GardenerSuze is correct that fewer varieties, carefully considered in how they complement each other visually, will generally look more effective than attempting to combine lots of different things in such a relatively small space. You can add seasonal variety by layering plants that do their thing at different times of the year though.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I agree with @GardenerSuze and @Loxley, but it depends on personal choice. Some like the rhythm of repeated planting to create a mood, others are happy with colourful combinations of different plants - I do both in different areas of the garden!
If well watered small paniculata hydrangeas would do well but would utilise most of the depth. For instance Little Lime. Most new varieties can cope really well with sunny locations but will need more water.
It's a good time of year to be planning a border, you can go down to the garden centre and everything is in full flower so you can almost do a "dress rehearsal"; putting the plants together to get an idea of how they will look. Leave some space and next spring you can do the same thing with spring plants that you can slot in between the summer ones, so you will end up with layers of seasonal interest.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Going by the fence posts it looks like this fence belongs to your neighbour and they can have the finale say about what you do to it or grow up it. I have had problems with neighbours in my last 3 houses over this and also at my present home when I screwed a trellis onto the post of the common fence for my sweet peas to grow up. I appear to be unlucky as I always seem to one lovely neighbour on one side and a grumpy one on the other. Great advice above,
Hi there! I'm a complete novice to gardening and also new to this forum so please go easy on me!
Could anyone suggest some plants, (preferably with colour) to go in this space. It's about 270cm long, 60cm wide and soil type is loamy, lime/chalk rich. It's very open so it gets lots of daylight and sun. I was thinking hydrangeas but I have heard that they don't do well with lots of sun? Our garden is looking a bit bland so I'd love something colourful to brighten it up. Thank you ever so much for any help you're able to give!
There are lots of silver leaved plants that would enjoy living in your border. Teucrim, Russian sage, rock roses, perovskia, lavender, lots of variation in leaf as well as flowers. It would help to widen the bed as a lot od shrubby plants make quite a lot of sideways and forwards growth
If you like the slightly wild look of clematis perennials and a few tallish grasses. Wider borders always look good. I once read that 4’ worked well. Anything with a silver leaf works well in sun (although check that they are chalk lovers)
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There are lots of silver leaved plants that would enjoy living in your border. Teucrim, Russian sage, rock roses, perovskia, lavender, lots of variation in leaf as well as flowers.
It would help to widen the bed as a lot od shrubby plants make quite a lot of sideways and forwards growth