Succulent, greenish-purple leaves, topped with large, flat heads of ruby-red, star-shaped flowers from mid-summer to early autumn. This low-growing form of sedum is perfect for softening the front of a sunny, well-drained border. Best planted in generous drifts, the flowers are a valuable nectar source for butterflies and bees.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soilRate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: July to September Flower colour: ruby-redOther features: attractive to butterflies and bees; the dried flower-heads provide colour and structure in the winter gardenHardiness: fully hardy Garden care: The flowerheads look great left during the winter to add shape and texture to your border.

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Deliciously scented, pale lilac flowers held above rosettes of dark green leaves. Sweet rocket is perfect for the middle of a herbaceous border or for naturalising in a wild garden. The fragrant flowers, attractive to bees and other beneficial insects, perfume the air in late spring and early summer evenings.

Although relatively short-lived it self-seeds freely.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, moist, well-drainedRate of Growth: averageFlowering period: May to JuneFlowers: pale lilac to purpleOther features: dark green leavesHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: Replace plants every two to three years as flowering diminishes with age. Plants will self-seed freelyGoes well with: Knautia macedonica, Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum', Cimicifuga simplex 'Atropurpurea', Eryngium...

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: July to SeptemberHardiness: fully hardyThis lovely, long-flowering, pale yellow tickseed is perfect for extending the season of a summer border in sun or partial shade. As long as it's deadheaded regularly, it produces a succession of slender-stemmed, single, daisy-like flowers with orange-yellow centres from June to September. The flowers are also attractive to bees and butterflies.Garden care: Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and water well during hot, dry spells.

Cut the faded flower-stems back down to ground level in autumn and compost.

Sprays of exotic-looking, purple-spotted white flowers from August to October and hairy, lance-shaped, pale green leaves. This fascinating toad lily is one of our recommended plants. Ideal for adding vertical interest in a sheltered, shady border or woodland garden, specimens grown in cold areas of the country appreciate a deep, dry winter mulch.Position: partial or full shadeSoil: moist but well-drained, humus-rich soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: August to October Flower colour: purple-spotted white flowersHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: In cold areas of the country provide a deep, dry, winter mulch around the crown of the plant.

Lift and divide congested colonies in spring, while the plant is still dormant

Position: full sunSoil: well-drained, neutral to alkalineRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: May to OctoberHardiness: fully hardyAiry clusters of white flowers appear from July to October on tall, fleshy stems with glaucous leaves. This white form of red valerian is long flowering and easy-to-grow and combines well with many different plants. It's ideal for a sunny wildflower or seaside garden with poor, but well-drained soil, or for growing between the cracks in walls.

It self-seeds freely and prefers a chalky or alkaline soil.Garden care: Deadhead regularly throughout the summer to prolong flowering. In autumn cut the plant back down to the ground and compost the dead stems.

Position: full sunSoil: well-drained, fertile soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: August to SeptemberHardiness: fully hardyArtemisias are prized for their light, almost silver, aromatic foliage rather than for their flowers, which are dull and insignificant. This cultivar has long, pointed, notched leaves and forms a upright, natural mound. Once established, it can also cope with drought.

It makes a great edging plant for a sunny border, or as part of a Mediterranean scheme, with other silver-leaved plants. The aromatic foliage can also be used in dried flower arrangements.Garden care: Cut back stems back to ground-level in autumn and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant.

Tightly packed clusters of lilac-purple flowers on tall, stiff, branching stems from June to September. This stylish perennial has been enjoying a resurgence of interest in recent years. Perfect for a sheltered, sunny, well-drained spot, its open, transparent shape means that it can easily be used at the front or middle of the border despite its height.Position: full sunSoil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: June to September Flower colour: lilac-purpleOther features: self-seeds freely; wrinkled, dark green leaves; highly attractive to butterflies and beesHardiness: borderline hardyGarden care: In cold conditions Verbena bonariensis can suffer dieback if cut back in autumn, so it's best to leave the plant until...

Position: full sunSoil: well-drained, fertile soilRate of growth: fast-growingHardiness: fully hardyArtemesias are prized for their fine, almost silver, aromatic foliage rather than for their flowers, which are dull and insignificant. This one is semi-evergreen and has slender, silvery-white leaves, that turn greener as they age and tiny, brownish-yellow, mimosa-like flowers in August and September. It is an ideal groundcover plant for a sunny, well-drained Mediterranean border or gravel garden.

Drought tolerant once established, its an excellent foil for white or brightly coloured flowers. Give it space to spread out.Garden care: Cut back stems back to ground-level in autumn and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around base of the plant.

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, fertile, humus-rich soilRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: July and AugustHardiness: fully hardyGreat for adding a splash of colour to the garden in mid to late summer, this anemone produces large, double, deep pink, cup-shaped flowers throughout July and August above clumps of pretty, deeply cut, deep green leaves. These award-winning Japanese anemones are perfect for the middle of a partially shady border, though they will grow in sun, too. More compact and lower growing than other varieties, they're particularly suitable for small gardens.Garden care: Cut back the stalks after the flowers have faded. Tidy up old dead leaves in March, then mulch well.  Avoid moving the plant since it resents disturbance.

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Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: average to fast-growingFlowering period: June to JulyHardiness: fully hardyRich, violet-blue, saucer-shaped flowers with white centres appear in early summer among deeply cut, mid-green leaves. The flowers, a particularly intense shade of violet-blue, are up to 3.5cm (more than one inch) across. This is a variety of one of our native geraniums, whose white flowers are often seen growing in boggy ground and woodland, and this charming variety is also happiest in shady areas that don't get too dry in summer.

Try it in woodland, or as groundcover towards the middle of a moist, shady border. Garden care: In midsummer...