Know your plants.

Coral-bark maple · Sapindaceae

Season: Winter (bark), Autumn (foliage)

Use: Small specimen tree

Coral-pink winter stems; vivid yellow autumn colour. Sheltered, dappled shade.

West Himalayan birch · Betulaceae

Season: Winter (bark)

Use: Specimen tree, group planting

Brilliant white peeling bark; good for moist, well-drained soils.

Whitebeam · Rosaceae

Season: Spring–Autumn

Use: Small street/garden tree

Silvery young foliage, white blossom, red berries. Tolerates chalk and pollution.

Saucer magnolia · Magnoliaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Specimen tree

Large goblet flowers before leaves. Avoid frost pockets and chalky soil.

Chinese dogwood · Cornaceae

Season: Early summer / Autumn

Use: Specimen

Showy white bracts; strawberry-like fruit; rich autumn colour.

Panicle hydrangea · Hydrangeaceae

Season: Late summer

Use: Border, hedging

Lime-green cones turning pink. Prune group 7 — late winter to a low framework.

Mexican orange blossom · Rutaceae

Season: Spring / repeat

Use: Evergreen structure

Aromatic foliage, white scented flowers. Full sun, well-drained.

— · Adoxaceae

Season: Winter

Use: Winter interest

Pink scented flowers on bare wood Nov–Feb.

English lavender · Lamiaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Low hedge, border

Deep violet flowers. Free-draining, full sun. Trim after flowering, not into old wood.

Siberian dogwood · Cornaceae

Season: Winter (stems)

Use: Winter colour, moist sites

Bright red winter stems. Coppice (group 7) in early spring.

— · Ericaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Acid-soil planting

Reliable white-flowered hardy rhododendron for ericaceous soils.

— · Celastraceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Ground cover, low hedging

Variegated evergreen; tough, shade-tolerant.

— · Ranunculaceae

Season: Early & late summer

Use: Wall, trellis

Pink with darker bar. Group 2 — light prune in February.

Chinese wisteria · Fabaceae

Season: Late spring

Use: South-facing wall, pergola

Vigorous; prune twice yearly — Aug to 5 leaves, Feb to 2 buds.

Common ivy · Araliaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Shaded walls, ground cover

Self-clinging, evergreen, very tolerant.

Daylily · Asphodelaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Border

Strong red flowers, divide every 3–4 years in autumn.

Cranesbill · Geraniaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Ground cover, border

Long-flowering violet-blue; AGM.

Purple coneflower · Asteraceae

Season: Late summer

Use: Prairie / naturalistic

Pollinator-friendly, full sun, free-draining.

Lenten rose · Ranunculaceae

Season: Late winter–spring

Use: Shade border

Cut back old foliage in winter to display flowers.

— · Lamiaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Sunny border

Black stems, deep violet spikes; chop back after first flush for repeat.

Daffodil · Amaryllidaceae

Season: Early spring

Use: Naturalising in grass

Plant Sept–Oct at 2× depth. Leave foliage for 6 weeks after flowering.

Tulip · Liliaceae

Season: Late spring

Use: Border, container

Deep maroon. Plant late Nov to reduce tulip fire risk.

Ornamental onion · Amaryllidaceae

Season: Early summer

Use: Border interplant

Globe heads of violet on tall stems.

Golden oats · Poaceae

Season: Summer–Winter

Use: Specimen, prairie

Tall airy panicles; full sun, free-draining.

— · Poaceae

Season: Summer–Winter

Use: Specimen, screen

Fine variegated foliage, plume flowers. Cut down in early spring.

Cosmos · Asteraceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Cutting, border

Half-hardy annual; long flowering if dead-headed.

Great white cherry · Rosaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Specimen tree

Pure white single flowers with copper young leaves. Full sun, well-drained.

Crab apple · Rosaceae

Season: Spring (flower) / Autumn (fruit)

Use: Small garden, pollinator

White blossom, large orange-red edible fruits for jelly.

Snowy mespilus · Rosaceae

Season: Spring / Autumn

Use: Multi-stem specimen

Bronze young foliage, white flowers, fiery autumn colour. Acid–neutral soils.

Sweet gum · Altingiaceae

Season: Autumn

Use: Specimen for autumn colour

Star-shaped leaves turn orange-red. Moist, slightly acid soil.

Paperbark maple · Sapindaceae

Season: Winter (bark) / Autumn (foliage)

Use: Small specimen

Peeling cinnamon bark; rich red autumn colour.

Hornbeam · Betulaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Hedging, screening, avenue

Holds dead leaves through winter when clipped — useful for hedging on clay.

Common beech · Fagaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Hedging, specimen

Holds copper winter leaves when clipped; prefers free-draining soil.

Scots pine · Pinaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Specimen, shelterbelt

Native conifer; orange upper bark; tolerates poor sandy soil.

Hawthorn · Rosaceae

Season: Spring / Autumn

Use: Hedging, wildlife

White May blossom, red haws. Tough on most soils.

English oak · Fagaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Specimen, parkland

Long-lived native; supports the widest range of wildlife of any UK tree.

Sweet box · Buxaceae

Season: Winter

Use: Shade, winter scent

Glossy evergreen with intensely fragrant white winter flowers.

