Textural tapestry

Sweeps of prairie planting, architectural forms and vibrant combinations fill the garden landscape at Shalford House as the autumn reaches a crescendo of colours

With late-season borders and an arboretum, this Sussex garden is a joy as summer comes to an end

The extensive gardens surrounding the characterful Shalford House, in Sussex, were covered in fir trees when Sir Vernon Ellis and his wife Lady Hazel moved here in 1991. ‘Most of the trees were dead two-thirds of the way up, there were overgrown chestnut coppices, but the garden had some nice features and, although I could see the challenges, it had potential,’ recalls Sir Vernon. Although he has always nurtured an interest in gardening and plants, this was the largest garden Sir Vernon had tried to tackle. Set on a southfacing, steeply sloping site with a high water table, boggy areas and acidic, heavy Weald clay soil, there were indeed challenges to be met. After removing around 1,500 trees, the couple called in Surrey garden designer Sally Court to create the layout and planting plan. ‘It looked like a WWI battlefield when we removed the trees,’ Sir Vernon recalls, but gradually, over time, and with the addition of copious amounts of new topsoil, the 10 acres have been cultivated on this picturesque hilly setting, backed with views to the surrounding woodland.

Flowing out from the house, stone paving adorned with seasonal containers now makes a welcoming alfresco dining area and viewing point over the garden. Sentinels of paired topiary bay trees, arctotis and begonias define the steps that lead down to an expansive lawn.

This verdant area is supported by a retaining wall and edged in deep herbaceous borders. In late summer through autumn, they billow with mauve asters, repeated clumps of crimson Sedum spectabile, dancing Japanese anemones, clusters of dahlias and a variety of rich-toned salvias – a particular favourite of Sir Vernon’s. ‘Inspired by a fine bed that we saw at Kew Gardens, we also ➤

have a dedicated border by the house of around 30 varieties of salvias,’ he explains.

The land then contours down, with an intersecting stream that was created to lead to an existing pond that was cleared and enlarged. Water is prevalent throughout the garden, from frequent springs to boggy areas; even the property’s water supply is drawn from a well, so that there is no need for mains water.

Beyond the grassy slope, you discover another paved level area with balustrades, called the opera terrace. Overlooking the woodland beyond, it echoes a balcony in the theatre. Appropriate, too, as Sir Vernon was Chairman of the English National Opera for many years and was knighted for his services to music in 2011.

Here, the planting, developed by head gardener James Stevenson who came to Shalford in 2004, is fittingly flamboyant. Architectural cannas, including the deep foliaged ‘Black Knight’ with its velvety red flowers, stripy ‘Durban’ and watermelon-pink-flowered ‘Iridiflora’ make striking statements. They are accompanied by Hedychium ‘Devon Cream’, zingy dahlias ‘Libretto’ and ‘Don Hill’, red spires of Salvia confertiflora, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, strappy phormiums, and exotic yuccas lending an almost tropical air. ‘James’ idea to use lots of hot colours is very vibrant and I think works well here,’ says Sir Vernon.

What also sets this garden apart is the largescale prairie planting that flows down one side of the sloping site, reaching its crescendo of texture and colour late in the autumn season. ‘Designed by nurserywoman Marina Christopher, the effect is based on the planting themes of Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, with huge drifts blending into one another,’ says James.

The shimmer of the palette of plants is quite mesmerising as you watch the interplay of light on spires of Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’, Sanguisorba officinalis and Veronicastrum virginicum with daisy-shaped asters, heleniums and rudbeckias, against the parchment foil of the ornamental grasses, such as the atmospheric Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ and feathery Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’. Many of the plants have been selected because they thrive in the moist, rich acidic soil, including the beautiful Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea

‘Variegata’, prolific Eupatorium maculatum

‘Purple Bush’, and the ethereal Thalictrum delavayi, along with ones that cope with sun or part shade in a range of soils, in particular the frothy Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’.

At the base of the cultivated landscape is a small sunken garden room with bubbling individual water features, surrounded by ornamental grasses. This sheltered, hidden spot is a veritable suntrap perfect for catching the rays of late summer sun, while enjoying the sound of the running water.

Sir Vernon and Lady Hazel clearly enjoy the garden as much as they can. ‘We like to relax, wander around, sit out on the main lawn or under the shade of the birch,’ says Sir Vernon. ‘It is lovely sitting with a glass of wine by the orangery, heated by the wall, drinking in the garden views.’ ➤

Tips from The gardener

● Follow the contours of the land and break up the areas into doable projects.

● Ensure each section flows and works together for an overall look.

● Use any natural water in a garden to create ponds and waterfalls.

● Even if your soil is damp you can create a prairie effect with moisture-loving grasses and perennials.

● Keep the colour going with an abundance of tough, reliable late-season plants.

in The area

● Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming, Surrey GU8 4AD. National Trust preserved woodland with glorious autumn colour from the Japanese, American and Norwegian maples. Open daily. Adults £8.10; children £4. Tel: 01483 208477; nationaltrust.org.uk/winkworth-arboretum

● West Dean Gardens, West Dean, West Sussex PO18 0Rx.walled restored vegetable and fruit garden, woodland and Harold Peto garden.

Open February to December. Admission from £5.75. Tel: 01243 818210; westdean.org.uk/gardens

● Parham House and Gardens, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 4HS. Stunning perennial borders and gardens around an Elizabethan house. Open April to October. Adults £9, children £5. Tel: 01903

742 021; parhaminsussex.co.uk

● Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP. Historic garden with roses, woodland and an Italian garden. Open March to October. Adults £8.55; children £5.70. Tel: 01444 450326; bordehill.co.uk

The characterful cottage sits at the top of the land overlooking the garden, and is set off by a small terrace with descending steps adorned with pots of gazanias and begonias, and planted beds of sedum, berberis, salvias, watsonia, hebe and erigeron. Once surrounded by thousands of trees, the gardens have gradually been cultivated into colourful areas of varied planting

Above: Sir Vernon and Lady Ellis among the salvia collectionRight: Planting is in layers with prunus, cornus, elaeagnus and tactile Hylotelephium spectabile(sedum, or ice plant) forming fringing clumps along the bedsOpposite: Viewed through burgundy cotinus and berberis, trimmed topiary punctuates the lawn border that billows with crimson salvias and penstemons, along with deeperHylotelephium spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’ and harmonising panicles of blue Aconitum napellus

Clockwise from left: A bench is placed to enjoy the arching sprays of the appropriately named fountain grass, pennisetum, which surrounds the small water feature; dainty mauve-blue symphyotrichum or Michaelmas daisies are brilliant for the autumn garden and combine strikingly with massed golden rudbeckias; nodding blooms of the prolific Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, or purple bell vine