Planting perennials into gaps in the bed

Planting Perennials into Gaps in the Bed

Staying in the Cottage Garden, we move on to adding seasonal perennials to add early colour and create the perfect pairing with existing plants.

It's worth thinking carefully about the placement of perennials before you plant. Consider what will make your existing plants look even better. Use little sticks to mark where you're considering adding plants, then live with those for a few days until you're confident it's the right decision.

Using Erythronium

I'm adding Erythronium 'Pagoda' to bring spring colour that complements the foliage of Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby' and a Dryopteris fern.

• Erythronium flowers in spring and are dormant by June, so their browning foliage is covered up by other perennials as they grow.
• They're perennial bulbs that like some shade, will last for years and will spread, so you only need to plant a few, and to increase numbers, you can divide them after flowering.
• Let them establish for a couple of years before you start dividing them.

Plant Directory

Dryopteris species and cultivars

Male ferns, shield ferns, wood ferns, buckler ferns

Hardy herbaceous, semi-evergreen or evergreen ferns

Dryopteridaceae

Erythronium species and cultivars

Dog's tooth violets, fawn lilies

Hardy bulbous perennials

Liliaceae

Erythronium californicum

California fawn lily

Hardy bulbous perennial

Liliaceae

Erythronium 'Pagoda'

Dog's tooth violet 'Pagoda'

Hardy bulbous perennial

Liliaceae

Erythronium revolutum

Mahogany fawn lily

Hardy bulbous perennial

Liliaceae

Erythronium tuolumnense

Tuolumne dog's tooth violet

Hardy bulbous perennial

Liliaceae

Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'

Cypress spurge 'Fens Ruby'

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Euphorbiaceae