Recommend me some plants with big leaves please.

Hi All.
I am in the process of digging out my lawn when weather permits. I need dryish days on my days off work so that I can save the soil from the turf- beating each piece within an inch of it`s life. A slow process but I have started and I have time before spring. A bit at a time is the way it has to be, due to me being not so young.
My plan is to have some snaky paths made of double key blocks which I have, plus odd paving slabs here and there to stand on (would prefer nice shapely stepping stones but I`m using what I have so it costs nothing). - Ferns and grasses and low growing plants to start spreading over the corners of the flags. I like random, untidy gardens.
At the top I am aiming for an oval shaped wildlife pond - I have some huge rocks and a supply of stones to make a shallow end.
What I`m imaging is at the back of the pond where I will place the huge rocks I want a plant with large leaves (or two).
I remember the most beautiful plant in Valley Gardens in Harrogate which I think is Gunnera. I love it but it will take up half of my garden. Can anyone think of something as striking but on a slightly smaller scale, UK hardy and perennial?
Many thanks in advance for all ideas.

 

Fox glove tree( Paulownia tomentosa) can be grown for its large leaves which are said to be even more of a feature when they are chopped to the ground each year and allowed to shoot up again as coppice. Also elephant ears (Bergenia) have big leaves and nice flowers but these can get a bit ragged looking if grown somewhere too exposed.

 

Fatsia japonica springs to mind. It can be pruned, too, if necessary There's a lovely variegated variety and also a mottled thing that looks as though it's got red spider mite...

 

Probably not large-leaved enough, but definitely a low-maintenance ground-cover option and great for pollinators, might complement your wildlife pond and plants with larger leaves well...

Persicaria bistorta 'Superba'

Persicaria bistorta 'Superba' (Bistort).

Nick

 

I will look these up. I think I’ve seen elephants ears and that’s the kind of thing that would suit I think. TY

 

I will look at those. Many thanks.

 

Thank you. I will google all these. I love architectural plants with different striking leaves. So thankful for everyone’s ideas.

 

OMG I'm assuming you meant this one Noisette, it really does look like it's afflicted with something awful! People actually PAY for these?

Fatsia japonica Spiders Web | J Parker Dutch Bulbs

(I'm just waiting for the furious comment from one of us who owns and adores it now! )

Nick

 

Lots of nice plant with big leaves . Rodgersia lots to pick from - rheum palmatum plus others in the family even just ordinary rhubarb - Ligularia britt marie crawford large dark purple leaves look at others in the family like Rocket - przewalskii and others - white shunk cabbage are nice - Hosta lots to pick from - ferns ? the asplenium group have lush broad foliage . They are smaller Gunneria than the more common gaint manicata like persansa .

 

That's the boy....each to his/her own Apparently, it's very sought-after

 

You might consider a tree fern. You can let those get as large as you want. They look very exotic, but they grow perfectly happily here if you keep them out of wind scorch.

 

Actually, I quite like it!

 

I'll stick with variegata. I spend most of my life trying to prevent my garden looking infested