Suggestions for newbie please

We have just built a pergola in the corner of our garden which is facing south east. There are 4 cut-outs on each side of the paving (down the long sides)underneath for plants.

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what would look stunning here please :D.

The climbers on the pergola will be honeysuckle serotina and graham thomas, akebia quinata, passion flower eden and a couple of clematis, one pink and one white with purple centres.

Thanks

 

Going by the post Jupes, you`ve already decided what`s going there, so why ask?

 

Perhaps he means some lower planting between the uprights where the climbers will be???

If so how about some nice summer flowering perennials or even some lavender?

 

Sorry if I havent made it clear duh! The planting is sorted for the pergola as above.

What I am looking for suggestions on is what to plant on the ground around the paving that is under the pergola. :o

 

Are you looking for shrubs? If so, what size roughly? Or are we talking bulbs? Bedding? Biennials? Perennials? Explain what you want please.

 

is it near your back door? What about culinary herbs?

Fragrant plants sound like a great idea. What about plants that have evening fragrance so you get the pleasure while sitting out with a glass of wine in the evening?

 

not sure of the size of the beds as its difficult to visualise without seeing a photo ....

however, look at Heuchera as they are evergreen, and come in different colours ... what works well with the heucheras IMHO is the combination of berry smooth and electric lime ... just make sure that the ones you choose are suited for the area (sun or semi-shade)
http://www.heucheraholics.co.uk/heuchera_shop.html

http://www.gardencrossings.com/_ccLib/image/plants/DETA-1558.jpg

http://www.swinesmeadowfarmnursery....adow/images/heuchera-electric-lime--564-p.jpg


then, a few hardy evergreen ferns may look good .... depending on the space of the beds, you could look at sa combination of a larger fern such as Dryopteris affinis Crispa ...
http://www.honeysomeaquaticnursery.co.uk/shop/images/categories/Dryopteris%20affinis.jpg

I also like the smaller japanese painted fern, but this is deciduous
http://pazgrowers.com/images/jap-painted fern.jpg

for edging, I like Hakoechloa macra Aureola (Japanese forest grass) .... clump forming, but when planted 300mm apart will join ... won perennial plant of the year in 2009 and is stunning .... prefers semi-shade though, and combined with a few evergreen ferns and large leaved hostas, look very good
http://www.perennialplant.org/ppy/2009_POY.pdf

 

Hi

These are rather small spaces, so definitely not shrubs!

There are eight planting holes each about 10 x 12". We want something fairly low growing, no higher than 18", scent would be nice as would summer colour. Hubbie has suggested grasses but this is something I know nothing about and have never used.

It isn't near the back door and we have herbs elsewhere.

Hope this helps the gang.

Many thanks.

 

I would go for a combination of lavendar and grasses (you can get some lovely ones that don't grow too tall), both are fairly low maintenance and reasonably drought tolerant too :thumb:

 

Thank you all.

Any recommendations on grasses?

 

I would include a star jasmine on the pergola (perhaps drop a clematis?)

the star jasmine (trachelospermum jasminoides) is evergreen/hardy .... smells diving when flowering ... leaves turn red in winter, then green again in spring .... plant it in the sunniest position ... every garden should have at least one IMHO

grows a bit slow in the 1st season, but once established, grows a lot quicker

for a highly a scented plant have a look at:

Nicotiana alata 'Grandiflora' (flowering tobacco) .... you would need to plant this every year in spring, as it's an annual, but well worth the effort ... smell is very strong in the evening ...

also look at Gardenia Kleim hardy .... maybe a little bigger than what you intended, but if there is space, include this one

 

Follow this link for a good list of grasses and sedges; some of these will be too big but others would be ideal :thumb:

Ornamental Grasses

 

For some winter interest shrubwise I would suggest Sarcococca Humilis. Or for spring/early summer, an Azalaea japonica.