Alchemilla mollis (Lady's mantle): Bright green soft leaves and a froth of acid yellow/green flowers in summer. Very easy for ground cover

Astilbe 'Sprite' (simplicifolia hybrid): A shorter form of this popular perennial with panicles of pale pink flowers & dark green ferny leaves. Good for damp or shady spots. Hardy. Up to 30cm.

Calamintha nepeta 'White Cloud': Spikes of small white flowers above mounds of minty scented green leaves. Loved by bees and butterflies. Hardy. Up to 30cm.

Campanula glomerata 'Alba' (White clustered bellflower): Tight clusters of white flowers on short stems above neat, mat-forming foliage. Height about 30cm. Hardy.

Corydalis elata: Summer flowering Corydalis with bright blue flowers above soft green foliage. Excellent in some shade in moist soil. Hardy. Up to 30cm.

Geranium 'Elke' (Cranesbill 'Elke'): Compact, long flowering with pink, white centred, white edged flowers.

Geranium maculatum 'Album' (white spotted cranesbill): Clean white flowers over neat foliage. Great for establishing under trees and in shady areas.

Geranium maculatum 'Elizabeth Ann' (Spotted cranesbill 'Elizabeth Ann'): Pink flowers over dark, almost wine red leaves. Fully hardy. Height to 40cm.

Geranium Orkney Cherry = 'Bremerry' (PBR) (Cranesbill 'Orkney Cherry'): Masses of small vivid pink flowers over a neat mound of bronzy green foliage. Height to 25cm. Hardy

Geranium Patricia = 'Brempat' (Cranesbill 'Patricia'): Masses of magenta flowers over fresh green foliage. Height to 30cm. Fully hardy.

Geranium sanguineum (Bloody cranesbill): Neat, mat forming hardy geranium with bright pink flowers throughout the summer. Good for edging and pots.

Geranium sanguineum 'Album' (Bloody cranesbill 'Album'): Pure white flowers over a mat of dark green leaves. Height to 20cm. Fully hardy.

Geranium sanguineum 'Elsbeth': A low-growing geranium with magenta pink flowers, above a mat of divided foliage. Hardy. Up to 15cm.

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Silver Mist' (Mondo Grass 'Silver Mist'): Grass-like evergreen perennial with variegated strappy leaves. Lavender flower spikes in the summer followed by black berries. Hardy. Up to 30cm.

Ophiopogon planescapus 'Nigrescens' (Black lilyturf): Jet back strappy leaves and purplish flowers in mid-summer. Widely and rightly used in modern planting schemes against silvery plants and paving.