Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Rocket’ (Japanese euonymus) £12.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: any well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: May and June Hardiness: hardy Grown primarily for hedging, due to its neat, columnar habit this euonymus makes a good foil for more ornamental flowering shrubs and would make a good alternative to formal box hedging. Clusters of insignificant, green flowers appear in May and June among the symmetrical glossy green leaves. Young leaves are paler in colour, giving a pretty, two-tone effect. Its neat and compact habit also makes it ideal for growing in containers on the patio too. Garden care: Tip prune young plants in mid to late spring to encourage bushy growth and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant.

Astrantia ‘Moulin Rouge’ (PBR) (masterwort) £9.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, moist, preferably humus-rich soil Rate of Growth: average to fast Flowering perio d: June to August Hardiness: fully hardy This is a new variety of astrantia with stunning red pincushion flowers surrounded by a ruff of red bracts that appear from early to late summer. The leaves are prett y too; deeply lobed and dark green. Although it is an old cottage-garden favourite, this astrantia works equally well in contemporary -style plantings. Use towards the front of a sunny, yet moist border. It makes an excellent cut flower as the flowers last up to two weeks in a vase. Astrantias have been cultivated in Britain since the 16th century a nd have numerous common names, such as melancholy gentleman, Hattie’s pincushio n and the more well-known masterwort. Garden care : Astrantias do not like dry soil so in corporate plenty of organic matter when planting and water well in dry weather, especially with newly established plants. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5-7 cm mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compos t around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they don’t like having their roots disturbed.

Iberis sempervirens ‘Appen-Etz’ (candytuft) £9.99
Position: full sun Soil: poor to moderately fertile, moist but well-drained neutral to alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May to September Flower colour: white Hardiness: fully hardy White flowers open forming large (to 7cm across), flattened flowerheads, which cover the shrubby, evergreen foliage from late spring to early summer. Excellent for edging a sunny path or border, the plants will become drought tolerant once established, while the flowers very are attractive to butterflies. Garden care: Protect young plants from damage caused by slugs and snails using environmentally friendly slug pellets or beer-traps. To keep the plant looking neat and tidy, give it a light trim after the flowers have faded.

Helenium ‘Biedermeier’ (sneezeweed) £9.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to October Hardiness: fully hardy Each petal-like ray-floret has distinctive red and yellow banding, creating a striking bi-coloured effect. The ‘petals’ are slightly drooping when they first appear, but this becomes more pronounced as the flowers mature. Perfect for ‘hot’ themed borders, they also mix well with ornamental grasses in a prairie-style planting scheme. Garden care: Heleniums are versatile plants that love plenty of sunshine and moist soil. They rarely suffer from pests or diseases, however young plants do need to be protected from slug attack. Tall varieties need to be staked. To encourage the plant to repeat flower deadhead back to side shoots that have flower buds emerging. Cut down to the ground in late winter. Every two or three years divide the plants in spring to keep them in top condition. When replanting add loads of well-rotted organic matter to the soil to feed them and keep them moist.

Astrantia major ‘Large White’ (masterwort) £7.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, moist, preferably humus-rich soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: June to August Flowers: white Other features: the flowers are excellent for cutting and drying Hardiness: fully hardy A white Astrantia, with green tipped petals, that form the same distinctive pincushions, but on a slightly grander scale. These are particularly well suited to prairie style planting schemes, as their flowers add a different form and texture to the ornamental grasses. Alternatively create large, sweeping clumps throughout herbaceous borders where you can enjoy their long lasting summer flowers throughout summer. Astrantias have been cultivated in Britain since the 16th century and have numerous common names, such as melancholy gentleman, Hattie’s pincushion and the more well known masterwort. Garden care: Incorporate plenty of organic matter when planting and water well in dry weather especially newly established plants. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5-7 cm mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they don’t like having their roots disturbed.

Geranium ‘Patricia’ (cranesbill) £6.99
Intense magenta flowers, May to Sept. (75cm x 40cm)

Geum ‘Totally Tangerine (PBR)’ (avens) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: June to August Hardiness: fully hardy An adaptable perennial producing a profusion of apricot-orange blooms from late spring to summer. These are held above the clumps of divided, toothed and scalloped foliage on leafy stems. Perfect for adding bright splashes of colour towards the front of a sunny border, it is a natural mix with yellow and red shades. Garden care: To prolong flowering, deadhead regularly. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring or late autumn.

Anchusa azurea ‘Dropmore’ (alkanet) £5.99
Lustrous, deep blue summer flowers, held on sturdy stems above rosettes of mid green leaves. Bugloss makes a striking and long lasting display in a sunny border. Best planted in groups, the beautiful blue flowers are perfect companions for a clump of bright yellow achilleas. Although short lived the plant self-seeds freely. Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil Rate of Growth: average Flowering period: June to August Flowers: deep blue Other features: the flowers are highly attractive to bees and other beneficial insects Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Dead head after flowering to encourage a second flush of flowers. In early autumn cut the stems back down to the ground Goes well with: Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’, Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Ruby Port’, Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’, Iris germanica, Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’, Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’