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.
Convolvulus cneorum Silverbush
An unusual shrubby member of a genus that comprises mostly climbers and scramblers. It is a native of Mediterranean limestone hills, and enjoys a hot sunny position in a rock garden, where fertility is fairly low and drainage efficient. The evergreen foliage is covered in silky silver-grey hairs, and the flowers start as pink buds which open into 2.5cm (1in) trumpets, with blush white petals marked with a central pink stripe. An attractive plant that benefits from annual pruning to maintain bushy growth down to the ground. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' Sage
Sometimes known as 'East Friesland', 'Ostfriesland' is a lovely variety of this clump-forming perennial, producing spikes of violet-blue from summer through to autumn. Grow it in well-drained soil in full sun. Protect plants from excessive winter wet and shelter from cold, drying winds. In colder gardens, it is well worth taking a few cuttings in late summer and early autumn to overwinter indoors. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
An unusual variety of hardy geranium, with violet-blue flowers that appear above the dark-purple leaves in early to mid-summer. A compact grower, its neat mounds of foliage provide an extended season of interest. Its dark colouring combines well with bright the silver of Astelias and acid green of Tanacetums. It's a highly adaptable plant and will happily grow on a wide variety of soils, in full sun or partial shade. If given a light pruning once a year after flowering, it will provide a low-maintenance, colourful point of interest year after year.
Perovskia 'Blue Spire' Perovskia
Sometimes called Russian sage, this sub-shrub produces soft grey-green foliage on white stems. The flowers resemble spikes of blue lavender. This variety has larger flower-heads and is an impressive plant, even in winter when bold groups of the white stems make an attractive feature. The deeply cut foliage smells strongly of sage when bruised. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
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"The Blue Garden is a fusion of traditional and modern, and appropriately so, as the essence of the design is the recent rebranding of the company.
A garden for everyone, it's a calming and relaxing outdoor space with splashes of contrasting colour. Blue was chosen specifically as it's a soothing and cooling colour and creates a feeling of peace and trust. These values are at the heart of the design team and represent our dedication and passion when creating beautiful gardens."
Jo Joannou - co-designer of The Blue Garden
Discover which garden the public voted their favourite in this year's BBC RHS People's Award.
"The Blue Garden is a fusion of traditional and modern, and appropriately so, as the essence of the design is the recent rebranding of the company. 
