SE12 London – Architectural back garden

SE12 London – Architectural back garden

Design considerations and challenges:

  • Approx 25sqm newly made up beds
  • Open aspect with plenty of light
  • Climbers to cover the new pergola for shade
  • Plants to create screening to the lawned area of the garden
  • Install Everedge edging to all beds
  • Include existing plants into the scheme

The Brief

This scheme was for the same client who had asked me to design their front garden.

The brief this time was to create a planting scheme with an architectural and structural feel for the back garden. The planting was to complement the recently installed patio and pergola incorporating the existing 3 Acers and Cornus controversa. A particular wish was for a scented rose to be incorporated.

The planting scheme palette consists of mauves, silvers and whites, greenish-yellow, with pops of magentas creating a relaxing space to sit in and enjoy. Acers, Phormium, Echinacea, Hylotelephium, Euphorbia and Salvia add architectural drama and height. Persicaria and grasses soften the strong architectural shapes.

The garden is seen from the living room and kitchen year-round and it was important to create interest in all seasons. Faded grasses, the white stems of Perovskia, dead flower heads of the Hylotephium and Echinacea, evergreen groundcover and small shrubs and small trees offer structure and colour in winter. Hellebores, Geranium macrorrhizum, Tiarella and bulbs provide uplifting colour in winter through to late spring.

Key plants used

Shrubs: Phormium ‘Platt’s black’ / Sambucus nigra / Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ / Hebe rakaiensis
Perennials: Alchemilla mollis / Geranium macrorrhizum / Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’ / Agapanthus africanus / Stachys byzantina / Nepeta / Perovskia / Salvia caradonna / Echinacea / Helleborus niger / Hakonechloa / Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Darjeeling Red'
Bulbs: Allium mixed and Tulipa ‘Green star’ and ‘Queen of night’
Climbers: Akebia quinata / Rose 'Ghislaine de Feligonde'