Alison Marsden, Gardening by Design
Flowering shrub border
Evergreen
flowering & foliage shrubs with a maximum height of 50cm, interwoven in an
informal pattern than to provide summer colour. Note that when
the shrubs are all in flower in early summer it will be very bright!
The planting
layout is also designed for ease of planting.
The planting plan shows a circle approx 75cm in diameter for each shrub
– this represents the size of the plant after 2-3 years. The shrub as purchased is planted at the
centre of the circle and these ‘centres’ are evenly spaced 80cm apart in two
rows; the holes dug in the front row are lined up between the holes the back
row.
Planting hints:
Ô
Mark the position
of the holes on the geotextile membrane to check
spacing and make sure you have the correct number of holes before cutting the
membrane – almost anything can be used as temporary markers (pile of sand,
stone etc.)
Ô
Dig all the holes
before planting; the holes need to be slightly bigger than the pots
Ô
Drop the plants
into the holes still in the pots to check that you have the pattern correct
before actually planting them
Ô
Plant, gently
firm and water
Ô
Apply the
decorative mulch over the membrane after watering
|
Plant |
Quantity |
Planting plan symbol |
|
Cistus x pulverulentus |
4 |
|
|
x Halimiocistus
sahucii |
3 |
|
|
Hebe 'Red
Edge' |
6 |
|
|
Helianthemum 'Ruth' |
3 |
|
|
Helianthemum 'Golden Queen' |
3 |
|
|
Lithodora diffusa Heavenly blue’ |
4 |
|
|
Salvia officinalis 'Icterina' |
6 |
|
Cistus x pulverulentus
Plant Type:
shrub, evergreen, scented or aromatic.
Compact dwarf shrub with sage-green, wavy-edged leaves and
vivid cerise-pink flowers with yellow centres
Growth
Rate: medium, mature size: 0.6m. high x 0.9m. wide
Season of interest: Summer
Best in poor to moderately fertile,
very well drained, gritty soil in full sun. In cool climate areas, provide a
position sheltered from cold winds and hard frosts.
Could be substituted by any one of several pink Cistus cultivars if this one is not available
Deeproot/GL
x Halimiocistus
sahucii
Plant Type: shrub, evergreen
Compact mounding or spreading shrub with dark green leaves and white
flowers in summer.
Growth
Rate: unspecified, mature size: 0.45m. high x 0.9m. wide
Colour:
leaf- dark green, flower- white
Prefers very well drained, sandy,
fairly poor soils and full sun. Less harsh conditions and more fertility make the plant
less hardy and not as tough.
Cultivar x H. s ‘Ice Dancer’ is a good
substitute
Deeproot/GL
Hebe 'Red Edge'
Plant Type: shrub, evergreen, ground-cover
Growth habit:
rounded
Growth Rate: unspecified, mature size: 0.8m. high x
0.8m. wide
Dwarf shrub with blue-grey leaves densely arranged. The
leaves are narrowly margined with red particularly in winter. Flowers in summer
are pale lilac gradually turning white. Reliably hardy.
Deeproot/GL
Helianthemum 'Ruth'
Plant Type: shrub, evergreen or semi-evergreen
Growth
Rate: slow, mature size: 0.2m high x 0.5m wide
Season of interest: Summer
Low spreading small shrub. Large orange-red flowers, suffused
yellow at the centres and with yellow stamens. Grey-green
foliage.
Deeproot/GL
Salvia officinalis 'Icterina'
Common Name: Yellow sage
Plant Type: shrub, evergreen, ground-cover, edible
Growth
Rate: medium, mature size: 0.6m. high x 1m. wide
Variegated form of the culinary sage
with irregularly yellow margined leaves.
Best in sharply drained, fairly poor
soil in full sun and a warm position.
Deeproot/GL