Plant Partners

Herbaceous perennials are the star performers in the garden. But to create maximum impact they need the right partners, and knowing which plant to put with which is an art that often eludes even the most knowledgeable of gardeners. Here, Anna Pavord helps to solve this tantalizing problem by suggesting 60 plants that she feels deserve a place in every garden - her star plants - and to accompany them, two ideal partners. She shows, season by season, how to create irresistible planting associations that juxtapose texture, shape, colour and scent. In these small-scale recipes she uses perennials, annuals and bulbs that either perform simultaneously or dovetail to provide interest for most of the year. To extend the options, she also gives scores of alternatives for each combination. Stunning photographs and Anna's unique ability to awaken us to the delights and idiosyncracies of these, her favourite plants, work together to provide a marvellous source of planting ideas. These can be visited time and time again, whether we want merely to fill one small gap, transform an awkward corner or start a whole new border from scratch.