ADDING DRAMA

Sarah wants to enjoy her garden, not be a slave to it, so she’s chosen undemanding, rewarding plants that thrive in the available light levels – sun or partial shade – and cope in London clay. The only exception is the yew hedge, which sulks in the wet clay soil but is such an excellent evergreen structural plant that Sarah is persevering with it. She’s also kept to a limited colour palette, repeating plants to link different areas. Here are some that are not only performing well, but also adding drama and helping to soften the grey hardstanding: Bay standards (Laurus nobilis) metre-high stems add a strong framework with aromatic leaves. Honey spurge (Euphorbia mellifera) is a fast-growing perennial that forms rounded clumps with bronze, honeyscented flowers in spring. Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), also known as box-leaved holly, has small, shiny, wavy-toothed leaves that are easily clipped. Laurustinus (Viburnus tinus) has glossy easily clipped leaves, with creamy flowers in winter. Multi-stemmed cherry (Prunus serrula) has a graceful silhouette when stripped of foliage in winter, revealing mahogany-hued bark. Olive trees (Olea europaea) are fast-growing evergreens with silvery leaves on whippy stems that move easily in the breeze. Osmanthus (Osmanthus x burkwoodii) is a slow-growing, rounded shrub with tiny white flowers that smell beautiful in spring. Good box substitute. Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’) is a shade-loving perennial with heart-shaped silver leaves and sprays of mini blue flowers. Silver spear (Astelia chathamica) forms clumps of spiky, silvery, sword-shaped leaves. Tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) have stout woolly stems topped with long fronds that cast dappled light on the ground below.