Cardamine pratensis is one of the most beautiful and one of the best loved of our wild flowers. It bears long narrow leaves and supremely elegant flowers in late spring/early summer. It flowers at the time the first cuckoo starts to call.

'Pulchrum' means beautiful in botanical terms and amply demonstrated by this South African species. From late spring to late autumn it producing dense sprays of largish purple-veined mauve flowers and with gorgeous large silver-grey velvety leaves, they are simply irresistible.

Hosta are grown predominantly for their outstanding foliage, from leaves as small as a teaspoon up to those larger than a dinner plate, colours range from deep blues to silvers, darkest shiny greens to bright yellows, from a single solid hue to the myriad of variegations the choice is almost overwhelming.

Magnificent and spectacular spikes of rose-purple flowers, which last from June throughout the summer distinguish this tall wetland plant. Purple loosestrife is an easy garden plant, thriving in any soil. It is a beautiful subject for late summer colour in a border, shrubbery, large pond or slow-moving water.

Pennyroyal is a cottage garden plant of old. This highly aromatic herb has a strong peppermint scent to its dark green leaves, even more so than other mints.With attractive whorls of lilac-blue flowers, it can be used to carpet a shady corner or make a “lawn” smelling deliciously of peppermint.

Bistort was formerly cultivated as a culinary and medicinal plant. This semi-evergreen perennial produces clusters of small, light pink flowers throughout summer and into autumn. The plant is ideal for creating groundcover, it is also highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Candelabra primulas are worth growing for their sheer size and the attractive flowers that clothe the stems in whorls. Suitable for herbaceous borders or as marginal plants beside ponds, they will thrive if given a place where the roots will not dry out during the spring or summer.