Unanticipated flora cherished by landscape architects for their gardens - they bring texture, appeal, and vibrancy
In the world of garden design, there's a growing trend towards choosing plants that not only look beautiful but also require minimal care and offer excellent value for money. These unexpected, low-maintenance perennials are becoming firm favourites among garden designers.
Sedum, with its succulent-like appearance, is a drought-tolerant perennial that requires minimal care beyond seasonal cutting back. These plants provide a range of sizes from ground cover to large border specimens and display long-lasting blooms that attract pollinators and thrive in dry conditions.
Yarrow (Achillea) is another low-maintenance gem. Known for its deep roots, yarrow demands little watering once established and blooms for months with colorful flat flowers that support bees and butterflies.
Astilbe, a shade-loving perennial, flourishes in partial to full shade with minimal attention. It delights with feathery plumes of flowers in shades from pink to burgundy and requires only occasional division every few years to maintain vigor.
Lilies, easy-care plants favouring sunny sites and well-drained soil, don’t require constant attention and come in fragrant varieties that make them attractive for long-lasting, low-maintenance blooms.
Unexpected edible and ornamental dual-purpose plants such as Fennel, Oregano, Rhubarb, and Mahonia are also favourites among garden designers for their texture, charm, and multifunctional use.
Aster, a plant that brightens up borders after most perennials have done their bit, provides a valuable source of food for local wildlife. The New York aster can be found at Crocus for £9.99 for a 9cm pot.
Betony, a charming wildflower native to the UK, puts on a cheerful display of deep pink-purple flower spikes from midsummer to autumn. It can be found at Crocus for £3.29 for 150 seeds.
Fennel, specifically Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum'), is a plant that garden designers love and can be found at Crocus for £7.99 for a 9cm pot. It provides a good contrast foliage and hot combination plant that provides textural interest in borders.
Oregano, one of the best plants for bees, is also a pollinator-friendly plant that can be used for cooking and can be found at John Cullen Gardens for £3.75.
Perennials like Betony and Pasque flower are great for adding a pop of colour to borders or wildflower areas and are happy in both sun and partial shade. The Pasque flower, with its vibrant purple colour, attracts bees and can be found at Crocus for £6.99 for a 9cm pot.
Ornamental grasses add texture and drama to any space and are easy to maintain. Sesleria nitida is a versatile grass for dry areas with an outstanding architectural expression. Ornamental grasses can be found in abundance at Crocus, with varieties suitable for both full sun and shade, as well as for pots and containers.
Wood sage, a native perennial with soft, lime-green flowers that are incredibly attractive to solitary bees and other insects, is perfect for shadier spots and woodland edges. It has a lovely, slightly aromatic scent.
Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Soft Caress' (PBR), a spikeless variety of mahonia, won "Plant of the Year" at the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and can be found at Crocus for £49.99 for a 2-litre pot. It provides interest and pollen at a time of year when there's not much else going on.
Rhubarb, famously easy to grow and pretty to boot, is a favourite with garden designers. Rhubarb 'Timperley Early' can be found at Crocus for £5.99 for a crown.
Anemones are understated beauties that suit just about any garden and are low-maintenance.
Attitudes towards gardens are shifting; if yours isn't feeding something (pollinators, birds, or soil), then it's missing the point. These low-maintenance perennials offer a wonderful solution for those looking to create beautiful, wildlife-friendly gardens while minimising their gardening efforts.
- In the realm of garden design, there's an increasing preference for lifestyle choices that emphasis plants offering both aesthetics and low maintenance care, along with good value.
- Sedum, a drought-tolerant perennial with succulent-like qualities, is a popular choice among garden designers, thriving in dry conditions with minimal seasonal pruning.
- Yarrow, a low-maintenance gem, is valued for its deep roots and colorful flat flowers that attract pollinators, requiring little watering once established.
- Astilbe, a shade-loving perennial, is easy to care for and multiplies every few years, producing feathery plumes of flowers in various shades.
- Lilies, fragrant plants that prefer sunny sites and well-drained soil, are easy to manage and provide long-lasting blooms, contributing to personal growth and happiness.
- Unexpected edible and ornamental plants such as Fennel, Oregano, Rhubarb, and Mahonia are playing a significant role, providing charm, texture, and multifunctional utility for garden designers.
- Aster and Betony, both offering a pop of colour and value for wildlife, are perfect for borders, wildflower areas, and are suitable for various lighting conditions.
- Ornamental grasses are a great addition for texture and drama, being easy to maintain and suitable for full sun, shade, pots, and containers, while contributing to the sustainability of the environment.
