By planting this green and white combination for dappled shade you can recreate the strong, elegant, yet modern feel of Tom Stuart-Smith’s classic Chelsea Flower Show garden, which was awarded a Gold medal and 'Best in Show' in 2008. A glorious textural contrast in the under-storey plants that marry gentle hummocks of fleshy, heart-shaped hosta leaves with giant shuttlecocks of unfurling ferny fronds. By early summer spiky green-tipped whitish pincushion flowers of the astrantia join shooting stars of Gillenia flowers that dance above the leaves, while dramatic imposing spires of pure white foxgloves dominate the scene. Stately yellow-centred, snow-white, plate-sized peony flowers complete the early summer spectacle.

Planting tip: A newly planted border of herbaceous perennials can look a bit sparse until the plants start to fill out. You can overcome this by adding temporary seasonal bedding to add extra colour and interest during the first couple of seasons.

This design will fit into a partially shaded border 3m long by 1.5m wide