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Plant suggestions - help!!

Richard.jones89Richard.jones89 Posts: 59
in Garden design
We've finally finished our raised bed & have a few ideas of what we'd like to put in, but that aside, we're looking for suggestions and thought the lovely patrons here might be willing to help 😊



The main thing we want is for it to be filled all year round and not for it to look absolutely terrible in winter, so ideally mostly perennials/ evergreens with some annuals nearer the front, and as much year-round colour as possible. 

We're thinking of having some bush-like shrubs near the back, euonymous and something akin to buxus etc, with some Crocosmia Lucifer interspersed in places, so we have an injection of bright red in the summer as the Crocosmia flowers and then red/ pink continuing/ growing as autumn sets in and the euonymous turns as we think that would look quite nice (and it ties into the apple tree we have which has green & red apples).

Completely open to suggestions, aside from the fact that the front is reserved for herbs (already planted) and bedding plants the Wife wants to buy and change up annually.....any ideas please?

We like the look of the following, but not sure how they'd fit in or if anyone has other suggestions? 

- Japanese Anemone
- Aster Divaricatus 
- Actea Simplex
- Dicentra spectablilis


Posts

  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    I'm currently trying to get rid of Japanese anemones as they are very invasive and take up too much space in my small borders. If you have planted rosemary in the front and centre it has the potential to fill your bed, mine grew to 4 to 5 feet high and wide over a period of just 3 years! I now take cuttings so that when it gets too big, there's a replacement! Cutting it back didn't really work very well. Witch hazel is lovely in winter when full of flowers. It is highly scented and flowers when nothing else much does and is very slow growing. Under planted with snowdrops and anemone blanda you have lots of interest for quite a long time. Hope this helps a bit.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is it shady or sunny? That has a bearing on the decisions. From the plants you're looking at, it would seem shady, but asters generally need a sunnier site. 
    That crocosmia becomes huge once established, so one would be more than enough.

    Acteas also become a huge stand, and they need shade and soil that doesn't dry out.
    The euonymous which have autumn colour are europaeus and alatus etc. They'd  fill about half that space easily. Is that the type you mean? Fortunei types don't change colour, but are evergreen, and used for foliage background.

    I'd certainly put some clematis on the fence, and if you want to do that, it would be a good idea to put good supports in now, before planting anything else. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I suggest you look up all the shrubs you've mentioned on the RHS website to see their eventual height and width and then you'll see how much space, if any, is left for other stuff but, as @Fairygirl says, we need to know if those beds are in full sun or partial shade and also whereabouts you are because temperatures and rainfall make a huge difference to what will do well and also what soil you have used to fill the beds and is your tap water hard or soft?   Ericaceous plants won't like hard water and some plants like a fairly alkaline soil.  Many more are not bothered.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I hope you're putting masses of spring bulbs under all that lot!  Especially species tulips which come in a riot of colours and last for years, unlike other tulips which only flower for a year or two.  I'd include some cheap and cheerful self-seeding annuals such as marigolds, nasturtiums and antirrhinums, which you can transplant to fill gaps.
  • Richard.jones89Richard.jones89 Posts: 59
    Fairygirl said:
    Is it shady or sunny? That has a bearing on the decisions. From the plants you're looking at, it would seem shady, but asters generally need a sunnier site. 
    That crocosmia becomes huge once established, so one would be more than enough.

    Acteas also become a huge stand, and they need shade and soil that doesn't dry out.
    The euonymous which have autumn colour are europaeus and alatus etc. They'd  fill about half that space easily. Is that the type you mean? Fortunei types don't change colour, but are evergreen, and used for foliage background.

    I'd certainly put some clematis on the fence, and if you want to do that, it would be a good idea to put good supports in now, before planting anything else. 
    It's about half & half - the front half gets sun (when we have it) from about 9 - 4 in Summer, woth the back half shader but if tall enough it'll get sun. 

    Yes, I have an Alatus out front but will likely get a Europaeus for out back as the wife likes the pink colour. Fancy something with different foliage for a difference tbh so likely wouldn't go for a variety that doesn't colour-change dramatically, to ensure constant green. 

    Decided not to go for anything climbing, but getting an edible Passiflora for a sunnier location which is very similar in flower. Thanks for the tip on supports! 
  • Richard.jones89Richard.jones89 Posts: 59
    Obelixx said:
    I suggest you look up all the shrubs you've mentioned on the RHS website to see their eventual height and width and then you'll see how much space, if any, is left for other stuff but, as @Fairygirl says, we need to know if those beds are in full sun or partial shade and also whereabouts you are because temperatures and rainfall make a huge difference to what will do well and also what soil you have used to fill the beds and is your tap water hard or soft?   Ericaceous plants won't like hard water and some plants like a fairly alkaline soil.  Many more are not bothered.
    South Facing in South Wales. Filled mostly with top-soil screened to 20mm then with about 4 inches of compost on top with some well-rotted horse manure mixed in. Soil underneath is clay-rich! 

    Very soft water. 
  • Richard.jones89Richard.jones89 Posts: 59
    josusa47 said:
    I hope you're putting masses of spring bulbs under all that lot!  Especially species tulips which come in a riot of colours and last for years, unlike other tulips which only flower for a year or two.  I'd include some cheap and cheerful self-seeding annuals such as marigolds, nasturtiums and antirrhinums, which you can transplant to fill gaps.
    I was thinking about tulips, we had some in the same area in the ground before that didn't really flower but then they would have been in more shade and will be raised a lot more now (the garden is a downward slope) - will likely end up with Daffodils in there with tulips tbh because....well....we're in Wales 😂
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I don't think that border size is deep enough for shrubs and then a selection of plants to the front. Some evergeen shrubs that could be shaped to control the size might be another option. Euonymus Fortunei can form the evergreen interest.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    My feeling too @Borderline which is why I suggested the OP research the size of each shrub and plant they fancied.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    My thought also - shrubs are slow growing, but they become big, so it's important to choose carefully. It's why I suggested climbers, as that gives background, but with less impact on the space. 
    I use 'sacrificial' plants when I put shrubs in, so that the beds aren't bare while shrubs establish. I have loads of heucheras around mine, which can just be yanked out. 

    Verticals are important in among shrubs in a shallower border. The Jap. anems will do that, and Camassias are also good for shady areas. Astilbes too. They're quite versatile and many don't become too massive.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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