A library for small spaces

Herb

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Tender annual

Fragrant culinary herb, pinch flowers to keep leaves coming.

Leafy green

Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Hardy annual

Quick salad crop, cut-and-come-again in shallow pots.

Herb

Mint

Mentha spicata

Hardy perennial

Vigorous spreader – keep in its own pot or it takes over.

Fruit

Strawberry

Fragaria × ananassa

Hardy perennial

Perennial fruit perfect for hanging baskets and railings.

Leafy green

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

Hardy annual

Cool-weather green packed with iron. Sow successionally.

Herb

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Hardy perennial

Drought-tolerant Mediterranean herb. Hates wet feet.

Herb

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Hardy perennial

Tiny aromatic leaves – tucks into cracks and pots.

Herb

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Hardy perennial

Mild onion flavour – the lavender pompom flowers are edible too.

Leafy green

Kale

Brassica oleracea (Acephala)

Hardy biennial

Tough, frost-sweetened leaves. A winter workhorse.

Allium

Spring Onion

Allium fistulosum

Hardy annual

Regrow from kitchen scraps in water then pot up.

Herb

Coriander / Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Half-hardy annual

Bolts in heat – sow small batches every few weeks.

Herb

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Hardy biennial

Biennial that gives leaves for two seasons.

Allium

Garlic

Allium sativum

Hardy perennial

Plant cloves in autumn, harvest in early summer.

Flower

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Half-hardy annual

Peppery edible flowers that thrive on neglect — perfect first flower.

Flower

Calendula

Calendula officinalis

Hardy annual

Sunny orange petals — edible, medicinal, and adored by pollinators.

Flower

Marigold

Tagetes patula

Half-hardy annual

Companion-planting hero — repels pests around tomatoes and beans.

Flower

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Hardy perennial

Fragrant, drought-tolerant perennial that hums with bees in summer.

Flower

Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus

Half-hardy annual

Airy daisies on tall stems — flower from midsummer until frost.

Flower

Viola / Pansy

Viola cornuta

Hardy biennial

Cheerful, cool-season faces — edible and at home on winter sills.

Flower

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Hardy annual

Climbing fragrant blooms — the scent is the whole point.

Flower

Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

Half-hardy annual

Heat-loving cut flower in every colour — keeps producing if you pick.

Flower

Borage

Borago officinalis

Hardy annual

Star-shaped blue flowers — bees adore them and they taste of cucumber.

Flower

Scented Geranium

Pelargonium × hortorum

Tender perennial

Crush a leaf — rose, lemon or mint depending on variety.

Flower

Chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile

Hardy perennial

Tiny apple-scented daisies — pick and dry for soothing tea.

Flower

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea

Hardy perennial

Daisy-bright bee magnet — the seedheads feed goldfinches over winter.

Flower

Verbena bonariensis

Verbena bonariensis

Hardy perennial

Tall wiry stems with violet pompoms — butterflies fly in from streets away.

Flower

Salvia 'Amistad'

Salvia 'Amistad'

Half-hardy perennial

Inky purple tubular flowers from June to frost — hummingbird bait abroad.

Flower

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'

Hardy perennial

Succulent plates that turn from pink to brick — September pollinator buffet.

Flower

Ajuga (Bugle)

Ajuga reptans

Hardy perennial

Glossy ground-cover with cobalt spires — happy in dry shade.

Flower

Agastache (Anise Hyssop)

Agastache foeniculum

Hardy perennial

Liquorice-scented foliage and lavender bottle-brush spikes — bees go wild.

Flower

Eryngium (Sea Holly)

Eryngium planum

Hardy perennial

Metallic blue thistles with steel-cut ruffs — pollinators love them.

Flower

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Hardy biennial

Bumblebee skyscrapers — biennial, self-seeds for years to come.

Flower

Hellebore

Helleborus orientalis

Hardy perennial

Nodding winter blooms when nothing else dares — feeds early bumblebees.

Flower

Hollyhock

Alcea rosea

Hardy biennial

Cottage giant up to 2.5 m — biennial, ridiculously productive.

Flower

Primrose

Primula vulgaris

Hardy perennial

First cheer of spring — divide clumps after flowering for free plants.

Flower

Snowdrop

Galanthus nivalis

Hardy perennial

Pierces January frost — plant 'in the green' just after flowering.

