Astrantia major 'Roma' is far and away the best astrantia in this beautiful shade of deep, vivid pink. Its delicate, distinctive flowers bloom solidly from early summer until late autumn, much longer than many other varieties, and it is a strong, vigorous grower with its sharply symmetrical blooms held aloft wiry stems and mounds of tough, glossy foliage.

Salvia nemerosa 'Caradonna' is a jaw dropping plant, with its deep indigo-violet spikes a vivid haze of blue from June until the first frosts in October. It is hardy, unlike many of its relatives, and needs a light, open spot.

Philadelphus 'Snowbelle' is a delightfully romantic, compact deciduous shrub that drips with fragrant flowers from early to mid summer. The double blooms are produced in clusters and contrast beautifully with the neat, textured, dark, green foliage and their sweet citrus perfume fills the air on warm summer days and nights.

Heuchera 'Midnight Rose' is another stunning and most unusual foliage plant from the already huge family of decorative heucheras. Dark burgundy foliage is heavily mottled with splashes of hot pink, which get brighter and lighter as the season progresses, until by the autumn they are almost cream.

The full, double blooms of this David Austin rose are a sensational, deep, rich pink and make it a striking asset to any garden. But Rose 'Princess Anne' is also unique, having been bred from a whole new line, and is therefore quite unlike any other rose in character. Previewed at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2010 it is already winning the hearts of many passionate rose growers.

No garden is complete in autumn without a Michelmas daisy and Aster tongolensis 'Berggarten' is an immensely pretty one.

The Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, is a beautiful, herbaceous perennial, currently at the height of fashion thanks to the vogue for naturalistic prairie style planting, as well as its valuable wildlife credentials.