It looks good soil and nice and sunny, so the Nandina would be a good choice and would give year round interest. If it has good drainage you could perhaps consider shrubby salvias such as "Royal Bumble" and possibly lavender (English type), both plants are "bee magnets".
If there’s a shadier spot hydrangea annabelle would be good too! California lilac (there’s a bunch of different cultivars) the bees loved this when I had it
geraniums are also a must for the bees, verbena, the herbaceous salvias, cornflowers are all bee magnets
A daphne planted near the front door would be lovely when it’s in flower
I think you’ll be surprised how much looks good together when planting, I’d pick a few shrubs you like and start with those, then fill the gaps in with the herbaceous perennials, then add bulbs in the autumn!
I am not sure there is a shadier spot in the front, but I've looked at pictures of the other ones you mentioned and they look really nice. I like the idea of that, planting a few and seeing how it looks then adding some to fill the gaps.
Lavender sounds good and the royal bumble looks fab as well. I like the nandina a lot I am definitely going to stick with that one!
Thank you so much for your suggestions!! Really helps to be able to narrow the list down a bit to shrubs that are (hopefully) going to do well in the space. x
@EleanorRigby I think one of the first things to consider is leaf shape. Flowers are only there for a time. From sword shape to palmate that is how to create interest. Also start with your evergreens and place them where you want them in their pots. This will give an idea of what you see in the winter. You will get some winter shape from buddliea but you may have to cut back some growth on these in the Autumn. Viburnham eskimo I don't know, just check on how hardy it is first. I love to grow grasses which you could also consider for the touch of the wild. Some will stand all winter.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
That's a good idea about putting them in the space in their pots to plan how they will look together as well, I'll make sure to do that before I commit them to a certain area!
@EleanorRigby Grasses, you could look at are Calamagrostis Karl Foerster and C Overdam. They will stand all winter, in February cut them down and they will regrow. g They need to be lifted and split every few years so extra plants! I like Knoll Gardens website lovely ideas. Never split a grass in Autumn wait until growth starts in spring. A garden that looks good in winter will always look good in spring. You could include some coloured leaves but overall it needs to be green.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Sorry for the delay replying and thanks for your help. Loving the idea of the grasses and the pictures look fab! I've ordered some now so hopefully I'll be able to show you what the garden looks like with the shrubs and grass in place soon!! x
Posts
If it has good drainage you could perhaps consider shrubby salvias such as "Royal Bumble" and possibly lavender (English type), both plants are "bee magnets".
If there’s a shadier spot hydrangea annabelle would be good too! California lilac (there’s a bunch of different cultivars) the bees loved this when I had it
geraniums are also a must for the bees, verbena, the herbaceous salvias, cornflowers are all bee magnets
A daphne planted near the front door would be lovely when it’s in flower
I think you’ll be surprised how much looks good together when planting, I’d pick a few shrubs you like and start with those, then fill the gaps in with the herbaceous perennials, then add bulbs in the autumn!
Lavender sounds good and the royal bumble looks fab as well. I like the nandina a lot I am definitely going to stick with that one!
Thank you so much for your suggestions!! Really helps to be able to narrow the list down a bit to shrubs that are (hopefully) going to do well in the space. x
You will get some winter shape from buddliea but you may have to cut back some growth on these in the Autumn. Viburnham eskimo I don't know, just check on how hardy it is first.
I love to grow grasses which you could also consider for the touch of the wild. Some will stand all winter.
Thank you!