1. ACANTHUS SPINOSUS Bear's Breeches
Introduced in 1629 from southern Europe. Imposing 4ft spikes of hooded pale pink flowers with purple bracts, in midsummer. The dark green, shiny leaves are ornate in themselves and were used as an ornamental motif in classical architecture. Sun or shade

2. ACHILLEA PTARMICA THE PEARL Sneezewort
Double flowered form of the British native,with white buttons on 4" clustered heads all summer. H2ft. Sun

3. ACONITUM ANGLICUM Monkshood
A rare native growing only in parts of south-west England. Lilac blue hooded flowers in May and June. H3ft Sun/shade

4. AEGOPODIUM PODAGRARIA VARIEGATA Variegated Ground Elder Bishop's Weed Gout Weed
Attractive ground cover, but can be as invasive as the garden weed. The plant was brought by the Romans as they valued its young shoots as a vegetable. H9" Sun or shade

5. AJUGA REPTANS ATROPURPUREA Bugle Carpet Bugleweed
Blue flower spikes with glossy purple foliage. The green-leaved native wild Bugle of hedgerows and field margins was traditionally applied to ulcers and sores and according to Culpeper, very efficacious. H8" Sun or Shade

6. ALCEA ROSEA The much-loved Hollyhock.
Brought to Britain from the Orient in the fifteenth century and grown in English cottage gardens ever since. Up to H8ft. Sun

7. ALLIUM MOLY Lily Leek Yellow Onion
First cultivated in this country by Edward, Lord Zouche in 1604. H4" Sun

8. ALOYSIA TRIPHYLLA syn. Lippia citriodora Lemon Verbena
Grown for its aromatic foliage and sprays of tiny flowers. Frost to half hardy, plant against a south or west-facing wall; needs well-drained soil. Cut out dead wood in early summer. Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer. H10ft.

9. ANAPHALIS MARGRITACEA Pearl Everlasting
Silver grey leaves with heads of small white flowers. H2ft. Sun

10. ANEMONE SYLVESTRIS Snowdrop Windflower
Known in Britain since 1596. From North and Eastern Europe. White nodding flowers in April/May H1.5ft Sun/Shade

11. ANTIRRHINUM MOLLE Dwarf Snapdragon
Pink with woolly grey foliage and grown since the mid-eighteenth century. H8" Sun

12. AQUILEGIA Columbine.
The double aquilegias are also knows as Granny's Bonnets. Cultivated in Britain since the 13th century. It is a traditional cottage garden plant. H2.5ft Sun/shade

13. ARBUTUS UNENDO Killarney Strawberry Tree
Strawberry-like fruits and attractive flowers are both borne in late autumn H8ft in 10 years Sun

14. ARMERIA MARITIMA Thrift , Sea Pink
Native plant with dark grassy foliage with bright pink flowers from May to July H9" Sun

15. ARTEMISIA Absinthium Wormwood, Old Woman, Green Ginger
A native herb with many uses, including repelling fleas and moths, counteracting poisons, and as flavouring for vermouth. Cultivated before 1440. Native of Europe. Silver-grey, less cut foliage. H4ft Sun

16. ARTEMISIA NUTANS Wormwood
With delicate filigree foliage. Originally from Sicily and the Canary Isles in 1777. Hardy H2ft Sun

17. ARUM ITALICUM PICTUM Italian Arum Lily
Brought to this country in 1683. Usually grown for its bold creammarkings on the leaves. H1ft Sun/Shade Poisonous red berries in late summer.

18. ARUM MACULATUM Native Arum Lily
With glossy green leaves in the spring and green spathed flowers later. The clusters of red berries in late summer are poisonous H1ft Sun/shade

20. ASPARAGUS
A gourmet vegetable from Greek and Roman times. The cultivated forms produce larger spears than the wild maritime plant still to be found on the S.W. Coast of England.