Planting against a drystone wall. It’s er….dry!

I’m doing a whole garden from nothing, so bound to be lots of ‘what to do here’ type threads from me.

My back patio faces west, looking onto a drystone wall and view beyond. I have put a lawn it between the patio and about 1.5 meters from the wall. (I say lawn, but it’s weeds and grass seed right now!).

There are trees along the wall, and I have a gap between the trees (but they are only light shade) of about 10m and I’d like to plant against the wall. It’s really a focal point.

The bed would be east facing, but it’s fairly open to the south. I’ve been weeding there today and it’s very sunny. it’s going to be well sheltered. The soil is dry and stony(at the moment).

I was thinking of grasses and HPs in hot colours, but I thought I’d ask for ideas. I don’t want anything growing above the wall, as that’s the view, so 1m max.

thanks for any thoughts.

 

Many grasses and perennials will suit those conditions @a1154. Most of the ones I grow exceed your height limitation but I recommend looking at the Knoll Gardens website for inspiration and choices, they stock a wide range of both.

 

I have wanted to go to Knoll, it looks fab, much too far for a day out though. Will look online.

 

It’s too far for me to get to also but I've bought many plants from them over the years and have been impressed with the quality of the plants and service.

 

I grow Uncinia 'Everflame' which manages quite well here where I am, although it can be a bit iffy when it's a cold winter, and gets a bit manky and needs dead foliage removed. It seeds around though. Would probably be fine in that location. Gets to about 18 to 24 inches with the seedheads, and the main clump is around a foot, or just over, in height, and about the same in width.
Plenty of perennials will be fine - many Achilleas have strong colours. Asters too.

 

Looking at my garden today, some grasses which might suit @a1154 are Stipa Calamagrostis which has a nice fountain like habit, Sesleria autumnalis which is evergreen, Stipa tenuissima, also evergreen, and Hakonechloa macra, either the green or variegated varieties. A perennial which grows to about that height is Salvia Caradonna, there’s also a pink variety which is a hotter colour!

 

What you plant will also depend on your location @a1154 . Are you up here? I seem to remember you were in the past, but I may be confusing you with someone else

If you use a few small shrubs, they'll also help with support of lankier perennials, because they may lean a fair bit due to the aspect. Hardy geraniums will always do a good job, and Liatris is a useful vertical. Some annuals mixed in will also give you some extra seasonal interest.
Bear in mind too that not all grasses look good once we're into autumn, and then through winter [which is the problem with them where I am as they get trashed by weather] so you'll have to choose well.
A few evergreens of some kind, plus early bulbs, especially around the trees, will keep it looking attractive until you get new growth in spring, especially if you're wanting the view consistently, and from your house through winter.

 

I am indeed up here. Near Jed.
I have lots of geraniums, but I was going to go for warm colours. I have some potentilla the shrubby one in orange, and a hesperantha in a pink/orange that would look good.
I have achilleas but I think they are too tall.
I have grasses I can divide and move next year (I have the stipa T, the hakonechloa and uncinia.) Areas already planted in the garden are pretty messy due to bunging things in in a hurry when we had the plot but before moving here.
I’d quite like a crocosmia but not one that will take over, if there is such a a thing.

 

The cultivated Crocosmias are different from the invasive Montbretia, so most of them would be better behaved. I think you'd have to beef the soil up a bit though, and they do better if the ground isn't dry long term. If they have enough clear sky for the rain to get in, it'll be easier.
Most of them are quite tall though, especially ones like Lucifer, so if you feel Achilleas would be too big, they would be too.
Lychnis is another plant which will provide strong colour and doesn't mind drier, or poorer soil.

 

If there are lots of nooks and crannies in the wall you could fill some with soil and put in small alpines and sphagnum moss that comes in different colours.

 

Nepetas will grow in those conditions @a1154. As long as you keep them watered while they get established they'll become drought tolerant and won't mind some shade. Good idea @waterbut, I planted some Sempervivums, Sedums and Thyme in my dry stone wall in early summer and they've taken well.

 

I have Crocosmia Carmine Brillfant which is very pretty, non invasive and only makes it to about a yard high. It would go well with your Potentilla and Hesperantha I think.

 

Yes - most Crocosmias don't really get any bigger than that @ButtercupDays, apart from Lucifer, but the OP said that Achilleas were too tall, and both plants are similar sizes. The growing conditions can affect sizes, but I felt if Achilleas were going to be too big, most crocosmias would be as well. Achilleas are nice and airy though.
Is the wall very small then @a1154? Potentillas get quite sizeable too, although they can be pruned back quite hard.

I wonder if Phlox would suit. Not something I grow, apart from the alpine ones, so I don't know if the site would suit the bigger, summer flowering ones.
Self seeders like Lunaria annua [honesty] might work. I was planting some out yesterday that I'd grown from seed, whch made me think of it.