|
 When
restyling a garden, people tend to think
of building a crazily-paved path or adding
a gazebo. However, architectural plants
can bring natural, new elements of style
and structure to any garden. Mike Wilkinson,
director of The Garden Path and horticultural
researcher on BBC1's daytime TV garden makeover
programme 'Garden Invaders' points out:
"Architectural plants are important
as they create height and interest from
all angles of your garden. Instead of a
flat and linear area, architectural plants
add much more depth to a garden."
If
you think of your garden as a room, then architectural plants are
the large permanent residents - the furniture - while the flowers
and other short-lived smaller plants are the ornaments. Use your
architectural plants as focal points at key locations or at the
very back of a boarder for full, dramatic effect. But remember that
architectural plants can be prima donnas, and they need their supporting
cast of smaller flowers and shrubs.
The
choice of architectural plant is yours, but there are some qualifying
traits that a plant should have for inclusion. In particular, it
should have a strong and distinctive shape, both of the leaves and
of the overall growth pattern. It is also helpful if the plant is
evergreen, or with a distinctive winter presence - such as bark
colouration or shape of branches - so that your garden doesn't become
dull in the winter.
Make
specimens like bamboo, Dicksonia antarctica, Cordyline 'Torbay Dazzler'
and Phormium tenax 'Aurora' the focal points and try to arrange
them so that the effect changes with the season.
Deciduous
shrubs with foliage that has a pleasant autumn colour such as Acer
palmatum dissectum 'Autropupureum' or Hammelis mollis will do the
trick and help to give your garden an interesting shape throughout
the year.
Although
there are no golden rules, you'll soon get a feel for what looks
good. Ruth Marshall, director of CoolGardens Landscaping Limited
says: "Architectural planting can massively enhance a garden
if carried out with some care and thought.
"As
a general rule do not mix the planting styles - I have seen large
(and expensive) architectural plants, such as bamboos and palms,
planted in the midst of deciduous woodland planting - the result
looks dreadful.
"But
no rule is absolute and I have planted the broadest of architectural
plants - the gunnera or giant hog weed - with roses very successfully."
Overall,
have fun experimenting with these plants, and enjoy creating a place
of style and originality you can be proud of.
| Architectural
Plants |
|
The
following plants are reliable in most soils in most regions
and are widely available:
Phormium
tenax - New Zealand Flax
This seems to be one of the 'in' plants of the
moment - and you can see why. It has massive, evergreen sword-shaped
leaves up to 10ft long in green, purple or multi-coloured
varieties. This plant will grow large - up to 10-12ft across,
and lies firmly in the 'strangely striking' rather than 'traditionally
pretty' category.
Bamboos
Although commonly believed to be invasive and difficult
to keep going, this group of graceful grasses has the advantage
of being unaffected by any of the pests or diseases that are
found in this country. So long as you don't place them in
overly windy locations they'll thrive and give an interesting
form and texture to your garden.
Cordateria selloana - Pampas grass
Beloved of the 70s housing estate, this plant has earned a
bad press of late. But it doesn't deserve it - plant it on
the margins of your garden or at the back of a mixed border
and its natural vigour and height will combine to give you
a pleasant effect all year round.
Euphorbia myrsinites
A prostrate creeper with blue-green leaves, yellow flowers
in spring and growing up to 4ft in height, this little beauty
goes well with spiky plants or against rock and gravel. Give
it plenty of drainage and sit back and enjoy!
Gunneria manicata - Giant Rhubarb
Not one that you can serve up to the folks with custard for
Sunday lunch, but its name suits it well. Originally found
in the South American jungles, its enormous leaves, which
measure up to 6ft across, are a wonderful addition to any
garden that has sufficient space to accommodate it.
|
MORE
INFORMATION
CoolGardens
Landscaping limited. Tel: 01958 523004. www.coolgardens.co.uk
The Garden Path. Tel: 01985 851076. www.thegardenpath.org.uk.
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