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Naturalistic planting

richardwatsonjoinerrichardwatsonjoiner Posts: 30
in Garden design
I am about to take my borders apart and start anew! I have three fair sized which I’m connecting together as a large “ u” shape. I am aiming to to make a naturalistic/piet oudolf style. Two of these borders have sun for at least three quarters of the day. The third is partially shaded by next doors oak tree. For the two sunny borders planting is easy enough plenty of ideas there but for the third I’m struggling for ideas that would be tall enough to mix with grasses such as Anemanthele lessoniana  and miscanthus sinesis. Any suggestions must be able to be grown from seed as I like a challenge and be able to grow emergency spares 😃

Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Millet,Lineria,Rudbeckia,Russian giant sunflowers.
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Re plants for your shady site, all of the following are in shade for part of the day. I grow blue Aster 'Twilight', which was recommended for shade and has a long flowering period. It does run quite a bit but that's ok for a naturalistic planting. Liriope 'Big Blue' looks good with grasses and has the benefit of being evergreen. There's also Aster divaricartus, now renamed Eurybia. I would be tempted to try Phlomis russeliana as it's tough as old boots. Plenty of tall geraniums, too. Datisca cannabina makes a good accent plant amongst grasses - mine's partnered with miscanthus. For volume, I would include Persicaria polymorpha, which gets so big it stands out on Google maps satellite images of our garden :-)
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    They are really much easier to propagate via division,  but Eupatorium, Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Alba', Rudbeckia maxima are good ones. A new one I'm trying - from seed as I can't source plants or bare roots from anywhere - is Lychnis pycnostachya. Taller than L. spicata but the latter is also good and can be bought as bare root/corms very cheaply if you need big quantities.  
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Oh a lot of folk grow Echinacea from seed. It'll just take a couple of seasons to flower... like most perennials. I'm growing on self sown Echinacea pallida. 

    One that does grow fast from seed is Rudbeckia triloba - but it's short lived. Would fill a gap during your first season though. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you thought about what you're having there the rest of the year?
    If it's a very visible part of your garden bear that in mind.
    The problem [and I see it as a problem]  with that style of garden is that traditionally, most of the planting is for later in the year - later summer onwards, so it's worth considering additional planting that can be added for earlier in the season too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • richardwatsonjoinerrichardwatsonjoiner Posts: 30
    Thanks there’s some great suggestions there! I’ve got to get a Persicaria polymorpha that looks a plant and a half. I’ve got a load of echinacea pallida seedlings going at the moment and also E. white swan to mix it up a bit. I’m fancying some rudbeckia maxima as I confess I’ve not heard of it until now l, and I’m a massive fan of rudbeckia! As for spring I have quite a few areas dedicated for jan through to June but I am planting mountains of allium bulbs through my borders and crocus through my lawn! My main objective in gardening is wildlife 24/7 (I even have a nettle patch for red Admiral caterpillars(took some convincing for my wife to agree 😂)) I’ve read a few Piet oudolf and Noel Kingsbury books bit they don’t delve much into dappled shade or shade very deeply (probably missed a chapter) 
  • richardwatsonjoinerrichardwatsonjoiner Posts: 30
    For the all day sun borders I have a load in mind and a lot growing in readiness, but am thinking forward to the next batch to grow in spring and wondered if anyone has had any attempts at growing solidago? I’ve heard a lot are invasive but unsure if all are or a few?
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Yes alliums are great for adding early summer colour. Amsonias are also good (sun or semi shade), and unlike a lot of early stuff, they look good when they have stopped flowering. Good autumn colour too.

    Phlomis russeliana is a bit earlier as well and has the attractive seed heads for the rest of the year.

    Salvias can be over by July, but I noticed the spent flowers actually look OK if they are planted in big groups. 

    Solidago pops up in my garden every year, I'm not the biggest fan so I keep pulling it out. 'Fireworks' is the one people usually go for if they have qualms about the normal one.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    I have the following in sunnier spots: persicaria, Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer', Verbena rigida, Verbascum, Molinia 'Windspiel', Acanthus 'Rue Ledan', achillea, Knautia macedonica, Amsonia tabernaemontana (with Stipa tenuissima, Echinacea purpurea and Verbena bonariensis), Solidago 'Fireworks' - it does seed around, Calamagrostis brachytricha (nice combo in the Piet Oudolf borders at Wisley with panicum and dwarf rudbeckia), Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne', veronicastrums, various sedums, Stipa pseudo ichu, Salvia 'Nachtvlinder', geraniums, Catananche caerulea, Verbena bonariensis, asters (I know they have changed their name) 'Little Carlow', 'Violet Queen' and  frikartii 'Monch'. Aster 'Prairie Purple' is a lovely plant to combine with taller grasses e.g. miscanthus. I also had Aster 'Rosa Seiger' with Miscanthus 'Rotblum'. Aster umbellatus is a good-doer and is less clumpy (non-techinical term) than many asters, giving it a much more naturalistic look.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I forgot the Foxgloves
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