FIVE TASTY PERENNIAL HERBS

1 FOENICULUM VULGARE ‘PURPUREUM’

Bronze fennel produces 6ft stems of aromatic, feathery foliage topped with yellow flower heads. 2 LAURUS NOBILIS

Sweet bay, above, is a popular topiary plant with strongly flavoured leaves that are a key ingredient of a classic French bouquet garni. 3 ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS ‘MAJORCA PINK’

A semi-prostrate rosemary with dark green, needle-like leaves and clusters of shell-pink blooms in early summer. 4 SALVIA LAVANDULIFOLIA

Native to southern Europe, this sage makes a 2ft-high clump of narrow grey leaves topped with violet-blue flowers in summer.

5 THYMUS ‘GOLDEN KING’

Forming a 12in-tall by 8in-wide clump, its green and gold two-tone leaves pack a distinctive lemony punch.