lush foliage

Hello!

I have created my back garden into a Mediterranean-type shingle garden. This year was the first planting year - all in pots, and all mostly plants. What I was wondering was could anyone suggest inexpensive lush foliage to add some structure? I'd love hostas but I have loads of slugs so they may not live very long! I do have lots of roses growing all over and daisys, so the plants don't have to be exactly Mediterranean, but lush is vital!
Thank you!

LBH

 

Clematis montana
Ferns
Fig tree
Castor oil plant
Pawlonia tomentosum, stooled
Rheum palmatum
Catalpa, pollarded
Sambucus, stooled (I have cuttings)
Tetrapanax
Cannas (tender)
Bananas (tender)
Rhus typhina (don't buy, get a piece off someone)
Nasturtiums, annual from seed

 

Rosemary and Sage? Both lush and green, and will fit very well in the med theme.

 

Good idea, especially rosemary 'cos it's evergreen. Do you want big leaves, or just lots of green?

 

Nicotiana sylvestris - huge leaves in mid summer followed by highly scented white flowers. Grew up to about 2.2metres last year, somewhat less this year. Easy annual from seed.

Oleander.

Salvia glutinosa has lovely foliage. Very hardy and forms a nice clump.




Tradescantia pallida/purpurea...................

 

Many many thanks!! These are lovely suggestions!! I'll certainly be going with them!! I would love big, lush leaves, maddahlia - like hostas, but also lots of green!! So both!! My garden has turned out less Mediterranean, but I'm still pleased with it!! Here is a link. Its the set called 'The New Garden'. Any suggestions will be gratefully received!! Nest year will feature more hot planting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/humilesspiritu/

Thank you all so much!1

Lesley

 

PS. Ah, longK I would love oleander, but having a 6month springer puppy who loves eating plants its a no-no, as I've heard its toxic. for that reason I can't have the castor oil plant

 

Some of the polygonums make big clumps of foliage (a bit dock-like, though). The slugs don't eat them but they wilt in the midday sun instead!

Blimey, Longk, what are you feeding your Salvia glutinosa on? Mine never looks like that!

 

Rain and whatever is in the soil!

Back to the original question, how did I forget the Lobelias (your Flickr set reminded me).

Lobelia "Queen Victoria" will require plenty of water, but the maroon foliage is impressive.


Lobelia tupa is more tolerant of drier growing.............


It has quite large (for a lobelia), almost silver green foliage.

 

Here's a few others that are evergreen. You have a lot of nice color in your garden! Are you keeping everything in pots or will you plant into the ground?

 

These are lovely photos and ideas! Thank you all! Catztail I will be keeping everything in pots I hope and adding more next year. I HATE weeding! But really enjoy watering and feeding - find it quite therapeutic! LongK, I really like both of the lobelias I have, so thank you for the watering advice. Will I be able to overwinter them?
Lesley

 

I have over 100 pots including the above 3. Sometimes I think I'm a bit mad but I love being able to move them around and create a different feel. It can be a lot of work but you can put just about anything in a pot at least for a few years.

 

Catztails, many thanks for sharing- your garden is just how I want mine - full of planting! You have a lovely garden. Yes, you're so right about containers - if a plant doesn't look right somewhere, or it doesn't suit them, its so easy to move them around. It IS a lot of hard work, but great fun as well, isnt it?!
Lesley

 

wow Catztail , really nice , I really like the rhus in the pot , it look tropical indeed.

 

Thanks guys!! That's probably my favorite bit this year. Everything has done well on the patio. It's a nice place to sit, sunny in the morning and shady during the day. It does feel secluded even though you're right out the back door. Lots of watering but very easy to maintain otherwise. Wonder how many more plants I can cram in there....... we will see next year!!