Growing spaces: terrace

A fine-leaved climber with tuberous roots, happiest scrambling up a partly shaded wall.

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.

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

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

Peppery leaves in five weeks, and yellow flowers for the bees if you let a few stalks run on.

The monsoon green that grows itself — heat-proof, rain-proof and ready in a month.

Summer staple for a sunny terrace; pick every second day or the pods turn woody.

A deep trough and forty days is all it asks. Thin ruthlessly for straight roots.

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