Blessed among plants

Once one of Britain’s most fashionable delicacies, the medlar fell from favour in the 20th century. Fabled and sweetly flavourful, it deserves to make a return to our gardens and kitchens, says Jane Steward

Many overlooked “weeds” are some of the best natural healers, says forager and self-taught herbalist Samantha Almond. Here are four with a multitude of medicinal properties

Choose tough, evergreen varieties to bring colour and life to your plot all year round

Tough and undemanding, alpine plants deserve a place in every garden, adding the charm of their dainty flowers and handsome foliage to small-scale planting schemes

There’s something very special about colchicums, which are also known as autumn crocus. Their dainty pink or white flowers emerge as if by magic, long before the leaves appear. Like elegant young débu

Kari-Astri Davies considers choosing tulips to fire up her beds in the wake of bulb-buying frustration