Regions: north

Flat clusters of small stars that butterflies can actually land on.

Yellow bells almost all year on a shrub that survives a forgotten terrace.

A sub-Himalayan scrambler with brick-red bracts through the cool months.

A spiny yellow-flowered shrub of dry scrub, unbothered by heat or thin soil.

The flame tree of Indian summers; fast, spectacular and shallow-rooted.

Orchid-like flowers in February, and buds that go into the north-Indian kitchen.

Huge red cups in February that feed every bird in the neighbourhood at once.

The national flower — a big tub, full sun and patience is all it takes.

The garden chrysanthemum of the north-Indian winter, sold by the crate at Diwali.

Bulbs planted in March give heavily scented white spikes through the monsoon.