30-100 x 45cm. Spikes of mauve-grey flowers in early summer. Biennial. Self seeds a little. Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun.

120cm. Dusky purple flowers in summer. Fertile soil in sun or part shade.

2m. Deciduous shrub, bearing sprays of white flowers in early summer. Fertile soil, not too dry, in sun or part-shade. Prune after flowering.

100 x 45cm. Panicles of dainty lilac to violet-blue flowers with yellow anthers, followed by dark blue fruits. For a sheltered spot in neutral to acid, humus-rich, well-drained soil in part-shade. Not reliably hardy, but has survived the last two winters here. Good in a container.

A very old, 17th century pink, with single, mottled purple-pink flowers with a fringed pale margin. Fragrant.

A very old, 17th century pink, double white, with a mauve eye. Deeply fringed, frilly petals, and very fragrant. 25-30cm.

15cm. Masses of delightfully-scented, burgundy flowers which develop a gold fleck. Very attractive.

30cm. Old fashioned pink from the 1850's. Semi-double, white flowers with raspberry pink central zone and lacing. Fragrant.

30cm. An old-fashioned pink from about 1835. Double flowers, pure white with maroon-red lacing and a darker central zone. Fragrant.

A seed-raised strain of highly fragrant pinks in shades of pink through to white.

Fully double, fringed, white flowers, highly scented.25cm.

From the 18th century, the flowers are single whites with a pale green central zone. 20-25cm. Fragrant. Sorry, none available this year.

30cm. This is a bright crimson-red flower, dating from the 16th century. Fragrant.

30cm. 19th century. Early to flower, this is a fringed double in light pink. Fragrant.

Probably 17th century. Single flowers, raspberry red ground with very dark lacing. Two 'eyes' develop on each petal as they age. Well-drained soil in sun.

30cm. Fragrant, double flowers, purple-pink, flowering over a long period.

10cm. Forms a neat mound, covered in fragrant, semi-double flowers, pale pink with darker eye. Well-drained soil in sun.

12-15cm. Double pink, fragrant flowers forming a neat clump.

Bushy habit, with light pink flowers over a long period in summer. Moderately hardy.

Upright habit, with strawberry red flowers over a long period in summer. Moderately hardy.

Deep pink-red buds open to white flowers with pink centres and spotting. Very pretty. Long flowering, good container plant, or well-drained soil in sun.

15cm. Rich pink flowers for months in summer.

20 x 30cm. Forms a mat covered in spikes of lilac flowers in summer.

Upright habit with a long display of lilac flowers, from July onwards. Moderately hardy. Good in containers, or well-drained soil in sun.

30cm. Soft pink flowers all summer. One of the hardiest diascias.

30 x 45cm. Creamy flowers for a long period.

60-90 x 60cm. (Burning Bush). Dark green leathery leaves, lemon-scented, with spikes of white flowers in early summer. Dry, well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun or part-shade.

100-200 x 60cm. Cormous, clump-forming perennial. Graceful wands of wide open, purple-pink bell flowers. Humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Needs a sheltered spot.

100cm. Rhizomatous, forming a clump of strap-shaped leaves. The iris-like white flowers have yellow markings, and small lilac 'petals'in the middle. Sun or part shade. Water well when flowering. I have always kept it frost free, but have recently seen it growing in South Africa in areas that do go below freezing in winter, so it may be worth trying in a sheltered spot in milder areas.

100cm. Yellow foxglove. Spikes of pale yellow flowers, early to mid-summer. Biennial or perennial. Self-seeds.

60cm. Dense spikes of narrow, orange-brown flowers in early summer. Perennial. Best in part sun.

100-200cm. White foxglove. Biennial or short-lived perennial. Self-seeds.

1.5m Thistle-like, lilac-mauve flowerheads which remain ornamental when dried. Particularly attractive to goldfinches. Any moderately fertile soil in sun or part-shade. Biennial. Self seeds. British native.

60cm. Primrose-yellow bells in spring, followed by black berries in late summer. Full or part-shade, moist, humus-rich soil.