Foolproof Plants

Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush   Shrub

Medium to large shrub, fast growing (stand well back) covered in fragrant purple cone-shaped inflorescences 4"-12" long in summer that are in turn frequently covered in butterflies. Flowers of different varieties come in shades from white through lilac to quite dark purple with pinks too. There's also an orange flowered variety  B. globosa with golf-ball sized and shaped inflorescences. The star of the group for my money is Buddleia alternifolia, though not as tough or quick as davidii.

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Alchemilla mollis - Ladies mantle*   Perennial

A clump forming perennial with softly hairy pale green leaves that hold drops of water beautifully after rain. Unusual tiny greenish yellow flowers borne in great quantity from early summer to early autumn. Excellent ground cover and good for cut flowers. Drought-tolerant. Very easily raised from seed.

*Something to do with firming of the bosom apparently, though what you do to achieve the supposed effect I don't know.

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Cotoneaster spp.*   Shrub

A largish group of shrubs of various habit from prostrate ground cover to tall arching tree-like species. Some deciduous and some evergreen. Pretty tough as a group and withstand dry conditions (once-established). Most have white or pinkish-white flowers in spring followed by autumn / winter berries the colours of which vary in different species.

C. horizontalis - I tend to regard this one as a bit dull but worthy, but maybe I just don't know better. OK as a odd one in a mixed display, but rather over-planted by housing developers on new estates. Low-growing, deciduous, millions of red autumn berries, herringbone pattern to the branches, to 3ft tall. Can be successfully grown upwards as a wall shrub.

C. lacteus - vigorous evergreen to 12ft, dense foliage so good as a hedge, red berries.

C. rothschildianus - vigorous evergreen to 15ft, a good inclusion to a mixed hedge. Slightly unusual but very attractive golden yellow berries.

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Fuchsia riccartonii   Shrub

Hardy upright fuchsia covered with small pink and purple flowers, to 6ft + if you let it, can be used for informal hedging.

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Hemerocallis - Day Lilies   Perennial

Individual flowers last about a day, but they come thick and fast. Numerous varieties usually in hot colours from yellow through reds and orange with some pinks. Arching strap-like leaves, flowers 10" to 36" tall depending on variety, spread to about 3ft, an excellent addition to mixed borders. Tall orange ones are meant to be the most reliable. A recent introduction "Bonanza" has longer lasting flowers and needs less space.

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Photinia x fraseri "Red Robin"   Shrub

An upright foliage shrub, evergreen, with bright red new foliage at ends of shoots in spring. Leaves remain red for a considerable time turning green as they age. Best colour obtained in full sun. Can be used for hedging, though pattern of coloured foliage is lost rather when the hedge is clipped. Not for the most exposed conditions.

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Prunus laurocerasus - Cherry laurel   Shrub

Large dense, bushy evergreen shrub. Long glossy leaves to about 6" long, dark green above, lighter below. Fragrant white flowers produced in spring. Makes an excellent hedging plant that is more readily kept in check than conifers, also whereas conifers rarely if ever grow from brown wood, even old established laurels will respond to a severe pruning by producing fresh green growth from mature brown wood that hasn't seen direct sunlight for years. Within a year or so, you will be rewarded with a new curtain of attractive foliage.

Don't trim with shears, you'll cut through the large leaves causing them to turn brown at the edges. A smaller variety "Otto Luyken" grows to about 3ft tall and wide and is suitable for inclusion in a border.

Tough and hardy, a single plant may be grown as an informal wind-break or at the back of a large border where the dark green leaves set off other foliage and flowers admirably. Good as a sound absorber too against road noise.

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Saxifraga x urbium - London Pride   P

Rosette forming vigorous evergreen ground cover plant about 3" high. White flower panicles flushed with pink to about 10" in summer. Spreads reliably even in poor soils, needs some shade.

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Sedum spectabile - Ice plant*   P

Clump forming deciduous perennial. Fleshy pale green leaves. Large flat pink-red compound flowers in late summer - early autumn, much loved by bees and butterflies. Tolerates drought once established, every garden should have at least one. The leaves make a good contrast against grasses / gravel / rocks / wood etc. To 18". Easy to propagate by stem cuttings in spring or autumn.
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*No idea why it's called the "ice plant.", In the Victorian "language of flowers", giving someone this plants means "your looks freeze me" but I'm not sure whether this led to, or arose from the name.

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Vinca major - Periwinkle   Shrub

Ground cover plant that can be plain green or have variegated leaves, both with blue spring / summer flowers. To about 20" tall, spread indefinite, roots as it goes. Very tough once established, and tolerates sun or shade. The plain green leaved variety is the most vigorous and will grow in shadier places, the variegated variety shows best colour in the sun, in the shade it may revert to plain green.Vinca minor is equally unfazed by novice gardeners or shade, will confine itself to about 8" and a much reduced spread.

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Viburnum tinus   Shrub

Bushy dense evergreen shrub eventually to about 10ft tall and wide. Fragrant white flowers borne over a long period through winter and spring, followed by blue/black berries. Tolerates a fair amount of shade and can be hard pruned.

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