Disciplined. Minimalist. Uncompromising. The green and white garden is ideal if you prefer to keep life simple
White gardens are modern, sophisticated, cool and crisp. While many gardeners dismiss such apparent austerity as ‘boring’, the true monochrome minimalist is happy to detail just how many greens and whites there are to choose from, and the many challenges this presents. Within this restrained colour palette you can achieve an amazing array of different visual effects, chiefly the layering of foliage shapes, textures and different shades of green. Contrasting greens make a fascinating story in their own right, but don’t plant cool silver and warm gold variegated plants side by side or they’ll fight. Bring in silver-grey Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’, stachys, helianthemum ‘The Bride’, Convolvulus cneorum and white lavender, and you can brighten parched, sunny areas of the garden too.
Rise to the challenge of getting something in flower all year round and your borders will wax and wane. In spring
Astrantia major ‘Shaggy’ use white crocuses, tulips and foxgloves followed by white Clematis montana, lupins and astrantias, and, for autumn, white dahlias and elegant Japanese Anemone hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’.
By day your zen-like white and green garden affords a cool santuary; at dusk it will transform into a shimmering, magical space where white f lowers seem to float in the gloam. ✿
White wonders
Digitalis purpurea albiflora with wiry stems of Ammi majus, fluffy white astilbe ‘Brautschleier’, hosta ‘Fire and Ice’ and the big fat flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nymphe’