Ever wondered why sometimes something you’ve planted ends up looking really good? And it’s not just you that thinks that: other people are pointing at it saying, “That looks fantastic”. The reason is really simple – it’s not just about the flowers; the foliage is working just as hard. It’s just like a good flower arrangement where the florist spends time pulling together great flowers and lovely leaves. But hey, not everyone has the florist’s natural gifts to bring to their gardening, so here’s a tip: grow plants that have the foliage and flowers in a pre-packaged combo on the same plant. Following are a few plants to hunt down online or the next time you’re out drifting past plant stands at the garden centre to give you that great flower-foliage combo…

Black is always good looking: and that’s probably the biggest reason Tuxedo® Hydrangeas look great in a pot, or in the garden. These hydrangeas have lush foliage – green flushed with black – and they have a dense mounded form. And when they put out glorious, showy flowers in red or hot pink they look remarkable. There’s even the choice of whether you want the classic mophead (aka oversized pom pom) style blooms or the more textured lacecap version. Great planted alone, Tuxedo Hydrangeas look equally good in a large container planting teamed with strappy plants like black mondo grass or black New Zealand flax, and a few punnets of petunias in red or hot pink to suit.

With enough ‘rah rah’ to stand on a stage: Tropicanna® Cannas have it all. Their flowers are gorgeously hot coloured in tangerine, bright yellow and red: and their foliage is broad, bold and in your face (in the nicest way). To plant a Canna Tropicanna is to expect compliments especially for the classic rainbow striped version, but also for the green and gold option or the more subtle inky black one. Plant these cannas in a clump and you’ll soon have a nice big statement planting, glowing with vibrant plant charisma.

This plant looks like a flower arrangement: weirdly, but wonderfully, it’s all natural because it’s just the one plant. Rock & Roll® Alstroemeria is flashy enough before it breaks into flower because it’s one of the best-looking variegated foliage plants around. The masses of red flowers arrive to sit on top of white stems, and there will be a lot of them. If you grow this wonder of a plant in your garden, it will settle in quickly and become a dependable source of cut flowers to take indoors or give away. Team it in arrangements with its own foliage and everyone will think you’re using some other plant to set off the flowers. (Well done Mother Nature.)

Strappy foliage is always a style winner: which is one of the reasons why Storm™ Agapanthus is the complete ready-made package to plant. The flowers are a florist-favourite with their tall straight stems holding up long-lasting flower heads in variations of blue or white. The mass of flowers sits well above clumping mounds of thinly strapped green foliage, which is also why – apart from the flowers – this plant looks so good.