Anise is a dainty, herbaceous plant most famous for the liquorice flavour of its leaves and seeds. Use the leaves fresh in salads and soups, and the seeds for flavouring cookies, pastries, and confections.

Sweet Genovese is often associated with Italian cuisine. Basil is native to the region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This delicate herb has with an intense, spicy-sweet, aroma and a slight anise-like undertone. It is THE Basil for pesto and a wonderful companion plant.

Borage is one of the most reliable sources of blue flowers, often flowering lavishly for weeks after sowing. The beautiful blue star-shaped flowers are edible and very important for bees, providing pollen and nectar in prodigious amounts.

This white flowered form of borage is not often written about. My first introduction was at the celebrated 'white' garden at Sissinghurst in England. The flowers are edible, garden visitors can be converted to herbal advocates simply by offering a taste of its white flower.

Cheerful and bright, use Calendula in beds, borders or containers. Calendula is prolific and durable, and like most hardy annuals it is easy to grow, simply sow where it is to flower. It is currently one of the top herbs used for medicinal use. Sprinkle salads and decorate cakes with the edible tangy petals.

With large, frilled flowers some with chocolate coloured centres, Calendula 'Art Shades Mixed' contains not only the usual bright orange but also various unusual shades - apricot, orange, primrose and cream. Gorgeous and remarkably easy to grow they will flower non-stop from spring until first frosts.

‘Indian Prince' has unique petals quite unlike other Calendula, the dark orange rays are in layers of orange, backed with rich mahogany red petals.Prolific and durable the daisy-like blooms grow up to 20cm wide they are perfect candidates for cutting and flower arrangements.

Leaf celery is the type that is used in Europe. It looks similar to parsley but tastes like regular stalk celery, but with a slightly stronger, herbier taste. It is a darker green, with thin, rounded, flexible stalks and curly, aromatic leaves; it is much easier to grow than its "big brother".

Camomile is a most useful plant. It can be used to make beautiful lawns and raised beds, an infusion of the plant is an ideal family remedy, calming and sedative, perfect for restlessness or travel sickness, while cold camomile tea is effective as a spray to prevent “damping-off” of seedlings

Chervil is an herb for the connoisseur of fine flavours and fragrances, and as you might expect from its refined appearance, chervil tastes mild and subtle, a little like parsley, but with a sophisticated yet gentle, aniseedy warmth. It is one of the French fab four of flavour in a fines herbes.

Chervil is a great herb for summer, but it's often overlooked. It is one of the easiest herbs to grow. It grows quickly and is ready for harvesting after only six to eight weeks. It needs a cool, moist spot with dappled shade; when you've found that, simply scatter the seeds where you'd like them to grow.

With a sophisticated yet gentle, aniseedy warmth, Chervil "Massa" is a dark green selection with smooth leaves and good plant vigour. Often called the Herb of Joy, Chervil is said to inspire cheerfulness and sharp wits. It certainly brings a smile to my face whenever I chop, nibble or sprinkle it!