The inspiration for choosing these 21 favourite garden plants is the occasion of a twenty-first birthday; specifically, Lucy, Plews Garden Design’s illustrator and design assistant (and Marie’s daughter) reaching the grand age of 21 this weekend.
Once the list of flowers, fruit and trees was put together I realised that the combination was almost a ‘beginner’s pack’ for a garden. The choice of plants would suit most soils, and the selection would give interest at all times of the year.
Lucy (also known as Rory in her art work) adores fruit, so the number of favourite garden plants that were both ornamental and edible meant we had also created a plant list that was multi-purpose. A useful attribute in many gardens, especially town gardens and those on new build estates, where the gardens need to provide for a range of family activities and still look good – and probably be an easy maintenance garden too.
The list of twenty-one favourite garden plants is broken into Edible plants, the fruit and vegetables; Herbs and lastly Ornamental plants. Each section is arranged alphabetically.
Fruit
The fruit trees are all available as standard fruit trees, cordons, which are single stemmed trees on dwarfing rootstock and espalier / fan trained. Choose varieties that are best suited to your locality, and check whether the fruit tree is self-fertile or needs a pollinator.
Apple
Culinary apples such as Coxes and Lord Lambourne are among Lucy’s favourites; and she also adores apple crumble. If you also like to eat apples fresh and cook with them, a dual purpose apple variety such as Malus ‘Charlotte’ would be a good choice in small gardens or against a fence.
Blueberry
Unless you have an acid soil with a pH of 5.5, you’ll get the best blueberry crop by growing the fruit in large pots or a designated raised bed filled with ericaceous compost. Choose at least three blueberry bushes, an early, mid and late season variety, to extend the harvest period.
Cherry
Spitting cherry stones has been an annual competition between Lucy and her sister for so long I’m surprised we don’t have a cherry orchard! Prunus ‘Stella’ is a reliable, self-pollinating variety.
Mange tout
I tend to grow a few mange tout plants by the front garden path for easy picking as the family walk past. Okay, so you may not gather up a bowlful for supper, but if getting your children to eat vegetables is a problem, this could be a solution.
Melon
At the Lost Gardens of Heligan, there was great excitement at the thought of a melon yard, but these days it isn’t full of this delicious sweet and juicy fruit. Although needing warmth and sun, melons are fairly easy to grow at home; you may need a greenhouse or cold frame for the fruit to ripen.
Strawberry
As with the blueberries, choose early, mid and late season strawberries to enjoy this juicy fruit from late May to the end of July. Trailing strawberries can be grown in hanging baskets hung in a sunny spot. Theoretically, I make jam from our home grown strawberries, but someone keeps eating them (and it isn’t the Border Collie!)
and not exactly fruit
Rhubarb
The other favourite fruit crumble, is rhubarb crumble or ‘rubber crumble’. Rhubarb is probably one of those ‘marmite’ edible plants – you either love it or hate. I’ve been informed that we don’t have enough, so I’ll be investigating the ‘perpetual’ rhubarb, from which it seems you are able to pick stems from virtually all year. Botanically speaking, rhubarb is a vegetable not a fruit
Tomato
Cherry tomatoes are the favourite with our birthday girl. Both the little red jewels and the more unusual yellow pear shaped tomatoes. As with the strawberries, if space is short, tumbling tomatoes grow well in a hanging basket. Unlike rhubarb, tomatoes are a fruit, but we eat them as a salad vegetable.
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Herbs
Herbs are so adaptable it’s no wonder they’re among our favourite garden plants.
Lavender
Why should you grow lavender? Lucy replied: “The bees love the flowers; it makes the chest of drawers smell lovely all winter; and I love your lavender shortbread” Sums it up really.
Nepeta
Nepeta cataria is the true ‘catnip’. Both the fresh and dried leaves send cats into delight, much to someone’s amusement…If entertaining cats isn’t your goal, then the shrubbier Nepeta ‘six hills giant’ will be popular with bees and provide purple flowers from May to September.
Rosemary
It is obviously a good in cooking both added to roast lamb in the oven or thrown on a summer BBQ. Rosemary does aid memory, so a sprig on the desk when revising for exams is helpful. As an evergreen shrub it adds an aromatic air to your garden all year round.
Thyme
The woody herby aroma of thyme when you walk on a small area of herb lawn is a delight. The bees love the flowers – and thyme honey if you can find it is a real treat.
Ornamental Plants
Cornus
The cornus in question is the one whose common name is dog wood, with coloured winter stems. Cornus siberica has bright red stems that positively glow in the winter sunlight.
Dianthus
Cottage garden pinks with their delicious clove scent and light grey, evergreen foliage are a firm favourite.
Eucalyptus
A surprising choice perhaps, but for my children our eucalyptus tree held the tree house. If you only have limited space, coppicing the eucalyptus will give you the attractive juvenile foliage much loved by flower arrangers.
Jasmine
Back to scent again! Jasmine manages to remind us of holidays abroad even though it’s hardy in our garden. The artist in Lucy (Rory!) likes the shadows cast by the twining stems.
Narcissus
Daffodils are spring flowering bulbs, and those with yellow trumpet flowers blooming for St David’s Day on March 1st mean Welsh cakes sizzling on the griddle.
Pelargonium
Also known as a ‘pot geranium’ these tender perennials are usually found as bedding plants or in patio pots. The scented leaf pelargoniums that fill our conservatory have a homely smell it seems.
Rose
Red rose, white rose, climbing rose or shrub rose – the critical factor for Lucy as for most of us is that the flower should be highly fragrant. Preferably a repeat flowering rose so as to enjoy the scent throughout the summer. Roses are in her top three favouorite garden plants.
Salvia
The blackcurrant sage, Salvia macrophylla with deep red-pink flowers from May to October is a welcome addition to any garden. The aromatic foliage is edible and can be added to salads and cook summer drinks. No wonder it’s a favourite.
Stipa tenuissima
Ponytail grass (bit of an animal trend going on) planted in small groups of five this adds movement to a flower border.
Soil -a crucial factor in your garden
With the exception of the blueberries, which need an acid soil, all these flowers, shrubs and trees are fairly tolerant with regards to soil ph, so long as the soil is in ‘good heart’, ie free draining and nutritious.
Indeed, if you’re planning on creating a new garden or even a new border, it pays to get your soil right first, before planting. Otherwise you’re wasting money on the new garden plants as they will not thrive. This is especially the case when you are planting shrubs and trees as they are likely to remain undisturbed for some years.
and finally …
I hope this list has given you some ideas for your own garden. Many of these favourite garden plants are written about in more detail in other blogs some are mentioned below or use the search facility.
And if you need some help designing a flower border or a whole new garden, do please get in touch.
Or perhaps you would like help with learning more about your garden and gardening? Why not ask about our bespoke Gardening Lessons, where your classroom is actually your own garden. We can help you learn gardening basics, carry out worm and other experiments and also show you how to plan an ornamental border or kitchen garden. They make a good birthday present!
And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on InstagramPinterest and Facebook too.
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