This month

Latin name:  Petroselinum hortense  This pretty, flat-leaved parsley can be used to enhance the favour of a wide range of dishes, as well as making a wonderful garnish. Average height 1.6ft  Full sun         ...

Latin name: Mentha x piperata 'Strawberry'  A vigorous, spreading perennial herb with small, aromatic, mid-green leaves that have a scent reminiscent of strawberries and clusters of small, pale purple flowers that appear in summer. Perfect as a...

Latin name: Mentha suavolens 'Variegata' A strong-growing perennial forming an extensive colony, with softly hairy, apple-scented pale green leaves margined with cream, and tiny mauve flowers in dense spikes in late summer. Average height...

Latin name:  Mentha x piperata 'Chocolate' Rich green leaves have a wonderful aroma (and flavour), and are topped in summer with pretty white flowers. Average height 1ft  Full fun partial shade           ...

Latin name: Mentha x piperata citrata 'Basil'  The distinctive flavour of this herb works well with tomatoes, as well as adding a bit of zing to sliced melon or salads. It can also be used to make pesto.  Average height 1ft  Full sun...

Latin name:  Lovisticum officinale  Large, vigorous plant, first producing a flush of edible leaves in spring, then sending up impressive flower stalks that can reach 6ft tall in mid- to late summer. Average height 6ft Full sun Partial...

Latin name: Armorica rusticana A vigorous rhizomatous perennial with fleshy, white, pungently aromatic tap-roots. Large, shiny, dock-like leaves die back in winter, but re-shoot from the roots in spring. Panicles of small, white flowers emerge in early...

Latin name: Teucrium x ackermannii  This evergreen perennial has woody stems that are clothed in small deep green leaves. Average height 6ft  Full sun partial shade                     ...

Latin name: Teucrium divaricatum  Fully hardy evergreen which makes an excellent low, neat, flowering hedge. Average height 1-2ft Full sun partial shade                       ...

Common name: Mock Orange A beautiful, shrub with arching branches that bear double, pure white flowers in mid summer. The blooms are strongly scented. Average height/spread 4ft. Full sun. Hardy.

Common name: Bear's breeches A bold perennial with divided green leaves that are generously splashed with white. Tall spikes of white flowers with purple bracts are produced over summer. Less vigorous than the species. Average height 5ft, spread 3ft...

Latin name: Thymus pseudolanuginosus A hardy perennial that produces a wonderful carpet of woolly grey foliage. Average height 0.2ft  Full sun partial shade                       ...

Latin name: Thymus vulgaris 'Silver Posie'  A dwarf, upright variety of thyme with narrow, lemon-scented foliage that has white margins.  In the summer it produces an abundance of pale lilac-pink flowers.  Average height 1ft  Full...

Latin name: Thymus 'Doone Valley'  An aromatic, evergreen, mat-forming, dwarf shrub. The tiny leaves are dark green with yellow splashes, and the flowers, borne in rounded heads in summer, are lavender-pink opening from red buds. Average height 0...

Latin name: Rumex acetosa  A cut and come again hardy perennial with lemon sharp leaves rich in vitamins A and C, it is often one of the first green leaves to emerge in spring. Average height 1-2ft  Full sun partial shade   ...

Botanical name: Petroselinum hortense 'Giant Italian' This herb produces an abundance of bright dark flat green leaves of excellent strong flavour.  Average height 1-3ft  Full sun partial shade  "Good for cooking" 

Latin name: Origanum vulgare  An excellent seasoning herb with small leaves that are excellent in all manner of savoury dishes. Also know as Wild Marjoram. Average height 1ft  Full sun  "Good for cooking"   

Latin name : Mentha suavolens A deliciously fruity mint that is reminiscent of apples. The leaves are slightly soft and hairy Grows tall - up to 60cm. Grow in a container to stop it spreading. Average height 2ft Full sun  Good for...

Latin name: Semperviren arachnoides 'Rubin' An attractive succulent with rosettes of fleshy red-tinged leaves. Plant in a container of gritty compost. Spreads by producing little plant-lets. Buy a few Houseleeks of several colours to make a display in a...

Latin name: Cicorium intybus A salad leaf with a distinctive bitter taste. Excellent with tomatoes and other salad leaves. The root can also be ground to make a coffee-like powder.  Average height 3-5ft Full sun Good for cooking   

Botanical name: Monarda didyma A perennial with pinky red flowers arranged in whorls that are loved by bees and other pollinators. The crushed leaves have a spicy scent. Has several uses - medicinal and culinary i.e. Bergamot tea. Average height...

Common name: Periwinkle An extremely useful evergreen ground-cover shrub with long creeping stems of green glossy leaves. Purple flowers are produced from April to September.  Good for banks and shady spots where other plants fail to thrive.  Average...