THE FILL-IN FLOWERS
Perennials
After the tall, structural plants are in place, the ‘fill-in’ perennials can be planted into the spaces left, plus salvias of every different shape and size, echinacea, southern favourite peony roses, dahlias, and Iberis sempervirens Candytuft.
Bulbs
“Spring kicks off the season with my favourite bulbs; snowdrops, bluebells, and tulips. I have hundreds of the tulip Pink Diamond, and I love having white tulips flowering in the shady areas. They give such a burst of light. I have masses of daffodils, honesty, primula, oriental poppies, and bearded iris.”
Foliage
For foliage, she recommends the Cineraria Silverdust, also known as silver ragwort, for its striking presence in the garden and vase. It grows to small shrub height.
Another terrific foliage plant – more of a small tree – is the Eucalyptus Baby Blue which she keeps trimmed into a 1m x 1m shape.
She also loves miscanthus, which has a toitoi-like head but is somewhat smaller and upright.
Cotinus, or smoke bush, is a largish shrub but provides good spring foliage, and so does Myrtus Red Dragon.
Berberis has a place in a picking garden for its autumn colour despite its nasty prickles. Use a columnar form which doesn’t take too much space, such as Berberis Maria which, as a bonus, has luminous yellow leaves throughout the seasons. Sally says it’s as though light is shining from within the bush.
She prizes Physocarpus Shady Lady for its useful red foliage both in the garden and vase.
“One of my favourite plants (I know, I know! I have so many favourites, but I really do), is the Cornus alba which, in winter has striking long, straight red stems and can be massed into a vase for a very sculptural look that will last for months.”
Sally says to note Cornus alba is “rather invasive and needs to have space.”
The alliums
Another in Sally’s list of ‘treat’ plants is anything from the ornamental Allium family. However, they can be hard to find so occasionally she leaves ordinary old spring onions to flower.
“They have a marvellously structured head as do chives and plain onions which are also part of the allium family. These flowers are also sought-after by bees. I think all ornamental alliums are just a treat. I see at the Chelsea Flower Show this year they are all the rage. That’s where I first saw them, years ago, and I’ve just had to have them in my garden ever since.”