advice and idea on teardrop shape bed thats now empty in middle of garden

fern spray · June 2015

I work in a large garden which had a dying phormium which I've now removed however we now have a large gag/teardrop bed. Its in the middle of a walled garden which has other phormiums, hebes, and yellow sisyrinchium in the other surrounding beds with a grass path going all way around...(hope that makes sense) and so looking for a statement plant thats not too huge like pampas but striking. Its a sheltered area with well drained alkaline/neutral soil... any ideas please???

thanks I'm new to forums so please be patient with me if I don't answer straight away

Thank you Fern

Loxley · June 2015

Hard to visualise without a pic! How big is the garden? How high are the walls?

I'm thinking of a choice small (or possibly larger!) tree with a circular seat around it. Those lovely tiered Cornus for example... or a Davidia. Or maybe a circular bed with groundcover / hardy geraniums around the tree instead. My instinct is that a regular circle (or square), absolutely central, would look nicer than a teardrop shape. But that's because I'm guessing the garden's sort of square and fairly formal in layout.

fern spray · June 2015

Thanks for replying

I should have given measurements beforehard! Sorry...The bed is 5ft long... 3.5ft wide at its widest point so not really big enough for a tree or benches. . Its a tear drop shape as this part of the garden is thinner at the bottom than the top so a traditional shape wouldn't work..

Loxley · June 2015

I think I'm getting it now! I thought the bed was in the middle of an expanse of grass (in which case you could easily change it's shape)... lol. Now I'm picturing something much more intimate.

Sounds like a nice spot for Melianthus major (although it gets frosted back in December). Euphorbia mellifera is another lovely plant for a sheltered spot, although the commonly grown E. characias wulfenii is actually at least as good, albeit more familiar.

Agree with Tetley on Rodgersia too, definitely one to consider if the soil is moisture retentive.

Obelixx · June 2015

I think maybe something like a cardoon would fit well if you wnat something herbaceous but architectural - http://www.finegardening.com/cardoon-cynara-cardunculus

or you could try something like a cherry tree - Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii likes alkaline soil and will produce edible cherries.

If you want a shrub, look at ceanothus griseus Yankee Point which has small glossy leaves and a cloud of deep blue flowers or cornus alba sibirica which will give you bright red stems in winter, white flowers in early summer and good autumn foliage. You could also go very formal and plant a yew and cut it to shape - square column, round pillar, pyramid, cone or whatever you fancy as it grows.

Loxley · June 2015

Can't go wrong with some clipped forms, obelixx, especially with some nice ferns/geraniums around the bottom

fern spray · June 2015

Thanks for all this guys

loving the melianthus idea and adore rodersia but don't think its quite wet enough for it.. a yew could look brilliant but we already have yew arches in other part of the garden...

Does the melianthus recover from frost again the following spring?

Loxley · June 2015

Yep, it's hardier than once thought. Best to cut down the top growth in any case as it won't be as beautiful as fresh growth the next season. You can mulch the roots overwinter if you're in a cold area. Divide it in spring to keep it in bounds (it may outgrow your bed slightly but hopefully your paths are reasonably wide!)

advice and idea on teardrop shape bed thats now empty in middle of garden

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