If you have the space in your garden this is one plant to choose. Acanthus are robust perennials with handsome, lobed foliage. In late summer, tall racemes of white flowers with dusky purple bracts appear. Used as a motive in architecture and art through ages, Acanthus is a true architectural beauty!

Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’ is a carefree and generously blooming perennial which requires little maintenance to create an explosion of late summer colour. The large, flat-topped clusters of vibrant, pink flowers with tiny white centers are irresistible to butterflies, and also make excellent cut flowers.

These native wildflowers have clustered flower heads of tiny white flowers that from a distance look like little patches of snow resting on the grass. This famous herb is terrific as a wildflower clump in a blooming meadow, they are also a favourite for dried flower arrangements.

Agave mckelvyana is a small, relatively rare, dwarf species of Agave from western Arizona. This little beauty forms a tight rosette of broad, bluish green, fleshy leaves with small teeth.It is one of the hardiest agaves, can take winter rain and is tolerant of drought and severe freezes.

Agave parryi var. neomexicana is a dramatic specimen. This native Mexican succulent forms a compact rosette of soft fleshy, bluish green leaves. The foliage is wide and heavily armed with dark tipped spines. With the ability to grow 60cm wide and as tall, it is one of the most cold hardy Agave species.

For most of the year Ajuga is a pleasant, quiet achiever, a very versatile low growing ground cover, with evergreen, rosette-like foliage that hugs the ground like an evergreen carpet but those weeks in spring when the blue flowers appear are simply quite magical.

Alcea ficifolia is a less-known variety of hollyhock. It is a perennial variety, with attractive palmate foliage. The plant produces many upright stems and has a busy form. Large, single saucer shaped flowers appear from May to October in a gorgeous variety of antique shades - cream, gold, rose, copper and plum.

Alcea ficifolia, with its pale butter-yellow single flowers is a most impressive plant. Reliably perennial, it produces many upright stems resulting in a bushy form. Very easy to grow from seed, it is extremely hardy and will flourish in full sun and rich soil. The long stems make for excellent cut flowers.

This gorgeous award winning Hollyhock has the distinction of being the shortest in the Alcea rosea family. “Queeny” is a dwarf Hollyhock that reaches only 60cm (24in) in height with fully double blooms. Unlike the tall varieties, it is a perennial that can also be used as an annual as it will bloom in its first year.

Speckled and freckled and striped and stippled, the intricately patterned petals of the Alstroemeria flower are a wonder to behold. Don't be fooled by their delicate appearance, though; they are one of the worlds' most popular cut flowers, these lily-like flowers are as long lasting as they are gorgeous.