The Royal Horticultural Society is the world's premier gardening authority. The RHS is a charitable organisation that owns inspirational gardens, holds seasonal plant shows and events, including the famous Chelsea Flower Show, and offers horticultural advice to professionals and amateurs alike. Experts at RHS gardens test hundreds of plants for garden use and try out a range of horticultural techniques so that gardeners can be assured of the best and most up-to-date information.

The Royal Horticultural Society is the world's premier gardening authority. The RHS is a charitable organisation that owns inspirational gardens, holds seasonal plant shows and events, including the famous Chelsea Flower Show, and offers horticultural advice to professionals and amateurs alike. Experts at RHS gardens test hundreds of plants for garden use and try out a range of horticultural techniques so that gardeners can be assured of the best and most up-to-date information.

• 1: INTRODUCTION
• 2: PLANT LOCATIONS
• • 1: GARDENS IN THE SUN
  • • 1: Plants for clay soil
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Roses
    • 2: Plants for sandy soil
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Irises
    • 3: Plants for pond perimeters
    • 4: Plants for ponds
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Water lilies
    • 5: Plants for boundaries, hedges, and windbreaks
    • 6: Plants for beside hedges, walls, and fences
    • 7: Plants for walls, fences, and vertical surfaces
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Clematis
    • 8: Plants for cracks in walls and paving
    • 9: Plants for patios, balconies, and windowsills
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Dahlias
    • 10: Plants for productive patios
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Tomatoes
    • 11: Plants for herb gardens
    • 12: Plants for gravel gardens
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Sedums
    • 13: Plants for rock gardens
    • 14: Plants for city gardens
    • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Grasses and sedges
    • 15: Plants for roof gardens
    • 16: Plants for exposed sites
    • 2: GARDENS IN SHADE
    • • 1: Plants for clay soil
      • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Hostas
      • 2: Plants for sandy soil
      • 3: Plants for pond perimeters
      • 4: Plants for ponds
      • 5: Plants for boundaries, hedges, and windbreaks
      • 6: Plants for beside hedges, walls, and fences
      • 7: Plants for walls, fences, and vertical surfaces
      • 8: Plants for cracks in walls and paving
      • 9: Plants for patios, balconies, and windowsills
      • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Begonias
      • 10: Plants for productive patios
      • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Leafy salads
      • 11: Plants for woodland gardens
      • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Azaleas and rhododendrons
      • 12: Plants for rock gardens
      • 13: Plants for city gardens
      • • *: PLANT FOCUS: Ferns
      • 14: Plants for exposed sites
      • 3: PLANTS FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS
      • • 1: PLANTS FOR GARDEN STYLES
        • • 1: Plants for contemporary perennial schemes
          • 2: Plants for formal and modern schemes
          • 3: Plants for tropical gardens
          • 4: Plants for oriental gardens
          • 5: Plants for cottage gardens
          • 6: Plants for play
          • 7: Plants for wildlife gardens
        • 2: PLANTS FOR SEASONAL INTEREST
        • • 1: Plants for spring borders
          • 2: Trees for blossom
          • 3: Spring flowers for containers
          • 4: Plants for summer borders
          • 5: Summer flowers for containers
          • 6: Plants for autumn borders
          • 7: Plants for autumn leaves
          • 8: Plants for ornamental fruits
          • 9: Autumn and winter flowers for containers
          • 10: Plants for winter borders
          • 11: Plants for evergreen effects
        • 3: PLANTS FOR COLOUR AND SCENT
        • • 1: Plants for cool colours
          • 2: Plants for pastel colours
          • 3: Plants for hot and dark colours
          • 4: Plants for colourful stems year-round
          • 5: Plants for fragrant blooms
        • 4: PLANTS FOR SHAPE AND TEXTURE
        • • 1: Stems for shape and texture
          • 2: Plants for textured foliage
          • 3: Plants for architectural foliage
          • 4: Leaves for containers
          • 5: Trees for small gardens
          • 6: Plants for focal points and topiary
        • 5: PLANTS FOR GARDEN PROBLEMS
        • • 1: Plants for sunbaked areas
          • 2: Plants for waterlogged sites
          • 3: Plants for banks and slopes
          • 4: Plants for weed-proof ground cover
          • 5: Plants for allergy sufferers
          • 6: Pest-proof plants: slugs
          • 7: Pest-proof plants: rabbits and deer
        • 4: Index and acknowledgments