Purple punctuates the planting: here an acer, verbena and some pinky-purple crinum, or swamp lily, stand out

Inspired by tropical travels, one gardening enthusiast transformed a sandy Leicestershire plot into a colourful, plant-packed paradise for all ages

Cerney House Gardens are known for their soft, romantic summer style, but in spring it’s their playful side that’s on show as thousands of tulips contribute to an ever-changing display. Sultry purple

As the long nights shorten, Mounton House garden quietly emerges from winter with delicate sprinklings of white narcissi, Scilla siberica and crocuses through the lawns. Daphnes fill the air with frag

Pass through The Old Rectory’s entrance gate off a country lane and you’ll find yourself travelling along a gently winding drive that’s cradled by stands of evergreen rhododendrons and laurel with can

In spring, a beautiful eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis), its branches clothed from trunk to tip with cerise-purple flowers, steals the show at Sue Martin’s cottage garden in Cranbrook, Kent. It