Herb mound ideas

As part of our ongoing efforts to turn our back garden into an amazingly good fun play area, while still being a garden, the lad and I built a mound of earth last year, to provide cover during Nerf fights, for anyone emerging from the side exit of the willow tunnel.

I've started planting it up. My view is that it has to look good, function well as cover in Nerf battles, and be hard wearing enough for the occasional incident of kids running over it and falling against it in the heat of battle. So, along the top I've planted black currants and rosemary (to provide height but also to be productive), and on the south facing bank I've put thyme and oregano. My view is that although none of these plants would like being trampled every day, they will take a bit of occasional punishment without lasting damage.

Any other ideas? I want to go for a non-uniform look colourwise, so I thought about getting a few different types of thyme and oregano (there's golden oregano for example, and various shades of thyme). I might add marjoram to the list, but the only one time I tried to grow it, it didn't thrive, so I'm not sure.

Any more ideas? Mat forming is the way to go I think, and I want everything on there to be edible.

 

Random thoughts:

Fennel? Mine grows to 7 feet, so tall cover and can see through.
Curry plant? Smells like curry, could be fun!
Lavender? Adds colour
Nasturtiums? Can't go wrong, just dot them about a bit.
Steps/bark path to the top of the mound? Could help when playing 'Capture the Flag' or 'King of the Hill'

 

ooh and Sage, different colours out there for that.

 

clueless will definitely like this idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Val

 

You could whack a bit of Mint on there and Variegated lemon Balm ,Chives and Garlic Chives,they should keep the enemy at bay

 

Agree, except for the nasturtiums, too squashable. Although you could eat them if under siege.

 

Definitely agree with Loli on the mint and lemon balm, both tough as old boots.

How about wild strawberries? Fairly robust little plant, colour from the flowers and fruits and so tasty!

 

I've got wild strawberries in there. They're not well established yet, and was thinking of moving them, but if you think they're right for the job, I'll leave them where they are.

 

Just a note of caution: ensure none of you are allergic to bee/wasp stings because some of the above suggestions will bring in the bees and a squidged bee might sting anyone who falls on top of it