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a plate offering more than green leaves, so a mix of colourful lettuce, red-veined beetroot, thinly sliced circles of white radish, red tomatoes and diced yellow peppers really hits the spot. You can really let your creative, artistic side take over

, Muhlenbergia dumosa isn't fully hardy, so will need protecting from frosts.Muhlenbergia dumosaAs the name suggests, this grass has red button-shaped flowers above mounds of fresh green foliage. It grows best in full sun in a well-drained soil and reaches 1m

. It has truly spectacular flowers with big heads about six inches across. It contrasts rather well with a short kniphofia called 'Nancy's Red'.Dahlia 'Honka': I found this in the plant centre at Coton Manor Gardens this summer. It is quite short (about 40

Why is it that you rarely see zinnias in summer bedding displays? Do they give the impression of being an old-fashioned flower? Well, I think they're in for a revival, and with some stunning new varieties coming onto the market I'm recommending them

.Acer griseum, Paper-bark maplePrunus serrula is perfect tree for small gardens. It provides year-round interest, producing small, white flowers in spring, followed by small fruits and red or yellow leaves in autumn. Its shiny bark remains a deep red throughout

. However, I include it because it makes a good, narrow growing, multi-stemmed tree with stunning white, starry flowers in springtime followed by edible fruit and dark red leaves. Can stand a bit of wet.Number three: Sorbus hupehensis. A Chinese Rowan

. capillipes and A. grosseri.Cornus florida: a dogwood, but a long way from the red- and green-stemmed varieties we plant for a splash of winter colour. This one is a stunning plant that has green flowers surrounded by white bracts. These look like petals

flowerheads in summer. It will perform equally well in a sunny border or a container.Jarava ichuThis easy-to-grow bearded iris, with butter yellow and lavender petals, will flower from late-May to mid-June.Iris 'Lullaby of Spring'This short, smoky yellow iris

. For the same price as your vase of red roses that within a week are only fit for the compost heap, you could instead grow orchids on your windowsill, which carry a succession of flowers for three months.If that wasn't enough, it will even flower again about six

, scented, white-flowered daffs with dark red, jagged centres. I planted them in a large terracotta pot, next to a few pots of 'Minnow' - a dwarf, creamy-flowered variety with contrasting yellow centres.Both varieties are quite late flowering in April