Not easy - as you obviously have a 'picture' of what you're after...take a look at 'Gillenia trifoliata' which has white flowers which look like little dancing butterflies. It's a perennial, and grows to about 3'. A possibility do you think?

Thank you Barbara, for your swift reply - that's really pretty. I've a feeling that I had one once, but lost it. Maybe it's not fully hardy until well established(?) but it's going on my Wish List!

It's supposed to be - I hope it is, because I have two in the garden! I'll have another think, if that's the kind of plant you're after.

Also try Primula 'Apple Blossdom' which is one of the candelabra type and readily available. A clump of the are lovely.

How about 'Sweet Rocket' - Hesperis matronalis, which you can get in white or pale mauve, and/or Lychnis 'Firefly' which is a wonderful plant - bright pink flowers. I went and bought a second one because I liked i so much! Another plant to look at is a Galega.

Thanks SO much Spritz and Mr B. I love the sound of Primula 'Apple Blossom' (I have a climbing quince, Chaenomeles moerloosei Apple Blossom and love the pink & pale yellow colours). Also love Sweet Rocket which I'd forgotten to say I have quite a bit of, and it's great the way it seeds itself around. Spritz - just looked at your pic of Lychnis 'Firefly' . . . WOW! . . . and will investigate Galega. Brilliant.

For late flowers, take a look at Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'. I think you'd enjoy this, as it has dark foliage until October when the white frothy flowers appear. The leaves set off other plants before the flowers open. It likes a part-shady site.

Gypsophila paniculata 'Bristol Fairy', though it does not like acidic soils. Bit of an untidy grower, but a cloud of white blossom when in flower.

Lovely, Spritz and Bamboo, you have excellent taste! In fact I have a Gypsophila paniculata and a Eupatorium . . . but I think my "mistake" is to just buy one, where a drift of at least three would look so much better. I'm fairly sure that my Eupatorium is a different one, and your pic of "chocolate" Spritz looks gorgeous: definitely my sort of thing as I love almost anything with dark leaves. I'm very grateful to you both.

I might think of more...you never know! :-))