With space often at a premium, plants in urban gardens have to perform. Choose wisely, and a classy, modern garden can be yours. Bring your garden to life by choosing the right plants - then sit back ...

A biennial or short-lived native perennial to 80cm tall, with silvery-grey felted leaves and lax sprays of long-stalked, vivid rose-purple flowers 3cm across in late summer ...

'Stella' is a tufted perennial with rounded basal leaves and spreading stems bearing loose racemes of starry, light violet-blue flowers 2.5cm in width ...

A bushy, woody-based, aromatic perennial sub-shrub with upright stems, 20-80cm tall with small, opposite leaves. Oval, dark-green leaves are approximately 3cm long. Bears panicle-like, loose clusters ...

The prestigious RHS Medals and Awards are handed out as the Show opens. Take a tour of the gardens and see if you agree with ...

Malvern Autumn Show celebrates the best of the harvest with fruit & veg competitions, awards for vintage dress, cake bakes ...

Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are the most popular indoor orchids, with exotic, long-lasting flowers. They are easy to look after and grow well in centrally heated rooms.

Kiwi fruits (Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia arguta) may seem exotic, but there are several varieties that will fruit in the UK if grown in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot. These are vigorous climbers ...

With flowers that light up even the gloomiest winter day, this easy-to-grow shrub likes a sunny spot. The small tassel-like blooms, in vivid yellow or fiery orange, are strung along the bare branches ...

Fennel is a large attractive plant with soft feathery leaves and tall stems topped with flat clusters of tiny yellow flowers in summer. The leaves, flowers and seeds have an aniseed flavour and aroma ...

A great addition to borders and containers, alstroemerias produce showy flowers in a wide choice of colours from early summer to the first frosts. Most are hardy and easy to grow, blooming generously ...

Also known as firethorn, due to its flame-coloured berries and prickly stems, this is a beautiful, easy-going, wildlife-friendly shrub suitable for most gardens. Grown as hedging, a free-standing ...