A case for weeds

It's been said that weeds are plants in the wrong place - they are outsiders; some are notoriously resilient, and all are exceptional survivors. In a home setting, a weed can make a garden look untidy, shade out or even strangle other plants. Hence the unsavoury reputation. We have concocted all sorts of methods - equally unsavoury - to expedite their demise. Whilst they have been cast as villains, we're wondering whether they are the anti-heroes of nature.

We're making the case that these rugged, overlooked loners deserve more admiration than we give them. They show up in neglected places that we're not tending to like we do our gardens - around flats bin stores, in the middle of concrete car parks - we love it when we spot a flower patch that has taken hold in an uninspiring place. A line of dandelions sprouting on the edge of the entrances to a row of garages or a patch of poppies by a lay-by brings a little loveliness to all our lives.

To offer a fresh perspective, we've elevated typically unloved plants by paying attention to them in the first place - and, on occasion, giving them the traditional cut-flower treatment in an arrangement. Inspired by what we see when we’re looking and bound to change our minds - these are a few of the ones we've fallen for.