Regions: west

Flowers best when slightly starved and thirsty — the classic mistake is watering it too well.

Needs space, sun and a lot of feeding, and gives back a bunch plus leaves for cooking.

A dryland shrub grown for its root; it resents wet feet more than it resents heat.

Nearly impossible to kill and far more likely to die of kindness than neglect. Snap a leaf for burns and sunburn. Never…

Grows in a bottle of water on a windowsill and keeps going. Best first plant for a child or a new gardener;…

Upright, architectural and forgiving of dark corners. Releases oxygen at night, which makes it a favourite for bedrooms.

The most satisfying pot crop there is. Stake it early, feed every fortnight, and pinch side shoots so the plant puts its…

Sow thickly in a wide shallow tray and snip with scissors. Rub the seed between your palms before sowing to improve germination.

Slow to start, then generous for decades. Feed with curd whey or diluted buttermilk once a month for glossy leaves.

A pest guard as much as a flower — plant it at the edge of vegetable beds. Deadhead often and it flowers…