APRIL is a good time to plant container-grown shrubs and perennials, and because it is also my birthday this month, we usually have a few new things to put into the garden.

This year I was given Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki', Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom' and a dark-leafed elder whose label has been lost but is probably Sambucus nigra 'Black Beauty'.

The two shrubs were chosen because they can be cut back when too big, which is something that needs to be considered when planting in a restricted area. However, they are also capable of filling a big space in a larger garden. Sambucus nigra is a fast-growing shrub that can reach six metres if left unchecked.

'Black Beauty' has lovely, almost black leaves and white flowers followed by berries. It shoots from the base of the plant, which means it can be kept as a low-growing shrub and pruning is usually recommended for the best foliage effect. This should be done in winter either by cutting all shoots to the ground to keep the shrub compact or, for a larger specimen, by taking out old shoots and pruning new ones by a half.

Sambucus is fully hardy and prefers a moist, fertile soil in full sun. Mine has been planted behind a clump of delphiniums for leaf and colour contrast, the blues and mauves of the delphiniums should look good against the dark foliage of the elder.

Osmanthus heterophylllus is a very different plant with holly like yellow mottled leaves and small fragrant flowers in autumn. Like sambucus it needs full sun but it is very slow growing, reaching its mature height of 2.5metres only after several years. Originating in Japan its close resemblance to a holly gave rise to the common name 'false holly' and it was once classified as Ilex heterophyllus, Ilex being the botanical name for holly. Our plant is still in its pot as I have yet to decide where to put it since its slow development has caused a quandary.

If planted towards the back of a bed and allowed to reach its natural height, large plants overshadow it for the first few years. Put nearer the front will give better growing conditions but it will eventually have to be dug up and replanted. Alternatively, it could be put in a narrow bed and trained as a wall, shrub except that we are running out of walls.

One reason we are in short supply of wall space is because of my third plant, Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom'.

This evergreen clematis is covered in perfumed, pink suffused white flowers in spring and needs a sheltered wall where stems, leaves and flowers can be in full sun with roots in shade. Luckily we have the perfect place in the yard where the long shoots can be trained along wires against the wall opposite the kitchen window and eventually on to the back of the house above the dining room window.

Planning is essential for this very strong-growing clematis which will put on an enormous amount of growth in one season.

Ours was planted less that three weeks ago and the shoots, which were then buds are now almost a metre long - a mature specimen can grow up to 7.5metres. Shoots need to be tied to their supports regularly to stop them tangling, but it will be worth the work when in a few years the walls are covered in long, glossy, dark green leaves and masses of early flowers.

Updated: 16:11 Friday, April 26, 2002