Flower

Crocus

Crocus vernus

Hardy perennial

Goblets in the lawn — vital nectar for early bumblebees waking up.

Flower

Scilla

Scilla siberica

Hardy perennial

Sapphire bells in early spring — naturalises beautifully under trees.

Allium

Leek

Allium ampeloprasum (Porrum)

Hardy biennial

Sweet winter staple — earth up the stems for blanched white shanks.

Allium

Shallot

Allium cepa (Aggregatum)

Hardy biennial

Plant a single set, harvest a cluster — gourmet onion replacement.

Allium

Onion

Allium cepa

Hardy biennial

Plant sets in March, harvest fat globes in August.

Leafy green

Swiss Chard

Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla

Hardy biennial

Rainbow stems — pick outer leaves for months on end.

Leafy green

Rocket

Eruca vesicaria

Hardy annual

Peppery salad leaves ready in 4 weeks — sow fresh every fortnight.

Leafy green

Watercress

Nasturtium officinale

Hardy perennial

Grow in a pot stood in a tray of water — peppery superfood.

Herb

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Hardy perennial

Felted Mediterranean leaves — partner to onions, butter and brown butter.

Herb

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Hardy perennial

Pizza herb — and the pink flowers swarm with bees in July.

Herb

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Hardy perennial

Crush a leaf, get an instant lemon hit — gentle, calming tea.

Herb

Dill

Anethum graveolens

Hardy annual

Feathery anise herb — short-lived, sow little and often.

Herb

Fennel (herb)

Foeniculum vulgare

Hardy perennial

Bronze or green wisps with an aniseed punch — pollinator magnet.

Herb

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Tender perennial

Root a supermarket stalk in water — overwinter indoors.

Herb

French Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus

Hardy perennial

Buy a French variety plant — true tarragon doesn't come from seed.

Herb

Bay

Laurus nobilis

Hardy perennial

Evergreen shrub that takes happily to a pot — clip for shape.

Herb

Lovage

Levisticum officinale

Hardy perennial

Tastes like supercharged celery — one big plant lasts years.

Herb

Chervil

Anthriscus cerefolium

Hardy annual

Delicate aniseed parsley cousin — happy in shadier spots.

Sprouts

Microgreens

Various species

Indoor annual

Ten-day salad upgrade — flavour-packed first-leaf seedlings on a windowsill.

Sprouts

Pea Shoots

Pisum sativum

Indoor annual

Use dried marrowfat peas — cut-and-come-again sweet pea-pod flavour.

Sprouts

Mustard & Cress

Sinapis alba & Lepidium sativum

Indoor annual

The egg-shell sandwich classic — peppery in 7 days flat.

Sprouts

Broccoli Sprouts

Brassica oleracea (Italica)

Indoor annual

Sulforaphane superfood in 5 days — jar sprout, no soil needed.

Sprouts

Baby Leaf Salad Mix

Various species

Indoor annual

Bag a £2 seed mix for £30 of salad over a season.

Sprouts

Alfalfa Sprouts

Medicago sativa

Indoor annual

Nutty-sweet protein-packed sprouts ready in 4-5 days.

Leafy green

Cos Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Longifolia)

Hardy annual

Upright romaine — sweet crunchy ribs, the Caesar-salad classic.

Leafy green

Butterhead Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Capitata)

Hardy annual

Soft buttery rosettes — the gentlest, most child-friendly lettuce.

Leafy green

Oakleaf Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Crispa)

Hardy annual

Frilly lobed leaves — cut-and-come-again for weeks of salads.

Leafy green

Iceberg Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Capitata, Crisphead)

Hardy annual

Dense crunchy globes — needs space and steady water to firm up.

Leafy green

Little Gem

Lactuca sativa 'Little Gem'

Hardy annual

Mini-cos lettuce — fits in a window box and matures in 8 weeks.

Leafy green

Mizuna

Brassica rapa var. nipposinica

Hardy annual

Feathery peppery Japanese green — cut and it grows back fast.

Leafy green

Mibuna

Brassica rapa var. japonica

Hardy annual

Mizuna's narrower cousin — milder, slightly mustardy, prolific.

Herb

Thai Basil

Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora

Tender annual

Aniseed-edged basil — the herb behind pho and pad krapow.

