Key plants in the Discover More Garden sponsored by Viking

This has been widely used culturally, including making dye in Egypt. A deciduous shrub with oval leaves turning purple in autumn; small clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers open in late winter, to be followed by glossy red, cherry-like fruits.

This plant is native to Japan. Originally this was brought to the UK as the Japanese ate it and believed it would be a good substitute for potato. 'Devon Green' is an upright, clump-forming perennial 50cm high by 60cm across with shiny, dark green leaves about 15cm long. The small, tubular flowers are pale purple with darker stripes and appear in late summer and early autumn.

This is a plant that we have gardened with since the Roman times and it was spread from mainland Europe and by the Romans for all the paths they travelled on. These decorative evergreen groundcovering plants can be used to great effect in troughs, alpine beds, stone walls and even to soften the gaps between paving slabs. 

This closely resembles Antarctic moss and is this is the only plant that grows in the continent of Antarctica.

Pseudopanax, from New Zealand, are upright evergreen shrubs or trees, with simple or palmate leaves, often with a distinct juvenile form; inconspicuous green flowers, the sexes usually on separate trees, may be followed on female plants by berry-like fruits.