A beautiful white tulip with graceful stems and long elegant petals that arch outward and upward. Great for teaming up with dark flowering tulips such as the sumptuous 'Queen of Night, or why not plant in a single-colour border with other white and silver plants.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayFlower colour: whiteOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In September to December plant bulbs 15-20cm deep and 10-15cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil. Alternatively, allow 7-9 bulbs per 30cm sq.

After flowering dead-head and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each week for the first month. Once the foliage has died down naturally lift the bulbs and store in a cool greenhouse.

Beautiful open daisies of palest lilac-white with purple-blue centres. The backs of each petal are a darker smokey lilac in colour, and as the flowers open and close with the sun, this contrast is revealed. One of the hardiest Osteospermums, producing a cheering display of flowers from early summer through to autumn.

Perfect subject for a sunny terrace planting, edging a gravel pathway, or in pots on the patio.Position: full sunSoil: moderately fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: June to SeptemberFlower colour: Pure whiteOther features: Upright plants at first quickly spreading sideways to form pretty, long-flowering clumpsHardiness: Frost hardy (needs winter protection) Garden care: Protect plants in...

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: MayHardiness: fully hardyAquilegias are grown for their distinctive, delicate, nodding flowers, that vary in shape and size between species. The alpinas have nodding blue flowers, sometimes with white petal tips, in late spring above finely divided, bluish-green foliage. This alpine columbine is perfect for rich soils in a sun or part shade and looks equally at home in a cottage-style scheme, among grasses, or dotted through a perennial border.

It is quite short-lived, but self-seeds freely, though rarely to nuisance level.Garden care: Sow seeds in containers in a cold frame in spring. Deadhead to...

Position: full sunSoil: moderately-fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageHardiness: fully hardyThick, tasty, purple spears are produced in May and early June. This is a high yielding variety that is sweet when cooked.  Asparagus are ideal for growing in a sheltered sunny area of the vegetable garden or allotment in well prepared ground, to which lots of manure or compost has been added the previous autumn.Garden care: Keep the area weed free and water plants during dry weather. In autumn cut down the ferny stems once they have turned yellow.

Before the spears appear in spring make a ridge of soil over each row and apply a dressing of GrowmoreGoes well with: Cucurbita pepo 'Vegetable Spaghetti', Coriandrum sativum, Petroselium crispum, Beta vulgaris 'Chioggia Pink', Beta...

Spikes of small, crimson-lobed, pale pink, foxglove-like flowers from July to October and lance-shaped, mid-green leaves. This beautiful, bi-coloured penstemon is ideal for the middle of a well-drained, sheltered, sunny border. For the best results apply a potash-rich liquid feed in June and early August and deadhead regularly.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: July to October Flower colour: pale pinkHardiness: fully hardy (borderline)Garden care: Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering.

Cut back and compost the spent flower stems in autumn and apply a dry mulch around the crown of the plant to protect against frost damage

Elegant spikes of small, foxglove-like flowers from July to October and lance-shaped, mid-green leaves. This vibrant, easy-to-grow perennial commemorates an 18th century German astronomer. Perfect for adding a splash of colour to the middle of a sunny, well-drained border, the sumptuous, deep wine-red blooms contrast well with the frothy, chartreuse-yellow flowers of Alchemilla mollis.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to October Flower colour: deep wine-redHardiness: fully hardy (borderline)Garden care: Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering.

Cut back and compost the spent flower stems in autumn and apply a dry mulch around the crown of the plant to protect against frost damage

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: average to fast-growingFlowering period: July to SeptemberHardiness: fully hardyThese clump-forming, low-growing Carpathian bellflowers are perfect for softening the edges of a sunny, raised bed or rockery. They produce a profusion of blue, bell-shaped flowers on branched stems over a long period from June to September and rosettes of heart-shaped, mid-green leaves. A useful little perennial for filling in gaps.Garden care: Protect the tender foliage from slug damage using environmentally friendly slug pellets or beer traps.

During the growing season water freely and deadhead with scissors to prolong flowering.

Whorls of rose pink flowers with pink tinged bracts from July to September and aromatic, mid-green leaves. This pretty, rose pink bergamot is an ideal, long flowering plant for the middle of the border. Highly attractive to bees, it looks lovely planted in drifts, as a backdrop to a sea of hardy, semi-evergreen geraniums.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: July to SeptemberFlower colour: rose pinkOther features: fresh or dried leaves make a delicious teaHardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Lift and divide large clumps in early April.

Resist cutting bergamot back in autumn since the stiff, vertical stems look good all winter. These plants are...

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil or ericaceous compostRate of growth: average to fast growingFlowering period: May to JuneHardiness: fully hardyIn May through to June, this geranium is smothered with cheerful, cup-shaped magenta flowers with white centres and distinctive veins. Thriving in full sun or partial shade, it forms low hummocks of deeply cut, shiny, dark green leaves, ideal for suppressing weeds at the front of the border. It occurs naturally on acid soils, but will flourish in most fertile, well drained soils.

Garden care: In midsummer rejuvenate plants that are beginning to look jaded, by removing old flowered stems and leaves. Lift and divide...

Position: full sunSoil: fertile, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: July to AugustHardiness: fully hardyFine clouds of feathery, bronze-purple leaves are followed by flat-topped, sulphur-yellow flowerheads in mid to late summer and then by aromatic seeds. This giant fennel looks fantastic as a centrepiece for a sunny herb garden, or among tall perennials and grasses. The foliage acts as a delicate veil through which the flower heads of herbaceous plants and bulbs can be seen.Garden care: The plant's tendency to self-seed may be a problem in hot summers.

If fennel is being grown exclusively for its foliage, remove the yellow flowerheads to prevent it from self-seeding. When flowers have finished them cut back to 30cm from the ground.Goes well with:...