Herb

Purple Basil

Ocimum basilicum 'Purpurascens'

Tender annual

Deep aubergine-purple leaves — striking in pots, makes rosy vinegar.

Herb

Greek Basil

Ocimum basilicum var. minimum

Tender annual

Tiny-leaved bushy basil — sweeter and tougher than Genovese.

Herb

Flat-leaf Parsley

Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum

Hardy biennial

Bolder-flavoured Italian parsley — the cook's-choice over curly.

Herb

Curly Parsley

Petroselinum crispum var. crispum

Hardy biennial

Frilly classic British parsley — best for garnish and tabbouleh.

Herb

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Hardy perennial

The mint for mojitos, lamb and Sunday peas — keep in its own pot.

Herb

Peppermint

Mentha × piperita

Hardy perennial

Stronger menthol punch — the better tea mint and digestive soother.

Herb

Chocolate Mint

Mentha × piperita 'Chocolate'

Hardy perennial

After-dinner cocoa-scented mint — sublime in chocolate puds and tea.

Allium

Welsh Onion

Allium fistulosum

Hardy perennial

Clumping perennial spring onion — never need to sow again.

Allium

Elephant Garlic

Allium ampeloprasum

Hardy perennial

Tennis-ball-size mild garlic — actually a leek relative, not true garlic.

Allium

Garlic Chives

Allium tuberosum

Hardy perennial

Flat blades with mild garlic flavour — white pollinator flowers in late summer.

Flower

Michaelmas Daisy

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

Hardy perennial

Drifts of lavender-pink daisies in October — late nectar for bumblebees.

Flower

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Hardy perennial

Tall American aster — saturated magenta clouds in late September.

Flower

Italian Aster

Aster amellus

Hardy perennial

Compact violet-blue daisies — mildew-resistant Mediterranean classic.

Flower

Catmint

Nepeta × faassenii

Hardy perennial

Lavender-blue hazy clouds — bees and cats both adore it.

Flower

Knautia

Knautia macedonica

Hardy perennial

Burgundy scabious-like pincushions — wiry stems, long bloom.

Flower

Astrantia

Astrantia major

Hardy perennial

Pin-cushion flowers in pewter, pink and crimson — bee magnet for shade.

Flower

Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

Hardy perennial

Steel-blue spiky globes — bees go into ecstasy, dries to silver.

Flower

Miss Willmott's Ghost

Eryngium giganteum

Hardy biennial

Silver-white sea holly biennial — ghosts the border with shimmer.

Flower

Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis

Hardy perennial

Foxglove-like spires with bee-friendly throats — long-blooming.

Flower

Salvia nemorosa

Salvia nemorosa

Hardy perennial

Violet-blue spires that flower again if you cut them back hard in July.

Flower

Meadow Sage

Salvia pratensis

Hardy perennial

Native meadow sage — taller, more relaxed than its garden cousins.

Flower

Perennial Scabious

Scabiosa columbaria

Hardy perennial

Lavender pincushions that flower from May till frost — bee buffet.

Flower

Showy Stonecrop

Hylotelephium spectabile

Hardy perennial

Flat butterfly-landing-pads of pink autumn flowers — drought-proof.

Flower

Caucasian Stonecrop

Phedimus spurius

Hardy perennial

Mat-forming succulent groundcover with star-shaped flowers.

Flower

Wood Spurge

Euphorbia amygdaloides

Hardy perennial

Acid-green spring bracts — happy in dry shade where little else grows.

Flower

Water Avens

Geum rivale

Hardy perennial

Nodding apricot bells — happiest in moist semi-shade, early-summer.

Flower

Lungwort

Pulmonaria officinalis

Hardy perennial

Spotted leaves, pink-to-blue spring flowers — first bumblebee meal.

Flower

Lamb's Ear

Stachys byzantina

Hardy perennial

Felted silver leaves — kid-favourite, plus pink summer spires for bees.

Flower

Coral Bells

Heuchera villosa

Hardy perennial

Caramel-to-purple foliage all year — frothy summer flowers.

Flower

Goldenrod 'Fireworks'

Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'

Hardy perennial

Sprays of gold late-summer firework arches — pollinator powerhouse.

Flower

Helenium

Helenium autumnale

Hardy perennial

Daisy-cones in russet, mahogany and copper — late-season warmth.