Winter daphne · Thymelaeaceae

Season: Late winter

Use: Sheltered border

Highly scented pink flowers; cream-edged foliage. Dislikes disturbance.

Camellia · Theaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Acid soil, partial shade

Pink semi-double flowers; needs ericaceous conditions.

Lily-of-the-valley shrub · Ericaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Acid soil, sheltered

Bright red young growth fading to pink, white and green; white flower panicles.

— · Berberidaceae

Season: Winter

Use: Shade, winter scent

Yellow scented racemes from November; architectural evergreen.

Witch hazel · Hamamelidaceae

Season: Winter

Use: Specimen

Spidery scented yellow flowers on bare wood in January. Neutral–acid soil.

Rose · Rosaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Border, hedging

Disease-resistant double pink shrub rose; AGM.

— · Plantaginaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Coastal, low border

Pink flower spikes fading to white; evergreen rounded habit.

Sun rose · Cistaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Hot, dry, free-draining

Crepe-paper magenta flowers with maroon blotch; very drought tolerant.

Common box · Buxaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Topiary, low hedging

Evergreen; clip in summer. Watch for box blight and box tree caterpillar.

— · Rutaceae

Season: Winter (buds) / Spring

Use: Shade, container

Male form; deep red winter buds opening to white flowers.

— · Rosaceae

Season: Autumn–Winter (berries)

Use: Wall, ground cover

Fishbone branching, red berries loved by birds.

— · Oleaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Border, informal hedge

Bright yellow March/April flowers. Prune after flowering.

— · Rosaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Low hedge, border

Coppery young foliage turning yellow then green; pink flowerheads.

Butterfly bush · Scrophulariaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Pollinator border

Dark purple flower panicles. Hard prune (group 6) Feb–March.

Mock orange · Hydrangeaceae

Season: Early summer

Use: Border

White scented flowers with maroon centre. Prune after flowering.

— · Berberidaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Low hedge, edging

Compact purple-leaved deciduous; yellow flowers, red berries.

— · Ranunculaceae

Season: Late spring

Use: Wall, large pergola

Vigorous pink-flowered; group 1 — prune only after flowering if needed.

Late Dutch honeysuckle · Caprifoliaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Trellis, north wall

Scented purple-streaked cream flowers; tolerates partial shade.

Winter jasmine · Oleaceae

Season: Winter

Use: Wall, training

Bright yellow flowers on bare green stems Nov–Mar.

Virginia creeper · Vitaceae

Season: Autumn

Use: Large wall

Brilliant crimson autumn colour; self-clinging via adhesive pads.

Climbing rose · Rosaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Wall, arch

Pale pink scented repeat-flowering; tolerates partial shade and north walls.

Masterwort · Apiaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Cottage border

Pink pincushion flowers; tolerates partial shade. Long flowering if dead-headed.

Lady's mantle · Rosaceae

Season: Early summer

Use: Edging, ground cover

Lime-green sprays; cut back after flowering for fresh foliage.

Lungwort · Boraginaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Shade, ground cover

White flowers; spotted foliage. Cut back tatty leaves after flowering.

Autumn joy · Crassulaceae

Season: Late summer–Autumn

Use: Sunny border, pollinator

Pink turning rust flowerheads; drought tolerant; leave seedheads for winter.

Michaelmas daisy · Asteraceae

Season: Late summer–Autumn

Use: Border

Mildew-resistant lavender-blue daisies. AGM.

Coral bells · Saxifragaceae

Season: Year-round (foliage)

Use: Ground cover, edge

Bronze evergreen foliage; airy white flowers.

Argentinian vervain · Verbenaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: See-through border plant

Tall airy stems with purple flowers; self-seeds. Pollinator magnet.

Yarrow · Asteraceae

Season: Summer

Use: Sunny border

Flat yellow heads above silver foliage; drought tolerant.

Plantain lily · Asparagaceae

Season: Summer (foliage)

Use: Shade, container

Large yellow-green leaves; slug resistant for a hosta.

Male fern · Dryopteridaceae

Season: Spring–Autumn

Use: Shade, woodland

Reliable deciduous fern; tolerant of dry shade once established.

Snowdrop · Amaryllidaceae

Season: Late winter

Use: Naturalising in grass / woodland

Plant 'in the green' after flowering for reliable establishment.

— · Iridaceae

Season: Late winter

Use: Naturalising in lawn

Lavender-purple flowers, naturalises freely.

English bluebell · Asparagaceae

Season: Spring

Use: Woodland

Drooping one-sided racemes of scented blue flowers. Do not dig from the wild.

Feather reed grass · Poaceae

Season: Summer–Winter

Use: Vertical accent, prairie

Strict upright habit; bronze plumes. Cut back early spring.

Fountain grass · Poaceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Border, container

Bottlebrush flowerheads; needs sun and good drainage.

Blue fescue · Poaceae

Season: Year-round

Use: Edging, gravel garden

Tight blue evergreen tussock; needs sharp drainage.

Snapdragon · Plantaginaceae

Season: Summer

Use: Bedding, cutting

Half-hardy annual; pinch out tips for branching.

French marigold · Asteraceae

Season: Summer–Autumn

Use: Bedding, companion in veg plot

Strong scent reputed to deter whitefly on tomatoes.