Ask Gerry

What is the best tropical plants/trees to use in sheltered sunny garden, taking into account our cold frosty winters?

I have 3 types of Molimba which done really well throughout the summer. They are now looking very hard done by over the last month and wonder if they should be cut back and if so when would be the best time to do so. I am new to gardening so not sure of these things.

Are everlasting wallflowers too late to grow from seed for this year? Can't find them in any of the usual outlets

I am looking for a perennial flowering plant that I can plant in mass that will look good against calamagrostis Karl foreseter. Have used rudbeckia in other parts of garden so do not want to use it again.

My problem is a plant identification. In the attached photo is a small border perennial plant that has continued to survive every winter since I bought it about 4 years ago. I want to get some more, but nobody knows or has seen it before.(Secateurs indicates scale)

I'm a very amateur gardener but I love growing things and this Christmas I took a shine to a flower I describe as 'Ornamental Cabbage'. They are a form of brassica of this I'm sure but are they just cabbage plant flowers? Or have they a specific genus?

Can you please reccomend a container or product that would make it easier for me to create a raised bed around my garden?