Garden from scratch, which 12 plants would you definately use

If you moved home, and aquired a medium sized garden with just lawn, which 12 plants/shrubs/trees would you most definately plant? (hardy, that needs little or no winter maintenace i.e does not have to be wrapped etc)

 

They definitely would have to be low maintainance or they would die within a week...

flowers: californian poppy/fuchsia/lily of the valley/amaranthus caudatus/foxgloves/wild carnations/heather/tulips/linaria cymbalaria/geranium.

bushes: camelia, magnolia stellata, ginkgo biloba, jasminum nudiflorum, roses, azaleas...

 

To give the garden backbone, the shrubs would be Viburnum tinus, Aucuba, Sambucus nigra, Euonymus, a shrub rose.

The small tree would be Prunus serrula.

Perennials would be Echinacea, Erigeron, Monarda, Nemesia, Alstroemeria, Verbena bonariensis.

In the ideal world i would plant in multiples and not singles.

Is this a potential new job you've been asked to do, Dim ?

 

Its sunny at last

1. Cherry Tree
2.. Korean fir Tree
3. Holly (your choice)
4. acer tree/bush
5. Clematis (montana)
6.Daylily (so much choice)
7.Miscanthus grass (your choice)
8.Bamboo
9.Snow drops
10. daffodils


I think I have covered all the seasons as well

Spruce

 

nice choice! ... no, is not a new job, but I will learn from this thread ... I will research all the choices, add them to my database and possibly use some of these in the future for new jobs!

my own personal choice (as of today is):

1. Trachycarpus fortunei palm as a focal point

2. sambucus black beauty shrub

3. smoke bush ... Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (small tree or shrub)

4. Elaeagnus x ebbingei evergreen shrub with a nice smell in late summer

5. Fatsia Japonica for a shady position

6. Dryopteris affinis crispa fern combined with japanese painted ferns

7. Catalpa bignonioides - 'Aurea' (indian bean tree)

8. ceanothus concha - evergreen shrub

9. Hakonechloa macra aureola grass for edging

10. a combination of 2 heuchera for year round colour (summer berry and Electra)

11. japanese maple bloodgood in a shady sheltered spot for colour

12. Jack frost brunneri

these are 12 that I will always try and include in all gardens (if allowed to) ... obviously, there will be loads of others such as hostas and star jasmine etc

 

Firstly, I'd immediately throw out the lawn.

And then, in no particular order.

Cortaderia Richardii (definitely not Sellowania)

Dryopteris Filix-mas.

Heuchera.

Fuschia.

Bamboo.

Japanese Maples.

Black Mondo Grass.

Yuccas.

Carex pendula.

Carob tree.

Weeping willow.

Junipers.

Blue Cedar.

(Baker's dozen.) :D :D (as I always push things to the limits!)

 

Great post Dim I am hoping to sit back and glean the knowledge / experience of our more experienced GC'ers !!

 

So many to choose from, but;
Shrubs
1. Portuguese Laurel (evergreen, fragrant flowers, good back ground shrub)
2. Holly (variegated or plain green - personal choice)
3. Viburnum Tinus (again evergreen and nice flowers)
4. Weigela (again several varieties available)
5. Amalanchier (lovely flowers and good early leaf colour)

Trees
6. Sorbus (red, white and yellow berried varieties available)
7. Crab Apple (such as 'Red Sentinal', 'Golden Hornet' or 'Tschonoskii')

Perennials
8. Echinacea
9. Geranium (hardy)
10. Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle - spreads via self seeding)
11. Foxglove
12. Grass (again down to personal choice - either tall for the back or small for the front)

And just to add some early spring colour a scattering of crocus, dwarf narcissus and snowdrop bulbs that can be left to naturalise :thumb: