Expert Oudolf calls for gardeners to adopt ‘naturalistic planting’

IF you like swathes of ornamental grasses, rubbing shoulders with perennials that look like they’ve been planted together all their lives, then Piet Oudolf is the expert garden designer to follow.

He is among the leaders of the naturalistic planting movement, favouring ornamental grasses which provide movement and structure throughout the year, accented with vibrant perennials that bring colour and form. His drifts of grasses create a soft, misty background for other plants.

Oudolf – who has designed gardens across the world, from RHS Wisley in Surrey to Pensthorpe in Norfolk and “Ground Zero” on Manhattan Island – is encouraging us all to go natural, with a new iconic Horticultural Heroes feature at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this summer.

The Dutch designer is creating a whimsical walk-through feature, using bold drifts of herbaceous perennials and grasses synonymous with his style.

“To achieve a naturalistic style, the planting has to look more spontaneous than classical plantings,” he says. “It has to look composed, but not wild, it must be integrated.”

Here, RHS chief horticulturist, Guy Barter – who points out that using tall handsome plants in drifts requires space and abundant sun – has put together five of Oudolf’s favourite plants and a guide to growing them...

Monarda ‘Beauty of Cobham’

This plant has tall, gorgeous pink summer flowers beloved by pollinators, and purplish leaves that tend to exceed 90cm in shady spots, so good supports are advisable in domestic gardens. It appreciates watering to fend off mildew and keep it flowering well. The monarda looks best in groups of three (or more, if at all possible).

If you’re looking for late summer flowers, coneflowers are a wonderful addition to colour your borders. They are a magnet for pollinators, producing pink flowers around a dark ‘cone’ - as long as the soil is not too dry and they are well staked, as the 1.2m stems can be weak in gardens and tend to topple. They require full sun to thrive.

Lythrum salicaria ‘Swirl’

With spikes of pink flowers on 80cm stems, this very robust plant likes dampish soils and will put up with light shade. One for the wilder parts of the border that will flower freely if the spent spikes are cut out.

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Dear Anja’

Blue and purple flowers and scented foliage make this tall 90cm plant a good choice for sunny borders. It’s drought-resistant but one for warm sheltered southern gardens, unless cuttings can be taken and kept indoors over winter.

Veronica longifolia ‘Pink Eveline’

Veronica longifolia ‘Pink Eveline’ produces magenta flower spikes borne over a long period from mid-summer, although you’ll need to deadhead it regularly. This graceful plant will attract bees and other pollinators, and is also a favourite among flower arrangers. It grows to around 60cm tall.