New garden design in Streatham Hill
For this garden design, the client required soft exuberant planting with a high volume of flowers, a concealed play area for the children to play in, and that it be low in maintenance.
Flowering plants sit beside, elegant grasses, fruits and fragranced herbs, offering continued interest annually.
Planting preview
Phlomis italica
Also known as Balearic Island Sage.
A personal favourite genus of mine, however, Phlomis italica is the star performer in my opinion. The woolly grey leaves and rose coloured tubular hooded flowers are both soft and graceful in appearance.
This evergreen shrub requires full sun and well-drained soil.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’
The brief requested a large volume of big flowers – this Hydrangea displays beautiful cone-shaped white, then later pink flowers, that look stunning in their dried state during winter.
Planting for this deciduous bushy shrub is best in full sun to semi-shade, in well-drained soil.
Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’
I greatly appreciate this grass for its soft appearance and graceful movement.
Also is known as Chinese fountain grass, It’s a clump-forming and hardy specimen. The flower heads baring a soft, ethereal appearance, contrasting pink to brownish from summer until autumn.
Ensure to cut down dry grass during late winter to early spring.
Iris germanica ‘Sultan’s Palace’
This rhizomatous perennial is a stunning bearded iris reaching a height of 70cm.
The foliage is sword like and blue-green in colouration. Fragrant, rich maroon coloured and velvety flowers appear from May until June.
All Iris germanica make exceedingly good companions to ornamental grasses.