Flower

Christmas Rose

Helleborus niger

Hardy perennial

Pure-white winter blooms in time for Christmas — feeds January bees.

Flower

Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Hardy perennial

Silky purple cups in April followed by feathery seedheads.

Flower

Red Bistort

Persicaria amplexicaulis

Hardy perennial

Long red-pink spires from June till frost — adored by bees.

Flower

Great Burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

Hardy perennial

Crimson bottlebrush drumsticks float on wiry stems — meadow elegance.

Flower

Perennial Wallflower 'Bowles'

Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'

Hardy perennial

Months and months of mauve flower spires — bee magnet, short-lived.

Flower

Perennial Cornflower

Centaurea montana

Hardy perennial

Bigger spidery blue cornflowers on a clump-forming perennial.

Flower

Perennial Sunflower

Helianthus × multiflorus

Hardy perennial

Smaller golden daisies on tall perennial stems — no replanting needed.

Flower

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Hardy perennial

Lapis-blue saucers from May till frost — RHS Plant of the Centenary.

Flower

Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

Hardy perennial

Sky-blue early-summer haze — robust, weed-suppressing groundcover.

Flower

Meadow Cranesbill

Geranium pratense

Hardy perennial

Native UK wildflower — violet-blue cups in June meadows.

Flower

Catmint 'Walker's Low'

Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'

Hardy perennial

Bigger, longer-blooming catmint — three months of bee-attracting blue.

Flower

Lavender 'Hidcote'

Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

Hardy perennial

Compact deep-purple English lavender — the hedging classic.

Flower

Lavender 'Munstead'

Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'

Hardy perennial

Soft mauve-blue English lavender — Gertrude Jekyll's choice.

Flower

French Lavender

Lavandula stoechas

Half-hardy perennial

Rabbit-ear bracts on top of deep-purple cones — half-hardy stunner.

Flower

Allium 'Purple Sensation'

Allium 'Purple Sensation'

Hardy perennial

Tennis-ball-size violet drumsticks on tall stems — May–June impact.

Flower

Allium 'Mount Everest'

Allium 'Mount Everest'

Hardy perennial

Pure-white version of Purple Sensation — luminous against dark leaves.

Flower

Allium 'Millennium'

Allium 'Millennium'

Hardy perennial

Late-summer pink drumsticks — fills the gap after spring alliums fade.

Flower

Crocus tommasinianus

Crocus tommasinianus

Hardy perennial

Squirrel-resistant species crocus — naturalises into a lavender carpet.

Flower

Grape Hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum

Hardy perennial

Cobalt-blue bottle-brushes on short stems — spring carpets for bees.

Flower

Crown Imperial

Fritillaria imperialis

Hardy perennial

Drama-queen bulb with orange bells under a pineapple top — May.

Flower

Snake's Head Fritillary

Fritillaria meleagris

Hardy perennial

Checkered purple bells on slim stems — wildflower for damp pots.

Flower

Winter Aconite

Eranthis hyemalis

Hardy perennial

Buttercup-yellow flowers under snowdrops — January cheer.

Flower

Grecian Windflower

Anemone blanda

Hardy perennial

Daisy-blue starbursts naturalising under trees — March-April.

Flower

Wood Anemone

Anemone nemorosa

Hardy perennial

Native white woodland anemone — pure spring innocence under trees.

Flower

Maiden Pink

Dianthus deltoides

Hardy perennial

Tiny carmine star-pinks — mat-forming, lasts forever in poor soil.

Flower

Spiked Speedwell

Veronica spicata

Hardy perennial

Slender blue spikes from May to July — solid bee-friendly clumps.

Flower

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

Hardy perennial

Magenta spires beside ponds — pollinators in absolute droves.

Flower

Lemon Bergamot

Monarda citriodora

Half-hardy annual

Citrus-scented annual cousin of Bee Balm — pink whorls of flowers.

Flower

Balm-leaved Archangel

Lamium orvala

Hardy perennial

Refined deadnettle — pink hooded flowers above big quilted leaves.

Herb

St John's wort

Hardy annual

St John's wort is a hardy perennial herb with bright yellow flowers traditionally used for medicinal purposes. It thrives in sunny locations with minimal care and can spread vigorously.