What part of the UK - whether you're north or west, or near a coastline, makes a massive difference to what plants are fully hardy...

Hi Buddy,
I was 75 when I started but am having a great time. If you're a complete beginner as I was, you'll get all the help you need from the members of Goy.

Hi, welcome to GoY, I agree with Bamboo, we need to know whereabouts you are in the UK, most roses are fully hardy anywhere in the UK, and like clay soil in full sun, the only problem is there's a lot of messing about with them, deadheading, reducing their height in autumn to prevent root rock, pruning in spring, feeding, treating aphids, black spot etc, but once we know where you are, we can make more suggestions, Derek.

Thanks - I'm on west coast of Scotland just north of Fort William

Well, almost anything you fancy then - most plants grow fine in clay soil, and the winter temperatures you get are generally relatively mild. You should get plenty of suggestions, but here's a few that will also like the damp climate

Lythrum varieties; Rudbeckias; Polemonium; Solidago; Lysimachia; Hemerocallis; Helenium; Hostas; Geraniums (not the summer bedding ones called geraniums, they're actually Pelargoniums, I mean hardy Geraniums such as G. Wargrave's Pink); Lupin; Delphinium

On the west coast it may well be windy so if your garden is exposed to high winds and you have enough room some taller hardy shrubs to act as a windbreak might be a good investment. (suggestions here if you want them)If you get high winds in summer think twice before planting tall growing perennials. The difficulty on the west side of the country is the prevailing winds usually blow from the same direction as the sun so in a small garden they can cause a shade problem.

Many thanks for the very useful suggestions

Yes Steragram suggestions gratefully received

Let us know how you get on !

I've only just noticed the word 'shrubs' in your question, am I going bonkers or have you added that since...

Here's a few to consider, but you need to check heights and spreads, don't know how much room you've got

Cotinus cogryggia Royal Purple (large)
Elaeagnus varieties (large)
Cotoneaster 'cornubia' (largish)
Berberis species (vary from a foot and a half up to 12 feet)
Mahonia species
Euonymus fortunei varieties
Skimmia varieties
Syringia varieties (lilac)
Pyracantha
Spiraea, particularly S. 'Goldflame'
Brachyglottis 'Sunshine'
Yucca flaccida (Golden Sword is very nice)
Choisya varieties

Ground covers: Iberis sempervirens, Campanula portenschlagiana, Ajuga reptans, Lamium 'Beacon Silver'

Are you sure about Choisia in a windy place Bamboo?
They don't like it here at all.

Depends on the size of the garden and where its planted, really - we haven't seen the space so its hard to say, and the question doesn't mention wind as a problem. I'm expecting Leckie to look all these plants up anyway, for height and spread if nothing else, and Choisya is fine in heavyish soil, so long as its not absolutely solid clay.