I gardened professionally for a decade, and if I were starting my garden from scratch, these are the 7 game-changing plants I'd begin with

Dense and colorful garden border during summer, with yellow-orange euphorbia, purple flower spikes and green grasses .

I’ve moved around a lot, and so have gardened in all sorts of settings. From a small, sun-trapped balcony in east London to a sprawling patch of countryside in the Chianti hills. And through all of that, I’ve learned a few things. Mostly from trial, error and the occasional emotional overreaction to a previously unknown flower.

I’ve come to understand what’s genuinely tough, what grows where, and which species are simply more trouble than they’re worth. And I confess, when it comes to planting choices, I’m entirely led by beauty. I want plants that make me feel something. I want plants that deliver moments of joy, calm, drama, and energy.