Creating a planting plan from scratch part 3: Adding the perennial layer

Creating a Planting Plan from Scratch Part 3: Adding the Perennial Layer

Now we're going to start building up layers in the planting plan, looking at how to group perennials for impact and how to maximise the succession of interest.

Anchoring the Planting with Evergreens

Always consider some evergreens for winter interest, alongside the skeletal structures of the deciduous shrubs and trees.

• For example, you could use a Sarcococca or Daphne to anchor a corner and give winter scent around paths.

Designing the Perennial Layer

Lupins

A mid-layer perennial or perhaps an emergent, lupins are perfect plants for repeating down the border to add rhythm and drama near the front. Grouping in threes works well, and I'd use around four groups in a 25m border. Set them back a bit from the front, as they're vulnerable to slugs and snails and will go over around midsummer, leaving just a mass of foliage.

Geraniums

Geraniums are a great mid-layer perennial for using at the corners of a border. Groups of around five work well to wrap around the corner.

Phlox

Phlox flowers for around 6 weeks, but this can be staggered using the Chelsea chop. Planting several together will form a single mass around 5ft high, so put them near the back, and again repeat these groups down the border.

Irises

Irises are best put at the front, as they like to bake in the sun. Separate them from other plants that have a similar vertical form at the same time of year, like lupins. Each iris only takes up a space about 25cm wide, so you may need around eight for a clump.

General Principles

Building up the perennial layer based on your research, mood boards, and when they flower to get them working well together for successional interest.

You can be creative around your colour scheme – for a purple border, think about plants that have purple foliage, purple seeds or fruits, or just a streak or eye of purple in the flower. Introducing some contrast can work well even in a colour-themed border – for instance, we're adding some acid yellow into the Purple Border using euphorbia and woad.

If you think they'll still be visible, try using some of the plants from the front further back, too. For example, Iris 'Lothario' is a taller iris that I use in sunny spots further back as well as at the front.

Think about the spread of individual plants to work out the numbers of plants needed.

Plant Directory

Aconitum species and cultivars

Aconites, monk's hoods

Hardy herbaceous perennials or biennials

Ranunculaceae

Daphne bholua 'Jaqueline Postill'

Semi-evergreen or evergreen in a mild winter

Mostly hardy evergreen shrub

Thymelaeaceae

Daphne bholua 'Peter Smithers'

Daphne 'Peter Smithers'

Mostly hardy evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub

Thymelaeaceae

Euphorbia species and cultivars

Spurges

Hardy, half-hardy or tender annuals, perennials or shrubs

Euphorbiaceae

Geranium × magnificum

Purple cranesbill

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Geraniaceae

Iris 'Benton Menace'

Tall bearded iris 'Benton Menace'

Hardy herbaceous perennial from rhizomes

Iridaceae

Iris 'Lothario'

Tall bearded iris 'Lothario'

Hardy herbaceous perennial from rhizomes

Iridaceae

Isatis tinctoria

Woad

Hardy herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial

Brassicaceae

Lupinus 'Masterpiece'PBR

Lupin 'Masterpiece'

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Fabaceae

Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'

Perennial phlox 'Blue Paradise'

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Polemoniaceae

Sarcocca species and cultivars

Sweet box

Evergreen shrubs

Buxaceae