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Help needed!

• Message 1. 

  Posted by PennyMay (U14879852) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  I am setting out a cottage garden style bed and need some help choosing a tallish plant that I can use as a focal point in the middle that will give some structure all year. I don't want a tree but need something about 2-3m tall.
  
  The plot is on a south facing slope and can get battered a bit by winds as there is nothing tall nearby to shield the garden. The soil is slightly acidic, moist but free draining.
  
  Any suggestions greatfully received!

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by pottiepam (U11118368) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  I like cardoons. They do die down in the winter but have big silver leaves and purple thistle like flowers. The flowers can last all winter in a dried form to give a bit of structure and look good with frost on them.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  3m is quite tall for a focal point, which possibly should be in proportion to the size of the garden. So it sounds like a large plot.
  
  First thought was a buddlea. Not very original, and not particularly eye-catching, but the right size, and certainly a butterfly attractant.
  
  As the previous reply suggests (message 2 - cardoons), a patch of large robust plants would make a good focal point. Many true cottage garden plants (like cardoons) are large and robust. There's a lot of scope. A patch of - evening primrose, buphthalmum (very architectural), circium rivulere (red thistles), teasel (a bit coarse, but it works), etc, etc. If you look in a seed catalogue for plants described as 'good for back of border', then those plants would be suitable. A bunch of massed hollyhocks would be good (you might have problems with wind). Though most of those plants would struggle to make 6 feet.
  
  If the garden is large, then you also have other choices, such as bench beneath an arbour of roses and clematis (definitely the best choice); or a rustic obelisk with roses and clematis (roses don't flower for very long).
  
  Perhaps a statue on a plinth, perhaps a 'green man'.
  
  There was a wildlife garden at Chelsea last week (wildlife garden is not quite the same thing as cottage). As a focal point, they had a statue of two jumping hares, which was quite original.
  
  Or something made from living willow poles, stuck in the ground.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by madeleineR (U14451255) on Saturday, 4th June 2011

  How about a red leaved cotinus (smokebush) which is stunning in spring/summer and autumn and grows to at least 2m? Anything you plant against that would stand out really well
  
  madeleine
  

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• Message 5

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  Posted by groundelder (U11750698) on Sunday, 5th June 2011

  Bear's Breeches (acanthus?) is a good structural plant with lovely purple/lilac flower spikes, but needs space.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Barmbyrover (U6349892) on Monday, 6th June 2011

  Acanthus is very persistant and difficult to remove once in, make sure you really want it! 2-3m tall is a hard one, unless you go for some of the very tall species of Mecanopsis I have seen yellow versions and red ones in Scotland about 2m tall. Another one you may be interested in is growing Helianthus giganteus, very tall with flowers that bees would love.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Barmbyrover (U6349892) on Monday, 6th June 2011

  Having had another few minutes to think, how about a globe artichoke? Tall, silvery foliage, nice purple flowers, and edible! A perfect cottage garden plant!

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• Message 8

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  Posted by crouchee (U13371975) on Thursday, 9th June 2011

  How about going modern cottagy and adding miscanthus to the mix? It would love your situation and give winter structure through till daffodil time. A tall panicum such as North Wind or Shenandoah would also work well.
  If not grasses, how about Ilex JC Van Tol?

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• Message 9

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  Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Wednesday, 15th June 2011

  You want cottage garden style and height with year round structure?
  
  Look no further than an apple tree. Either for fruit, or crab apple for blossom and wildlife. On dwarfing rootstock, you can find a suitable size. It does mean mail-order, to get something specific.

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by flowerchild (U14083640) on Monday, 20th June 2011

  I think Cornus kousa or Cornus alternifolia would look lovely in a cottage garden type bed. Nice foliage and the flowers are gorgeous. Later in the season they have small fruits.
  

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