Plants in 'Bowers of flowers' scheme

A Chinese shrub with beautiful papery white flowers in early summer. Exochorda can grow to 200 cms, with a slightly wider spread. It requires a sheltered spot with dappled shade, and protection from cold east winds and late frosts - by the edge of mature trees or in a mature garden is ideal. Prefers acidic soil. 2L container.

'Annabelle' is one of the most showy hydrangeas, with masses of creamy white globe-like flowers in late summer, fading into pale and then dark green. These make fine cut flowers which can be dried and taken indoors. Grow in a partially shady area, near trees and shrubs. They look particularly elegant when planted with white-flowering perennials and bulbs such as Anemone 'Honorine Jobert', narcissus or hellebores. Can be cut down to the ground in late winter, but make sure you do any pruning after flowering rather than in the spring or summer. Keep moist, and mulch with bark, manure or compost. 3 L container - note: plants may be cut back after flowering.

An excellent magnolia for the smaller garden. This pretty magnolia has white, star-shaped flowers in spring, before the leaves emerge. This compact, bushy, deciduous shrub does well in most soils, but like all magnolias thrives in a slightly acidic soil with some moisture while establishing. Pleasantly but subtly scented when in bloom. It is an ideal magnolia for the smaller garden. Magnolias are best when if pruned only if and when necessary, and by an expert hand. If a branch is in your way, remove it completely at the main stem. 30-40 cms plants in a 2 litre container.

Superb winter fragrance. This evergreen shrub has sweetly-scented yellow flowers in early and mid winter - December and January, just when we need them most. It grows well in drier than average soils, and reaches a height of up to 2-3 metres and 1 metre wide - it is best left unclipped. An excellent plant for city garden where drier-than-average soil makes it a tough place for some plants. It has glossy, dark green, holly-like like leaves. The flowers are followed by dark purple berries. Grow in shade or dappled sunlight out of strong winds.  2L container.

A compact and beautiful double-flowered Mock orange - gorgeously scented. 'Manteau d'Hermine'  is perhaps the most popular dwarf philadelphus, heavily scented with the typical orange-blossom fragrance from creamy white flowers. It thrives in most soils, including clay or chalky soils. It forms a low mound up to 150 cms x 150 cms, making it ideal for the smaller garden. Cut back shoot to a strong bud each year after flowering in summer. To rejuvenate older plants, remove roughly a third of the oldest branches each year to encourage new growth. 2-3 litre.

Considered the most beautiful and floriferous of the Spiraeas. The 'Bridal Wreath' is festooned with arching sprays of white flowers in April and May and vibrant green leaves. It is easy to grow, tolerant of many conditions, but ideally prefers a sunny or lightly shaded spot with moist, fertile and well-drained soil. A firm garden favourite, and deservedly so. It would make a most fabulous medium sized garden hedge - make sure you allow it to flower if you do trim it. Height and spread to 200cms. Cut back a portion of the stems to the ground each year. Bare root plant 40-60 cms. Bare root plants 40-60 cms tall. November to March only.

A remarkable and much-loved plant which produces layered tiers of branches, smothered in spring with white lacecap-like flowers. This is what gives it its common name - 'The Wedding Cake  Bush'.  It makes an impressive, eye-catching plant in a sunny or lightly-shaded spot, and is tolerant of most soil conditions. Can grow to a height of 4 m and a spread of 3 m. A little bit of light pruning is needed to encourage the neatly tiered branches.  3L container.

Grow this plant for its scent alone! This plant flowers right when you need a lift - in the dead of winter. Its rich sweet perfume is really lovely, so plant it near the house or somewhere you pass often. The pink flowers are also very pretty. A very cold-hardy plant, it can go on flowering into early spring. Deciduous, with good autumn colour. An ideal plant for a lightly shaded spot and tolerant of drier soils once established. A nice plant for a Christmas gift as it flowers over the winter.  Height to 3m, spread 2m. Lovely Irish-grown plants from the Mount Congreve Estate in Co Waterford. 3L container.