Those cheerful little globes of pink and white look like lollipops scattered across a rocky slope. Sea Thrift, also known as Sea Pink or Thrift, is a clump-forming evergreen perennial that forms a low, dense cushion of narrow, dark green to blue-green leaves, remaining attractive throughout the year. From mid-spring through early summer (and often with sporadic re-blooming into autumn), sturdy, upright stems rise bearing round clusters of small, papery flowers in shades of pink, white, rose-red, or lavender—a playful, lollipop-like effect.

Want a plant that spills over the edges of pots like a waterfall of golden-green coins? Creeping Jenny is exactly what you’re looking for. Also known as Moneywort or Twopenny Grass, this vigorous, prostrate evergreen perennial has slender, creeping stems that root readily at the nodes, forming a dense, soft mat of rounded to slightly heart-shaped leaves about 2–3cm across. In early to mid-summer, small, cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers nestle amongst the leaves, adding charm and attracting bees.

If you love the scent of lemon and want a plant that adds dramatic vertical interest, Golden Monterey Cypress is a fantastic choice. Also known as Lemon Cypress, this stately evergreen conifer has a narrow, upright to columnar habit densely clothed in soft, scale-like leaves of brilliant golden-yellow to lime-green. That colour intensifies in winter, providing a spectacular, ever-cheerful presence. When brushed or crushed, the foliage releases a refreshing, strong lemon scent that perfumes the air. Juvenile plants have soft, needle-like leaves, while mature specimens develop characteristic scale-like foliage.

Brush against this creeping mint, and you’ll release one of the most potent fragrances in the herb garden. Pennyroyal, also known as Pudding Grass or Mosquito Plant, is a vigorous, mat-forming evergreen perennial with small, dark green to greyish-green, oval leaves on creeping stems that root as they go, forming a dense, lush, ground-hugging mat. From summer through autumn, charming whorls of small, tubular, pale lilac to mauve flowers rise on upright stems above the foliage, adding delicate colour and attracting bees.

For a plant that feels as soft as velvet and glows in the afternoon light, Liquorice Plant is a true delight. Also known as Kooigoed or Imphepho, this hardy, fast-growing evergreen shrub forms a dense, sprawling mound of vigorous, loosely branched stems clothed in rounded, heart-shaped leaves of the most beautiful silvery-grey, each covered in soft, woolly hairs. When brushed, the leaves release a subtle, sweet fragrance faintly reminiscent of liquorice or honey. In summer (December to January), small, honey-scented, creamy-white to yellow flower heads appear, attracting pollinators.

Watch those lilac-blue stars tumble over a rock wall, and you’ll understand why this plant is so beloved. Serbian Bellflower, also known as Trailing Bellflower, is a vigorous, semi-evergreen perennial that forms a low, mat-like carpet of small, rounded to heart-shaped, bright green leaves. From mid-spring through early autumn, loose clusters of lilac-blue flowers appear, each with five pointed petals that flare open like a star, creating a soft, billowy effect that dances above the foliage. Those delicate blooms attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.

Those fleshy, tongue-shaped leaves are unlike anything else in the succulent world. The Tongue Plant, also known as Tongblaarvygie, is a low-growing, clump-forming succulent with a nearly stemless, spreading rosette of soft, smooth, grey-green to bright green leaves arranged in two opposite vertical rows. Those distinctive leaves may flush with attractive bronze to purple tones when the plant goes dormant in summer. In winter and spring, large, dazzling, daisy-like flowers appear in brilliant, sunny yellow, reaching up to 7 cm in diameter and often carrying a delicate, sweet fragrance.

Imagine a tree that bursts into fragrant, creamy-white bloom right in the middle of winter. That’s Forest Elder for you. Also known as Forest Nuxia or Bosvlier, this small to medium-sized evergreen tree has a lovely, dense, rounded crown of glossy, light green leaves. Those leaves are often arranged in distinctive whorls of three, with a prominent, sometimes purplish-red midrib on immature growth. From autumn through winter (May to September), it produces an extraordinary display of sweetly scented, small, creamy-white flowers borne in large, loose sprays up to 30cm long—like a gentle, fragrant foam covering the tree.