If you want quite a bit of height (1.5 to 2.0m) without the proportionate width you would get from shrubs, I would echo Nollie’s suggestion of using obelisks.
If it’s a long bed down the length of the garden you could use maybe 3 or more obelisks spaced at different intervals and then plant with climbers. I would consider one rose and one clematis per obelisk which would be nice and cottagey. Perhaps use the same plants for each obelisk so there is repetition and punctuation in your border.
If this is an island bed you could go for one tall obelisk in the centre.
Alternatively you could put a small tree in the centre of an island bed. Depends how big it all is really.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
My main border is only 1.2m wide , ideally i like it wider but not a the expense of the already small lawn.
I couldn't recommend Veronicastrum enough easy to grow heights vary from variety from 4-6/7ft . I also grow sanguisorba - Eupatorium - helianthus - phlox - delphiniums - Echinops - salvia amistad / others - Rudbeckia herbstonne - grasses ( miscanthus / calamagrostis ) - ligularia - monardas can get quite tall around 4ft - selinium Wallichianum is a beauty - heleniums can get to 4ft+ all at the back of my borders.
I tend to go with interesting foliage for shrubs like cotinus - physocarpous - holly - sambucus and others .
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If it’s a long bed down the length of the garden you could use maybe 3 or more obelisks spaced at different intervals and then plant with climbers. I would consider one rose and one clematis per obelisk which would be nice and cottagey. Perhaps use the same plants for each obelisk so there is repetition and punctuation in your border.
If this is an island bed you could go for one tall obelisk in the centre.
Alternatively you could put a small tree in the centre of an island bed. Depends how big it all is really.
I couldn't recommend Veronicastrum enough easy to grow heights vary from variety from 4-6/7ft .
I also grow sanguisorba - Eupatorium - helianthus - phlox - delphiniums - Echinops - salvia amistad / others - Rudbeckia herbstonne - grasses ( miscanthus / calamagrostis ) - ligularia - monardas can get quite tall around 4ft - selinium Wallichianum is a beauty - heleniums can get to 4ft+ all at the back of my borders.
I tend to go with interesting foliage for shrubs like cotinus - physocarpous - holly - sambucus and others .