Trees Prunus 'Accolade' or P. 'Schmidsu Sakura' are good choices for a flowering cherry Hymenosporum flavum or Australian frangipani (warm areas)
Malus 'John Downie' or M. Profusion crab apples
Camellia sasanqua Crataegus laevigata 'Rosea Flore Pleno', May tree
Drimys aromatica Eucryphia sp. Dodonea viscosa (NZ)
Sophora sp. (NZ)
Magnolias For more see Trees for Small Gardens
Hedges Taxus baccata or Yew, is a classic evergreen for structure
Buxus sempervirens for box topiary
Lavender
For more see Design Basics - Hedges
Shrubs Evergreen Shrubs Viburnum davidii,
Hebes, especially H. toparia, H. albicans and H. evenosa, and colourful H. speciosa, H. hulkeana and Wiri hybrids (NZ)
Lophomyrtus bullata (NZ)
Brachyglottis sp. (NZ)
Olearia sp. (NZ)
Sophora 'Dragons Gold' (NZ)
Choisya ternata, Mexican orange blossom
Evergreen daphnes
Evergreen azalea
Vireya rhododendrons
Deciduous shrubs Viburnums, including V. farreri (winter flowering), V. trilobum (tall with berries), V. opulus (snowball tree)
Philadelphus or mock orange
Corylopsis sp. (a smaller relative of the hazel)
Hydrangea
Shrub roses
Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea Superba' (purple leaves)
Potentilla
Perennials Spires Larkspur
Verbascum
Aconitum
Digitalis or foxgloves
Delphiniums
Iris - bearded iris, I. sibirica and more
Mounds Lavatera
Chrysanthemums
Shasta daisies
Honesty
Rubeckias
Anenome hupehensis and A. rivularis Penstemons
Hemerocallis or Day lilies
Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies
Geraniums
Verbenas
Geums
Paeonia officinalis or 'cottage peony', 'Festiva Maxima' and others are worth trying
See through plants Perovskia or Russian sage
Verbena bonarensis Gaura lindheimeri Acquilegias or columbines
Frothy plants Myosotis or Forget-me-nots
Brunnera macrophylla Gypsophila
Heuchera or coral
Alchemilla mollis or Lady's mantle
Arthropodium cirratum or Rengarenga
Nepeta or catmint
Edging plants Hellebores, the winter roses
Verbenas
Geums
Primroses
Polyanthus
Bergenia
Lavender
Nepeta or catmint
Dianthus
Helianthemums
Saxifrage
Heucheras
Alchemilla mollis or Lady's Mantle
Geraniums
Violets
Annuals Pansies
Alyssum
Snapdragons
Hellebore x hybrida
Bulbs Fritillaria imperialis Erythronium or dogs tooth violets
Galanthus sp. or snowdrops
Tulips Narcissi or daffodils
Hyacinths
Ranunculus
Anenomes
Alliums Lilies Dahlias
Roses Single Complicata
Golden Wings
Sally Holmes
Mutabilis
Scarbrosa and Frau Dagmar Hastrup, rugosas with wonderful hips
Semi-double and Double Cottage Maid (low growing)
Penelope and Autumn Delight, the hybrid musks
Rosarie de l'Hay
Comtesse du Cayla (coral)
Graham Thomas
Rosa Mundi (striped)
Old Blush
Fritz Nobis
Mme Isaac Pierre
Climbers Rosa banksiae 'Lutea', Lady banks Rose, is a cottage garden classic
Madame Alfred Carriere
Crepuscle
Albertine
New Dawn
Allister Stella Gray
Glorie de Dijon
Meg
Dublin Bay and Bantry Bay
For more roses see our Rose pages
Climbers Clematis - try C. viticella types, C. tangutica for late summer/autumn and C. cirrhosa 'Freckles' for winter.
Clematis paniculata (syn. C. indivisa) spring flowering (NZ)
Wisteria
Plumbago
Hardenbergia
Lonicera sp. or honeysuckle (notLonicera japonica and cultivars as these are a plant pest)
For more roses see our Tender Climbers
