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Contemporary plants for raised outdoor seating area?

SandTSandT Posts: 70
in Garden design
We're in the middle of have this corner seating area made with an L-shaped raised bed. Your back will be against this bed when sitting down. Looking for some modern plant ideas for this sunny spot (14 inch of root space but only 5in wide)
  • At least 70% evergreen for year-round interest
  • Upright habit, slow growing
  • OK with some palms if there are any dwarf ones
  • I can add some bulbs like alliums but after that, my mind goes blank!
  • Unfussy about whether it's just greenery or colour
  • Sunny spot in London
  • Contemporary look



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Posts

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    You've done a great job, but that space is too narrow for many plants, so you won't have the choice that you would perhaps like.  Is there any drainage?  I can't see any holes, and this will be essential, especially in Winter.  With such a narrow bed, which is near to a fence, you will also need to water regularly in Summer, as there is a "rain shadow" where most fences prevent the rain from hitting the soil near to them.

    Some plant suggestions:

    Astelia - A spiky, architectural plant, relatively slow growing
    Heuchera's - These have dramatic foliage, a bit messy in Winter, but often evergreen.  Go for darker colours, if you have full sun, such as "Berry Passion"
    Opheopogon nigrescens - A dramatic, black grass
    Euonymus "Green Spire" - This is a small shrub, which grows about 2 feet tall, and is quite narrow.  Other Euonymus varieties are much bigger and faster growing, so avoid them.
    Phormiums - Many are fast growing, so avoid them, but find "Evening Glow" is slow growing, has a dramatic pink colour, very architectural
    Libertia "Goldfinger/Peregrinans/Ixioides" - Small architectural grass-like plants
    Pittosporums - These can be a bit fast growing, but can be trimmed regularly to keep them small and in shape.  "Wrinkled Blue" is our favourite variety
    Sedums - These don't need much watering, and some are evergreen (Dragon's Blood has great colouring)
    Uncinia rubra - Nice little bronze grass
    Dieram Pulcherrimum - Look a bit like a grass, but with graceful pink flowers in Summer
    Carex Oshimenis Everillo - An acid-green grass.

    If you want a bit of height, perhaps consider having some metal obelisk plant supports, and you could have some Clematis/Jasmine/Ivy growing up them.

    Do let us see what you end up doing.  
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Tricky with such limited space for soil.  I think you need to look at so-called 'mediterranean' plants which need sharp drainage and low food requirements, such as lavender.  If you could mount some smart trellis behind, maybe adding 2 or 3 of the 'patio' type clematis:
    (other suppliers available) may work and add some extra colour and interest in the spring and summer, as long as you keep up with the watering, feeding and prune correctly.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • SandTSandT Posts: 70
    Wow thank you. I didn't know about the rain fence thing. You're right that there's no drainage holes in the structure so far. I'm meaning to talk to the landscaper about that. He's dropped hardcore and some gravel into the beds, but I don't think that's enough - there's nowhere for excess water to go back to the ground. Worried it'll become a trough of smelly water after excessive rainfall.

    Thanks for the plants - having a look now
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Your landscaper may be able to insert a long perforated pipe with the ends discreetly poking out each end so any excess water can drain away. Might have to be laid at a slight angle downwards towards the exit to allow water to flow.
    Great choice of plants above but I'd be slightly wary of any spiky leaved ones, which could be at eye level of anybody sitting on the benches or any, come to think of it, that might stroke the back of your neck!!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • SandTSandT Posts: 70
    Thanks Lizzie, when you say perforated pipe, would this run vertically down the bed, or do you mean lay it horizontally (plus a slight angle) down inside the bed. Luckily we haven't added the soil in yet. I know I'll need to spell it out to the builder as he's doing the job so quickly and won't think about this. He's back tomorrow at 9!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited June 2020
    @SandT, Horizontally, plus a slight angle, with what they call clean stone (gravel) in a layer over it and a layer of weed membrane over that to stop the soil from clogging up the holes would be ideal. If he can't get perforated pipe, then ordinary plastic pipe with holes drilled in it at intervals would do.
    He's going to love you in the morning!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited June 2020
    It's a cool feature. Keep the planting simple whatever you do. Sea pinks - Armeria - would do pretty well there and look quite 'contemporary' en masse. Or perhaps some upright growing grasses such as Calamagrostis, with Erigieron karvinskianus, which will add a fluffy, almost trailing quality and flowers for an incredibly long time.

    Agapanthus might appreciate the restricted root run and would look very cool... but go for a deciduous one rather than evergreen, as they're hardier; 'Navy Blue' would be good.

    I think because it's such a hard feature, the planting should aim to 'soften it' rather than being overly rigid and formal.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Some sort of tall lavender?  Planted solidly across there in all the same variety would look quite contemporary, with uniform height and color.  Would require yearly pruning and some upkeep, but would do well with that root space and deal with heat and a bit of dry.  Also, the smell in the heat is amazing.. but by evening or when it's cooler out the smell is not strong unless you brush or bruise the leaves (so if you are out eating there, your salmon does not taste of the lavender you are smelling).  
    Utah, USA.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You probably want to avoid anything that will hang forwards because people would be leaning on it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SandTSandT Posts: 70
    WillDB said:
    It's a cool feature. Keep the planting simple whatever you do. Sea pinks - Armeria - would do pretty well there and look quite 'contemporary' en masse. Or perhaps some upright growing grasses such as Calamagrostis, with Erigieron karvinskianus, which will add a fluffy, almost trailing quality and flowers for an incredibly long time.

    Agapanthus might appreciate the restricted root run and would look very cool... but go for a deciduous one rather than evergreen, as they're hardier; 'Navy Blue' would be good.

    I think because it's such a hard feature, the planting should aim to 'soften it' rather than being overly rigid and formal.
    This is all great stuff, thank you. I never thought of it like that, that soft and fluffy should soften the hard side of it. Going to check out all of these plants once we fix our drainage issue...
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