Hailing from hot, arid climes, such as the Mediterranean and Australia, drought-tolerant plants can withstand prolonged periods of heat with no rain. The majority thrive in full sun, with their roots in well-drained soil or gravel beds that have been enriched with peat-free compost. As our climate changes, they ensure borders are a floriferous show of colour and scent all summer long, without the need to water.
You can never have enough poppies, especially if you love bold colour, and they are extremely drought hardy. The majority love sun-baked, well-drained soil, with some capable of growing in shingle. Eschscholzia californica 'Orange King' blazes tangerine, while Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’ and Papaver rhoeas ‘Paradise' have sizzling-red blooms. Sow them direct in April.
Also fiercely red in summer are Linum grandiflorum 'Rubrum' (an easy annual flax that can be sown direct in April) and Potentilla 'Gibson's Scarlet’ (a fantastic perennial for the front of the border that can be planted in autumn or spring). For deeper red tones, plant pockets of the long-stemmed blood pink, Dianthus cruentus, at any time of year: in early summer, it sends up clusters of crimson flowers that hover above the grassy foliage and look marvellous growing through gravel.
Good colour foils for red include lime greens (such as the low-growing perennial Euphorbia myrsinites), blues (including the larkspur Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly’, which can be grown from seed in autumn or spring), and hot pinks (especially Lychnis coronaria, which is a fabulous short-lived perennial with downy silver foliage). Plant them all together for an explosion of colour in even the hottest, driest summers.
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Companion planting is the centuries-old practice of pairing plants in the garden that benefit one another. Our gardens function as interconnected communities, with different plants providing unique services. Some plants attract beneficial insects, others ward off pests, while some enhance soil health. Anyone who’s grown tomatoes knows they are heavy feeders, and often plagued by foliar diseases and a diversity of insect pests. They certainly stand to benefit from tomato companion plants that promote healthier plants and increased yields.
This year Chelsea Flower Show was full of interesting trees and shrubs with lots of dreamy woodland-edge planting in dappled light underneath leafy canopies. Native trees such as hawthorns, hazels and silver birch were the favoured choices in many of the show gardens, with a mixture of native and non-native ornamental plants selected for resilience and sustainability. In Ula Maria’s Forest Bathing Garden, white foxgloves, cow parsley and other umbellifers like Baltic parsley (Cenolophium denudatum) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) were mixed with the simple shade-loving grass Melica altissima ‘Alba’ while Tom Stuart-Smith showcased intricate tapestries of interesting foliage in different shapes and textures. In other gardens, orange was a popular colour in many shades, from deep rusty orange irises to pale orange geums, especially in Ann Marie-Powell’s exuberant Octavia Hill Garden. As always, the Grand Pavilion is the ideal place to discover new and interesting plants showcased by some of the country’s leading nurseries.
Certain sounds fill the heart with the joys of summer, but the season's undisputed high note has to be the sizzle of a garden barbecue. Beyond clear blue skies, and an excellent potato salad recipe, what more could a griller want besides first-rate barbecue tool sets?
For Angel Collins, putting together a palette of plants either for herself or a client is one of the most pleasurable parts of designing a garden. ‘Making that initial list and then finally laying them out in the garden, seeing how they all work together, is something that I will never tire of,’ she says. ‘I make mood boards for my clients and provide them with a list. But I never draw out a rigid plan, as I prefer to set the plants out by eye and play around with the balance.’
The fruits and vegetables harvested from your own patch of earth are always the sweetest–doubly so if your garden is more shoebox than sprawling country pile. In pursuit of the perfect strawberry, modern gardeners are turning to the old Victorian favourite: cloches.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) is one of the easiest plants to find in the wild, since its strong, sweet scent hangs on the air. Native to most of Europe, it is a common sight and smell in our woodlands and hedgerows in summer, twining itself around trees and scrub and luring a wide variety of wildlife. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon describes Titania's sleeping place as 'quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine'. It is certainly a plant fit for a queen, since each of the flowerheads resembles a crown of cream and gold, formed of a ring of tubular blooms.
When one thinks about a production garden designed to yield copious amounts of vegetables and flowers, it’s not often one with perfectly manicured rows overflowing with color and paired with thoughtfully organized spaces for gathering. Practicality and function are usually the focus, not a dedication to stunning surroundings. This is where the team behind Oakland-based Pine House Edible Gardens stands out with their impeccable layout and design philosophies, showcasing the ability to implement important functional garden systems with incredible style.
Growing perennial vegetables can mean longer harvest periods, less maintenance once established, and even improved soil structure. But selecting the best ones for your grow zone and conditions is key.
Aesthetics and style trend have taken over our interiors, and we love that trends are spreading into our outdoor spaces, too. This year, as organic decor and biophilic design continue to dominate our home decor feeds, a similar gardening trend is growing—literally.
The traditional stone farmhouse stands on a limestone outcrop in the Chianti hills. Tall cypress trees mark the driveway, contrasting with the rounded forms of clipped hornbeam on the lowest terrace and cloud-like plane trees on the top one. The three terraces incorporate several distinct, intensively cultivated areas, including kitchen, herb and cutting gardens, as well as romantic flower borders
It may take up to four years for these plants to start bearing fruits, but our selection of fruit trees are also excellent ornamentals with decorative foliage for your home! Read and bookmark this list of a dozen fruit trees that grow well indoors and in small spaces.