Growing spaces: ground

A cement tub of still water on a terrace becomes a dragonfly and frog habitat in one season.

Compact evergreen with flower heads butterflies work all morning.

A fast native shade tree with scented ball flowers, and a favourite of city birds.

Needs depth more than space — a 30 cm trough of loose soil beats a wide shallow bed.

A monsoon climber that will roof a terrace in eight weeks if you give it a frame.

Drought-hardy bean of the west — fixes nitrogen and crops where little else will.

Host plant for tiger butterflies — plant one and the caterpillars arrive on their own.

Grows from a bare cutting pushed into dry soil; flowers scent a whole terrace.

A slow, tough native tree for a hot courtyard, with fruit that makes the summer sherbet.

The fastest useful tree there is — 3 m in a year, with edible leaves and pods.