100cm. Rhizomatous fern with bright green fronds unfurling in spring. Prefers moist soil in shade.

30cm. Yellow poppy flowers all summer. Will grow in almost any conditions, except very dry soils. Good in shade. Self seeds. British native.

Similar to above, but with pale orange flowers.

30cm. A graceful grass, bearing one-sided awns of purple-brown flowers, late spring-early summer. Prefers light shade, in moist but well-drained soil.

60 x 30cm. Yellow foliage, particularly in spring, with dainty golden flower-heads. Moist but well-drained soil, looking especially striking in shade. Self seeds.

1.2m. Deciduous, clump-forming perennial grass, with panicles of white tinged-red flowers, fading to silver, in late summer. Best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

1.2m. Narrow, arching, white-margined foliage, with panicles of pinkish flowers. As above.

15 x 20cm. Dainty spikes of tiny green flowers over clumps of glossy dark green leaves. Makes good ground cover in shady spots. Neutral to acid soils. Self seeds.

45-60 x 60cm. Cream variegated arching leaves, with spikes of purplish flowers in late summer. Moist but well-drained soil, preferably acid to neutral, in sun or part-shade.

20-30cm. Evergreen foliage with heads of tubular, pendent, deep blue flowers in late spring to early summer. Forms a slowly spreading mat. Well drained soil in a sunny position.

90cm. Pale pink flowers in summer.

40cm. A compact plant, with spikes of mauve-pink flowers from July to September. Very attractive to bees. Annual or short-liived perennial.

90 x 45cm. Purple-lilac flowers, mid-summer to early autumn.

60-90cm. Evergreen rosette of aromatic, thistle-like leaves, producing a tall spike bearing whorls of tubular flowers, white at first, blushing pink when fertilised. Happy on poor, well-drained soil in a sunny position.

15cm. Bulb. Foliage appears in autumn and remains through winter. Spikes of light blue, scented folwers in spring. Moderately fertile, well-drained soil in sun.

20cm. Bulb. Two-tone spring flowers, dark violet purple, with blue-mauve, sterile flowers above. Moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

15cm. Forget-me-not from New Zealand, with coffee-coloured leaves and small white flowers. Self seeds. Sun or part-shade.

15-25 x 30cm. Water forget-me-not. Creeping rhizomes, with masses of bright blue flowers in spring-summer. Moist to wet soil or shallow water, in sun.

50-100 x 100cm. Pretty ferny foliage, with umbels of small white flowers in spring and early summer. Attracts bees. Leaves can be used to sweeten fruit and reduce sugar intake. Likes well-drained humus-rich soil, in light shade, but can become invasive on such a soil. On a heavier soil it stays put!! Cut back after flowering to prevent too much self-seeding, and to produce a new flush of leaves.