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Plant suggestions please

Goldie4Goldie4 Posts: 14
in Plants

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I would like some suggestions for that wee spot behind the hebe, in the corner.  I'm thinking something like a bulb or corm because getting in there could be tricky.  The clematis is ooh la la and there are guernsey lillies in the terracotta pot for the summertime.  My soil is pretty clay but that bed has had a lot of compost dug into it.  The sun is on that bed and fence all afternoon.  I'm in central Scotland so nothing too soft.

Given the pink of the hebe and clematis, I'd like something along a similar palette.  Size wise thinking 2 feet high or so. If crocosmia came in pinks I'd bung them in there.

Any suggestions that won't break the bank?

Many thanks.

Posts

  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    Nerine

    H-C

  • Goldie4Goldie4 Posts: 14

    I've got nerines ( guernsey lilly) in the pot behind. I was under the impression they were better in pots up here? 

  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    I'd always have stuff like that in the ground against the cold, so long as the drainage is good. 

    H-C

  • jessisinthegardenjessisinthegarden Posts: 113

    That hebe is glorious - but won't it grow quite a bit and into that space you're looking to fill?

    For now, I'd just stick some winter bulbs in there, maybe some snowdrops, to fill the gap before it grows bigger.

    For the rest of the season, what about a hardy geranium, like these? They're tough hardy perennials and will disappear pretty much over winter, returning in spring. You can also take cuttings easily off them and they''ll spread over the edges of your border, softening it all.

    Have a look here:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/graham-rice/10-hardy-geraniums

  • Goldie4Goldie4 Posts: 14

    Thanks jess, I'll have a look at them.  The hebe was twice that size in a large pot, I pruned it hard last autumn and planted it out today.  I intend to keep it smallish.   I love it, its one of my favourites :)

    Would an astilbe come up enough there I wonder?

  • autumngloryautumnglory Posts: 255

    I wouldn't put anything big in there, I think the hebe will grow quickly to fill the space.

    I have one the same and it grows quite a lot in one year, I don't think yours will like being kept to that size. I decided to move mine in the end because it grew too quickly and kept filling the space it was in.

    I think if you put an astilbe in there it'll end up hidden by the hebe.

  • jessisinthegardenjessisinthegarden Posts: 113

    You'e welcome - but I tend to agree with autumn glory image

    I have the exact same hebe and it grows fast - looks beautiful. You wouldn't need to fill any gap and if you have a sprawling geranium, it'll ground cover any bare soil then go where it wants anyway.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    If you want something to add some height to the corner, what about some Iris sibirica?  That way the hebe could spread a bit but there'd still be room for the iris - I've found they don't mind being crowded a bit.

    Don't think there are any pinks - but blue would actually accentuate the pinks nicely, or a cream or white would also look lovely. 

    https://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/t/plants/irises?utf8=%E2%9C%93&taxon_id%5B%5D=15 

    image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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