Plant this Like lilac, but can’t fit one in your garden? The very little leaf lilac, Syringa pubescens subsp. microphylla ‘Superba’, is the perfect compromise, growing to 2m x 2m. In late spring/early summer it’s covered with pink, perfumed flowers. It’s hardy and will grow in most situations, given some sun.
Visit this Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter in East Sussex, is talking at the Garden Museum in Lambeth, London, on 15 May at 7pm, as part of the Gardener’s Cabinets series. He’ll join garden historian Tim Richardson to discuss eight items that influence his work. Tickets from gardenmuseum.org.uk.
Sow this Nasturtium is one of my favourite plants: the whole thing is edible, right down to the seed capsules, and it thrives in poor soils, so no need to fertilise. Try compact, red-flowered ‘Princess of India’, ‘Firebird’ with variegated leaves, or the peachy ‘Ladybird Rose’.
