture. 60cm. AGM. RHS H6.

4 Rhinanthus minor

A semi-parasitic native that gets its nutrition from grasses. A useful addition to any wildflower meadow, establishing a transient dominance in different areas. Its flowers form attractive, rattling, papery seedheads. Seed viability is short so it should be sown fresh in autumn. 50cm. RHS H5.

5 Trifolium arvense

A dainty, native clover with fluffy, ovoid flowerheads and narrow, elongated, divided leaves. Thrives in sunny, open places on light soils. Best sown in autumn as the tough seed coat needs time to soften. 30cm. RHS H6.

6 Papaver nudicaule

Abundant, lightly scented blooms make this cheerful poppy an excellent cut flower. Truly a short-lived perennial poppy, it flowers in the first year from an August sowing. It resents transplanting, but you can get away with using modules. 50cm. RHS H7.

7 Briza maxima

A simple but showy ornamental grass that freshens borders and fills gaps in spring. Shimmering, nodding spikelets dry to burnished gold as the season progresses. Also works well sown in modules. It will seed freely, but its zingy foliage is easily spotted and pulled out. 45cm. RHS H6.