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the dahlia was persona non grata in our gardens and was banished to the vegetable garden, where it was grown purely as a cut flower or for competitions. Dahlias were they garden equivalent of battery hens. Now they range happily through our borders bringing

the chain link fence to colonise at least eight neighbouring gardens. It was now so thick that I could comfortably walk along the top of the fence like a tightrope walker.We could have cut the whole thing down, but there was a further problem. The growth

they get going. I have a few which are so embedded in the roots of other plants that all I can do is cut them down each year.However, they are a constant reminder of the impermanence of man (if you would excuse me for getting a bit philosophical for a

and their exuberance. By 'big' I mean something that dwarfs its neighbours and reaches at least 2m high. I have five such plants in my garden.The first is Inula magnifica. I can see the cheerful, shaggy yellow flowers from my office and they never cease to amuse me

to the boss occasionally) but there is a close second.You may well have seen the words AGM on plant labels or in catalogues. This does not mean Annual General Meeting but instead refers to the Award of Garden Merit. This is the ultimate recommendation