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.

Agapanthus Getty White is a sparkling plant with dense clusters of white flowers on erect stems. It is a sparkling plant and is dazzling against a dark green backdrop. They are terrific as cut flowers and are suited to both formal and modern style arrangements.

The Agapanthus or Blue African Lily is one of the aristocrats of the late summer garden. Requiring only the minimum of care, the exotic combination of graceful foliage and stunning flowers is equally impressive in the border or large planter. This is a lovely plant to grow and they are very easy from seed.

The Agapanthus is one of the aristocrats of the late summer garden. 'Peter Pan Blue' is a fine dwarf hybrid with neat clumps of leaves and large clusters of light- blue flowerheads. The exotic combination of graceful foliage and stunning flowers is equally impressive in the border or container.

Once a common sight, Corncockle bears large, soft purple-pink flowers in the summer. It is a 'cottage garden' plant of old and makes a great wildflower meadow or garden plant. The graceful stems are ideal for cutting and last well in the vase.

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.

These wonderful old-fashioned flowers make an excellent backdrop for shorter flowers and blend into any garden with great charm and ease. If planted early in spring, Indian Spring will bloom the first year in wonderfully warm shades of ruby through pink and rose to white.

This ever-popular annual is perhaps more versatile than you might imagine – good in the border, most effective as a cut flower in arrangements, a good pot-plant and, not often appreciated – if carefully dried, the colour of the spikes remains unchanged for a considerable time.