'I don't have patience for plants that need babying': 10 resilient varieties that thrive with little fuss

This honey-scented, low-growing annual is a delightful plant that attracts tons of beneficial insects to my garden. It's gorgeous when spilling out of window boxes and mixed planters.

My favourite cultivar is ‘Snow Princess’, which blooms non-stop until a hard freeze. It's often one of the last annuals to survive well into late autumn.

For hot, dry areas of your garden, you can't beat Russian sage. This perennial has willowy, silvery foliage that's covered in tiny bright blue flowers. The effect is ethereal when planted in drifts. ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ is my favourite cultivar.

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a succulent, so it’s drought-tolerant. It provides beautiful late-season colour and food for pollinators. Mine is always covered in honeybees in late August and September.

Many new cultivars have been introduced, but ‘Autumn Joy’ is an old favourite that still delivers, while ‘Brilliant’ has more intensely pink flowers on sturdy stems.

Hellebores are late winter to early spring bloomers that really need very little care. Their exquisite blooms also make excellent cut flowers. Though this perennial is slow to take off and took about five seasons before it really showed off in my garden, it's been worth the wait.

Dead-nettles, also known as lamium, are an underappreciated groundcover. With silvery-green foliage and pretty pink, purple or white flowers, it adds splashes of colour to shady locations, though it can take some morning sun. This perennial is a fast grower but won’t take over your garden. I’ve grown many types but especially like ‘Pink Chablis’.

This vigorous annual vine comes in colours ranging from chartreuse to deepest burgundy. It looks beautiful tumbling out of planters or window boxes and doesn't fade one bit in the heat. It's equally happy in shade or sun. I prefer to plant it solo in pots because it will crowd out other plants in a container.

Catmint is virtually indestructible. Heat- and drought-tolerant, this sun-loving perennial has silvery-green foliage and tonnes of purple flower spikes that bloom for months. It also attracts pollinators. I love ‘Purrsian Blue’ for its dark purple-blue flowers and ‘Picture Purrfect’ for its earlier bloom time.

I love hydrangeas and have about 25 different varieties in my garden. But the most carefree type is the panicle hydrangea. They’re equally tolerant of cold and heat, and because they bloom on new wood, you won’t lose this year’s blooms, even if you had a harsh winter. My favourites include ‘Bobo’, ‘Quick Fire’ and ‘Little Lime.’