Many eucalyptus species produce two kinds of foliage: the long sickle-shaped leaves of adult branches, and the lush rounded leaves distinctive of young shoots. They are naturally trees, sometimes reaching a great height, but in gardens regular firm annual pruning can keep them as large shrubs and maintain a supply of the juvenile foliage enjoyed by gardeners and flower arrangers. Only a few species are reliably hardy, and of these E. gunnii is the most popular. Cold winds are more injurious than frost, and plants are best grown in sunny sheltered spots. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Its open crown gives this tree a handsome outline, but its most fetching feature is without doubt its bark which shines with a burnished copper gleam in different shades of rose, pink and purple. It peels gracefully, offering a contrasting honey or reddish-maroon backing with a grey bloom. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped and pale green.

Common box is a vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrub or small tree. It has small, rounded to oblong, glossy dark green leaves. Its dense habit makes it ideal for hedging or screening and it can be closely clipped into different shapes. An excellent plant to make into topiary, as you can leave a smart finish after trimming. It's best to choose the dwarf form of this shrub for low hedging to create a knot or parterre.

A striking bamboo to use as a specimen plant, this naturally forms a dramatic tall, fairly upright shape. As the finger-thick canes mature, they become glossy jet black, showing up well against the frieze of airy evergreen foliage. Plants look good growing with shrubs, particularly evergreens in a large border or foliage garden, but can also be grown as a single clump in a lawn. Bamboos associate particularly well with water where they make striking reflections, although they do not like wet or waterlogged soil. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

'Palace Purple' is a small but striking plant with rounded, purple leaves 10cm (4in) across, very similar to maple leaves in shape. In midsummer the plants flower, with short, upright stems of small, creamy white, bell flowers. Both flowers and leaves are popular with flower arrangers for cutting, while in the garden they associate well with other compact plants as their foliage makes a good foil for both bright colours and pastels they look specially good used around the edge of a border. Different cultivars can be used together to good effect. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).