The stag's horn sumach. Rhus typhina, is chiefly grown for its stunning autumn foliage, though it bears dense, 20cm/8in long panicles Of minuscule flowers in summer.

Even if they cannot put a name to any other tree, most people can recognize a willow by its slender, pointed leaves and the woolly catkins which appear in spring.

The common elder, Sambucus nigra, which reaches 4.5m/15ft in height, is a familiar sight in the wild with its flattened heads of creamy flowers and the clusters of purplish black berries that follow.

Commonly known as golden rain, a laburnum tree in flower is a splendid sight. In late spring or early summer the branches are hung with long racemes of bright yellow flowers.

Magnolias are among the most popular trees grown as specimens in a lawn or at the front of a town house.

The globe thistle, Echinops banaticus is a valuable addition to the border, with dramatic dark green foliage and round, steel-blue flowerheads held high. The flowers are prized for winter decoration when dried. No named varieties of the species are a

Garden pansies, Viola x wittrockiana, are short-lived perennial hybrids. They are among the most popular of all cultivated plants, with their large, colourful flowers, bushy foliage and easy-going nature.

Catananche caerulea or cupid's dart bears blue cornflower-like flowers throughout the summer. It is a good plant for the border or for cut flowers, and can he dried very successfully for winter decoration.

Dicentras make excellent plants for the border, and by growing two or three different species you can be assured of flowers from spring to late summer. All have fern-like foliage & slender stems bearing nodding flowers of white, pale pink or rose red

Three species of the hemerocallis are available, but much more popular are hybrids which can be found in dozens of different colours.