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What to plant?

loesbobloesbob Posts: 33
in Plants
Hi All,
I have a small patch, less than two metres square, and I have a photinia, red robin. in the centre about two metres tall.  When I put the photinia in I also planted some spare daffodils.  I intend to put some more daffs and tulips in there but would also like to plant something which would extend the colourful period throughout the summer.  Not difficult you say but this patch is also covered with 5cm thick 20mm gravel.  I only want to have to dig into it once every ten years!  Maybe summer flowering bulbs could be the answer or an intersectional peony.  I thought of nerine but I thought they need to be close to the surface.  Can gladioli stay in the ground?  The soil is pretty heavy clay but I can improve it when I do the digging.  Any suggestions warmly welcomed.  Thanks.
Bob


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Not a lot of room really, and Gladioli like well drained soil, so probably not ideal. Some people can leave them in the ground. I certainly couldn't here, but you might be able to.
    Those peonies would like a good bit of sun ideally, so I doubt they would be suitable. The soil possibly wouldn't be great for them either.

    You could certainly have hardy geraniums, and intersperse those with more bulbs, especially at the edges. Hellebores too, as they'll take a bit of sun and a bit of shade.
    Things like Aquilegia would do well,and perhaps a few perennials like Polemonium [Jacob's Ladder] or Astilbes. They'd be happy in the soil if it doesn't dry out too much.

    Have you got a photo? That would help give an idea of exactly how much room you have  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • loesbobloesbob Posts: 33
    Hope this photo is useful.  If you look closely you can see the daffodils around the 'trunk'.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    A few heucheras would work too, and may be some pinks? 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - not a huge area @loesbob :)
    The pinks would probably be fine near the edges, as would species tulips - they're smaller, generally, than their big cousins, but many are strong colours and will work with the bulbs. 
    You'd probably find you won't need many plants either for that size of area, bearing in mins that any of the suggestions will spread quite quickly. I'd keep it simple - choose, say - the Geraniums and the Heucheras, and lots of bulbs, and position them inside an outer edging of dianthus [pinks] or something similar, if the ground's too wet for those. A good alternative would be Parahebes, or Pachysandra.
    Very little attention needed for any of those, and it will give you a reasonable succession of flowers. 
    If you wanted some verticals for summer, some of the drumstick alliums [Sphaerocephalon] might be ok, if the ground drains well enough. They would go in and around the geraniums/heucheras, and they spread readily. There's bound to be something else suitable, if they don't work.

    You'll also need to leave enough space to get in at the Photinia, so bear that in mind too  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • rebeccamM6CA_Gn6rebeccamM6CA_Gn6 Posts: 133
    I'm not 100% sure on how fine your gravel is or how deep it goes - but you could try annuals that self seed every year and bloom through the summer, like Californian poopies or opium poppies? Just a suggestion :) As in my experience they do like poor soils that are well drained and they do come back every year in some form without any intervention...and looks super bright and luxurious! However, perhaps there isn't enough soil as it does look very gravelly....
  • loesbobloesbob Posts: 33
    Dear All,
    Thanks for all the suggestions.  Rather than just saying thanks I would like to give you a bit more seeing as you took the trouble to think about it.
    I shall take the advice re the gladioli and peony, the latter if only for the expense if it does not work.
    Not really keen on the geraniums (although I have loads of them in my back garden) because they do take over, I am assuming you do not mean pelargoniums.
    I have always assumed that hellebores are for winter.  If there are summer ones it could be a goer.
    Aquilega do not last long enough for me.
    Polemoniums sound good.
    I have astilbes in a very shady area in the back so I could dig some up and see how they do.
    I like the idea of heucheras and dianthus.
    Parahebes but not pachysandra due to its invasive nature in such a small patch.
    I might do the californian poppies.  Grew them a couple of years ago in a normal bed and it really was not a good idea due to its self seeding.  Competing against established perennials might make it more manageable and yes they really are bright. 
    Really grateful for all these ideas and apologies if I have rejected yours.  But I have at least now got a picture in my head.
    Often want to say "if there is anything I can do" but I am at the bottom of the food chain at present.
    Thanks again and stay safe.
    Bob


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