Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea'is a vigorous foolproof perennial forming a dense mat of deep, bronze-purple, ovate leaves and short, erect spikes to 12cm tall, of deep blue flowers in late spring and early summer. The ideal plant for growing under trees in slightly moist conditions or spreading around the skirts of taller companions. A partly shaded position with some sun is needed to bring out the strongest purple leaf color. Excellent ground covering contrasting base for bright leaved golds and variegations. No pruning required though spent flowers can be cut off as they fade.

Foliage: Evergreen

Height: 5-15cm

Spread: 50-60cm in 2-5 years

Brunnera macrophylla is an herbaceous perennial forming a clump to 45cm, with broad sprays of small, clear blue flowers, followed by large heart-shaped, long stalked leaves

Height: 10-50cm

Spread: 10-50 cm

Campanula poscharskyana spreading perennial forming a low mound of rounded leaves, with spreading stems bearing star-shaped light violet-blue flowers in summer and early autumn

An erect or spreading evergreen shrub or subshrub, up to 1m high, with aromatic grey-green leaves, up to 10cm long, which may be linear-oblong, elliptic or lance-shaped, and entire, partly or wholly toothed, and flowerheads, 5-8cm across, with dark blue disc florets and ray florets which are white above and indigo below, throughout the summer

Geranium macrorrhizum mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial growing to 45cm tall. Its rounded, divided, lobed and toothed leaves are sticky and aromatic and can turn attractive shades in the autumn. In summer, magenta-pink flowers, up to 3cm across, are held above the foliage on more or less upright stems

Soleirolia soleirolii wide-creeping evergreen perennial with slender, rooting, pink or green stems bearing tiny rounded leaves and minute pinkish-white flowers in summer

Lamium maculatum stoloniferous perennial forming a mat of prostrate leafy stems, with purple, white or pink flowers in spikes in summer

Very vigorous evergreen perennial forming a wide mat of creeping stems clothed in small, rounded or ovate, golden-yellow leaves. Solitary, short-stalked, cup-shaped bright yellow flowers 2cm in width

Sedum kamtschaticum low, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial with fleshy, bright green leaves. It bears masses of starry, golden-yellow flowers in late summer. Good for the rock garden or gaps in between paving

Upright, clump-forming, hairy perennial to 45cm tall, with oval, wrinkled and veined mid-green leaves. Clusters of red buds appear during spring, opening to tubular pale blue flowers

Viola cornuta spreading evergreen perennial to 20cm in height, with lance-shaped leaves and long-spurred, light violet flowers 3cm across

Vinca minor mat-forming evergreen shrub with trailing, rooting shoots and opposite pairs of glossy, dark green leaves. From mid-spring to late summer it produces violet-blue flowers to 3cm across

Waldsteinia ternata semi-evergreen perennial with leaves palmately divided into three broad leaflets, and bright yellow flowers 1.5cm across

Carex 'The Beatles' Slowly spreading, clump-forming, low-growing, evergreen perennial sedge, about 15cm tall, with a mop of fine, dark green leaves. Carries semi-trailing greenish-brown flower spikes, on short stems, within the foliage, during early summer

Luzula sylvatica variegated clump-forming perennial grass with hair-edged leaves. Airy panicles of brown flowers arch above the foliage up to 80cm in height in May and June. Spreads slowly by stolons

An evergreen perennial with narrow, arching bright green leaves up to 35cm long. The small, fragrant, star-shaped flowers open pale pink from deep pink buds, but they are not produced freely, and the short spikes remain below the height of the leaves. Red berries follow in areas with hot summers