B

A favourite perennial in our own garden, grown for its many rich, indigo-blue flowers borne in terminal racemes. Strong upright stems are clothed in blue-green foliage. The genus name derives from the Greek word 'bapto' meaning to dye and refers to the black roots of this genus that yield an inferior form of the dye indigo. Suited to full sun in a good moisture-retentive soil. 90cm (3ft).

A hardy begonia. Attractive foliage. Pink flowers in late summer and autumn.

This late summer performer produces masses of pale yellow daisies. Lots of tall feathery foliage provides a verdant backdrop to nearby companions in the herbaceous border. Even though it is a tall plant reaching up to 1.8m (6ft), it requires no staking. Open sunny position in soil that does not dry out.

An evergreen creeping fern from New Zealand, its long, almost leathery leaves arise from rhizomes and are initially a reddish bronzy-green when new, slowly ageing to a glossy green. Prefers a shaded site, although it will also tolerate sun. Once settled in it will grow rapidly. 15cm (6").
    
    

This is an interesting and most useful member of the borage family. Coarse, hairy foliage and blue borage-type flowers throughout summer and into autumn. Grows in sun or light shade and in most soil types. Self seeds enough to be welcomed. 25-30cm (10-12") high.

An exciting new selection with heavy silver mottling to the leaves, creating a year round frosted look; even more dramatic when in covered in massed stems of powder blue flowers. Cultivation as B. macrophylla. 45cm (18").

This is a robust and useful spring flowering perennial, with orbicular leaves followed by sprays of airy bright forget-me-not blue flowers. Good in an open border or woodland situation, as long as the soil is not too dry. 45cm (18").