30 plants with interest all year

These hard-working plants provide several seasons of interest in your garden through flowers, fruit, foliage, bark and even spring shoots

- MATTHEW BIGGS

1 ECHINACEA PALLIDA This exquisite native of the North American prairies, the most dainty of blooms, displays its balletic elegance with slender, pale-pink ray florets that are held horizontally, then gradually droop groundward and flutter in the breeze. The orange-brown central cone remains through winter, topping the bronze stems. Despite its appearance, it is hardy and attractive to bees and butterflies and is outstanding when planted in a troupe with other prairie-style plants. Full sun and moist, well-drained soil create ideal growing conditions. Cut the stems back to ground level in late winter. Height and spread: 
1.25m x 50cm.RHS H5, USDA 3a-10b! .

2 ECHINOPS RITRO ‘VEITCH'S BLUE’ Spiny, deeply cut leaves, which are dark green on top and white below, provide interest from spring until the blooms of this globe thistle appear in late summer, when the spherical heads of buds topping the metallic stems gradually open to dark-blue flowers. At its most impressive in large groups, this is an excellent plant for cutting and drying for flower arrangements, but should be cut before the flowers open. Cut back the stems for a second flush of flowers, or leave the flowerheads for their architectural value. They thrive in an open sunny spot on poor soil, but tolerate anything but deep shade; add grit to heavier soils before planting. The flowers are irresistible to bees, butterflies and other insects during the day, and moths at night. In ideal conditions, they self-seed freely.
90cm x 45cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b.