Sea holly, Eryngium planum, backlit growing against bright green foliage.

Feathertop, Pennisetum villosum, Close up showing spiky detail.

Feathertop, Pennisetum villosum, Close up showing spiky detail.

Hazel, Cob nut, Corylus avellana, Close up of yellow flowers and spiky thorns.

Echinacea, Purple Coneflower , Echinacea purpurea, Three flowers in a line.

Dragon tree, Dracaena fragrans, Viewed from underneath showing the long trunk and spikey foliage, Madeira.

Russian sage, Perovskia 'Blue spire', Side view of several white stems with feathery silver leaves and sparse, furry, blue purple flowers, creating a transparent effect.

Jerusalem sage, Phlomis turberosa 'Amazone', Side view of several reddish brown stems, with the globes where the flowers have been remaining as structural interest, these will endure right through win...

Echinacea, Tennessee Purple coneflower, Echinacea tennesseensis, Side view of several stems in various stages of flower with purple lavender.

Verbena, Brazilian verbena, Purple top, Verbena bonariensis in front of a wall of stacked cut logs. Part of Wild in the City garden designed by Charlotte Murrell, Hampton Court flower show 2011.

Verbena, Brazilian verbena, Purple top, Verbena bonariensis, with Veronicastrum, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' and Gaura, all tall plants in a late summer prairie style planted mixed bord...

Plumbago, Ceratostigma willmottianum, Many stems of multiple blue flowers.

Sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus and other weeds growing in a neglected street container.