Great plants for small gardens

When space is limited, plants must be chosen which grow to a manageable size and don't crowd their neighbours.

As the whole garden is seen at one time it must have a long season of interest, with interesting flower or leaf colour, or a dramatic shape which will impress even in winter.

Additional problems small gardens bring with them - such as the shade and dry soil found in many small urban plots - mean the plants must be able to grow in difficult locations. In this text, the author picks the best plants for the small garden, and shows how to use them to the best effect.

Evergreen trees and shrubs give the garden a year-round structure; the choice border perennials and bulbs have a long flowering time or striking shapes to help brighten shady sites; and climbers take up only vertical space.

Plants are suggested for a variety of garden styles and locations, from cottage gardens to containers, and recipe plantings show how to incorporate them into schemes.

The final chapter summarizes the characteristics, cultivation and main uses of over 250 plants for the small plot.