Choosing Plants for Chalk Soil: Perennials and Climbers

Reasons to grow: Splendid large leathery leaves turning bronze red in winter. Spikes bearing clusters of crimson flowers in early spring. Excellent evergreen ground cover also useful for softening the edges of paths and borders.

Also consider: Bergenia cordifolia for pink flowers; B. cordifolia 'Purpurea' for bronze winter foliage and magenta flowers; the smaller Bergenia 'Silberlicht' (30x50cm, 12x20in) has white flowers flushed pink.

Reasons to grow: Deliciously scented pink blooms over a long period from early summer to early autumn and an excellent and long lasting cut flower. One of the best flowering plants for chalk soil.

Also consider: 'Mrs Sinkins' for white flowers; 'Bovey Belle' for clove scented fuschia pink flowers.

Reasons to grow: The attractive basal rosettes of felted grey-green leaves produce tall spikes, often multi-branched, of golden yellow flowers from June to August. Each flower has eyecatching violet stamens. This is a excellent form and longer lived than many other types. if you deadhead after the first flowering, you will get a second flush of flowers later in the year.

Also consider: Verbascum bombyciferum for a taller plant (1.8x1m, 6x3ft) with exceptional woolly grey green foliage and pale yellow flowers; Verbascum 'Cotswold Beauty' for bold spikes of peachy pink saucer shaped flowers; Verbascum 'Helen Johnson' is a smaller plant (90x30cm, 3x1ft) with unusual pinkish brown flowers.

Reasons to grow: This is one of our favourite plants for chalk soil - a fast growing yet graceful climber with semi-evergreen leaves and clusters of scented purplish red flowers in late spring and early summer. In hot summers it may produce unusual sausage shaped purple fruits.

Reasons to grow: Absolutely stunning large wine red flowers with contrasting yellow anthers are produced from mid summer well into autumn.

Also consider: Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchard' for bright mid pink flowers; Clematis 'Miss Bateman' for palest pink flowers.