12 KEY PLANTS
1 Lilium hansonii
Bella uses this lily to follow on from ‘Ballerina’ tulips, to provide a continuation of orange before the hotter colours of July get going. 1.2m. RHS H6†.
2 Geranium phaeum var. lividum ‘Majus’
Bella loves the pale-lavender flowers of this delicate geranium. It is tolerant of shade, flowers abundantly, and is extremely useful on a dry bank in front of shrubs. RHS H7. 3 Aconitum ‘Stainless Steel’
With its wonderful, steely-blue flowers, this picks up the colour of a nearby Amsonia and looks lovely with the acid green of euphorbias or Alchemilla mollis. 1.2m. AGM*. RHS H7. 4 Geranium pratense ‘Midnight Reiter’
A cultivar that Bella values for the striking markings on its dark leaves. She acquired it from a local GP-turned-nurseryman, via her local garden society. 50cm. RHS H7.
5 Paeonia lactiflora ‘Festiva Maxima’
An old cultivar with enormous double flowers that have a delicious fragrance and will grow in sun or partial shade provided the soil is rich and well drained. 95cm. AGM. RHS H6. 6 Cotinus ‘Grace’
A smoke bush that does best in a wild space. Bella loves its combination of deep-purple foliage and the frothing ‘smoke’ of its summer flowers. 8m. RHS H5.
7 Verbascum ‘Petra’
This came from a Chelsea garden Bella designed with other students in 2004 as part of her design course. She has increased its stock to include it in many parts of the garden. 75cm. 8 Cephalaria gigantea
Bella finds this plant so reliable and generous. Its pale-yellow daisies are a wonderful way to lighten the backdrop of an evergreen hedge. 2m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b.
9 Stipa tenuissima
A pretty grass that will soften any planting. It seeds itself generously, but is easy to control if you pull up the strays regularly. 60cm. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 7a-10b.
10 Lilium martagon
A happy accident, this was supposed to be Lilium hansonii but was muddled by the supplier. Bella keeps a sharp eye out to protect it from lily beetles. 1.5m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. 11 Allium flavum
A lovely, pale-yellow alternative to the more usual purple alliums, which grows happily in the sharp drainage of Pie Corner’s Gravel Garden. 40cm. AGM. RHS H5. 12 Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Kokuryu’
Slow to get going, and definitely needs sharp drainage in this garden, but it is wonderful when it flowers, and makes a smart, grassy edge to paving. 20cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.