Garden plants that you think deserve to be more widely grown

[everywhichway]

Just that really!

I'll start the ball rolling with this one, from my garden - the hardy Gloxinia: Incarvillea delavayi

Euphorbia mellifera. The species name means “honey bearer”, and this has honey scented, very fragrant flowers in early summer.

I grow that one too! It's not reliably hardy in a very cold winter - I lost one a few years back - but a lovely, imposing shrub and its flowers really do smell of honey!

Buddleia globosa. Much less common than the ordinary buddleia, and really pretty with orange balls of flowers.

Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) - gorgeous climber.

Ornamental crab apples. Lovely flowers in spring and then lots of tiny brightly coloured apples in the autumn. What's not to like?

Damson trees! I'm a complete convert to damson jam - it's a little like plum jam but less sweet, has more bite to it - my local shop had damsons in this year and I made jam. Since then I've planted two trees.

I have several I want but yet to plant, including winter flowering box, but I would suggest everyone has a buddleia and a flowering salvia in what ever colour you like. Both attract lots of insects including hummingbird moths

Zauschneria California - aka “Californian fuchsia”. It’s usually found in the alpine section, but you rarely see it anywhere. It’s a deciduous herbaceous perennial, growing to about 30cms, needing full sun, it starts flowering in July and continues into November with a succession of scarlet flowers that almost glow. Sometimes self seeds, but is never a problem. My plant/s are many years old, and light up the end of the garden, on a raised bed.

Quince (proper quince, not Japanese quince) and medlar. Both with showy white flowers in spring, and beautiful golden fruit in autumn.

Buddleia globosa. Much less common than the ordinary buddleia, and really pretty with orange balls of flowers Even nicer, to my mind, the hybrid Buddleia x weyeriana, flower form of B globosa, but a lovely apricot colour.

I have an African Mallow El Rayo and I'm surprised it's not better-known:

www.rhs.org.uk/plants/335003/anisodontea-el-rayo/details

It is in a SW-facing spot, by the house, and it flowers all year. The flowers are warm pink and very pretty.

Oh and I second having a true Quince, as the flowers are so pretty, and fruit so delicious.

I also recommend planting a morello (sour) cherry - they grow happily in the shade, the flowers are attractive, and you get the fruit, which you can't buy in the shops, so can make jam or cherry brandy, or proper Black Forest cherry and chocolate cake.

Dracunculus vulgaris - the Dragon Arum, spectacular, but stinky! I have many, scattered around in various beds, and they keep unwanted visitors away because of the smell, but always attract comment from others

Abelia, put me in mind of small penstemon flowers on a shrub. Bees love them, semi-evergreen but red highlights in the leaves. Very hardy, totally failed to kill the one in my garden.. Perhaps a bit unstructured.

Annual mallow. They flower their socks off and look like hibiscus. Very beautiful and brilliant for arranging.

Musk mallow, especially the white one with the faintest hint of pink at the centre. Long flowering season, easy from seed