Creamy-white flowers appear from summer through to autumn amongst small, silver, hairy foliage. Originally from the Mediterranean and Portugal, this evergreen plant can cope with drought once established. However, as it comes from much drier countries it doesn't like being wet in winter.Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: June to September Flower colour: whiteHardiness: fully hardy (borderline)Garden care: Protect plants in winter from winter wet

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: well-cultivated, fertile, moist soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: August to OctoberHardiness: fully hardyVivid, lipstick-pink daisy-like flowers with yellow centres erupt from late summer to mid-autumn. The petals are tightly packed, making the flowers more showy than many asters. It's excellent for adding a splash of colour at the end of the season towards the back of a sunny herbaceous or mixed border.Garden care: Stake with bamboo canes or brushwood in early spring.

Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead to prolong flowering. After flowering cut the flowered stems to the ground and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure around the base of the plant.

Position: partial or deep shade Soil: moist, humus-rich, acid soil (or a mixture of 1 part lime-free loam, 1 part medium-grade bark chippings and 1 part charcoal, two parts sharp sand, 3 parts coarse leafmould for container-grown specimens)Rate of growth: averageHardiness: fully hardyAs they age the feathery, dark green fronds of this handsome evergreen 'hard fern' spread semi-horizontally to form an attractive, rosette-like shape. One of our recommended varieties, it provides all-year interest for shady areas of the garden and companionship for shade-loving, woodland plants.Garden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted leaf mould, composted pine needles or garden compost into the planting hole.

Lustrous, long, dark green fronds forming a distinctive shuttlecock-like shape. This hard shield fern is reliably evergreen, even in cold areas. Perfect for providing all-year interest for a shady, well-drained mixed border, the finely divided foliage looks wonderful frosted in the winter garden.Position: full or partial shadeSoil: fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted leaf mould, composted pine needles or garden compost into the planting hole

Position: partial shadeSoil: humus-rich, moist, well-drained, preferably alkaline soilRate of growth: averageHardiness: fully hardyShiny, wavy-edged fronds unfurl like frisee lettuce in early spring, and remain all year. This is an unusual, showy, evergreen hart's tongue fern that looks best planted en masse, either under shrubs, at the edge of a shady border, or among spring-flowering perennials. Once established, it can tolerate dry soil. Garden care: Plant in soil that has been improved with organic matter.

Water regularly during the growing season, ensuring that the soil or compost does not dry out while the plant is gettng established. 

Clusters of small purple-crimson, daisy-like flowers are produced in summer followed by fluffy white seeds that mature to rust-orange, giving this perennial its common name of ironweed. Native to the prairies of North America, it can withstand very cold weather in winter but does need plenty of summer sunshine and moisture to thrive in. It looks particularly stunning planted amongst tall grass where the flowers shimmer amongst the silky grass plumes.Position: full sunSoil: moist, fertile soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: July to SeptemberFlower colour: purple-crimsonHardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Protect young plants from slug damage.

Cuttings can be taken from new growth in early summer but they tend to be slow to root...

Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, fertile, humus-rich soilRate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: August to OctoberHardiness: fully hardyA fabulous plant for bringing colour to the garden in late summer and autumn, this anemone has masses of large, rich pink, cup shaped flowers on tall, wiry stems from August to October. The leaves are pretty, too –  vine-like, dark green, and semi-evergreen. These award-winning, semi-double, Japanese anemones are perfect for areas of partial shade towards the back of a moist herbaceous or mixed border. One of our recommended plants, if left undisturbed they will soon spread to form majestic clumps.

Garden care: Cut back the stalks after the flowers have faded. Tidy up old dead leaves in March. Apply a...

This elegant, deciduous fern has deeply cut, greyish-green fronds effused with silver and purple. An excellent companion for shade-loving woodland plants it provides long-lasting foliage interest for a shady, sheltered patio or courtyard garden with moist, fertile, neutral to acid soil.Position: full or partial shadeSoil: moist, fertile, neutral to acid soilRate of growth: averageHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted leaf mould, composted pine needles or garden compost into the planting hole. In cold areas in late autumn protect the crown of the plant with a dry mulch of straw or bracken

Whorls of hooded, golden yellow flowers in June and July and sage-like, aromatic, grey-green leaves. This spreading evergreen shrub is perfect for a sunny mixed or shrub border. For the best results plant boldly in multiples of three in fertile, well-drained soil and remove any weak or diseased stems each year in mid-spring.Position: full sunSoil: any fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: June and July Flower colour: golden yellowHardiness: fully hardy (borderline)Garden care: In mid-spring shorten any frost-damaged stems, cutting back to just above a healthy bud.

Remove any weak or diseased shoots, cutting cleanly back to the baseGoes well with: Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet', Euphorbia characias subspecies wulfenii 'Lambrook Gold', Echinops ritro...

Stiff, upright stems of large, deep red, gladiolus-like flowers in August and September above narrow, mid-green leaves. These eye-catching kaffir lilies provide vertical interest and a late splash of colour when many summer flowers are coming to a close. Perfect for a sheltered sunny, moist but well-drained border, they make excellent cut flowers.Position: full sunSoil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: August and September Flower colour: deep redOther features: excellent cut flowersHardiness: hardy although flowerspikes are vulnerable to frost damageGarden care: Apply lots of well-rotted garden compost or manure when planting.

Water during dry spells and deadhead regularly. After flowering remove the faded flowerspikes...