Dense Plantings for Wild Beauty

Lessons from a talented gardener

Istvan Dudas , who designs and maintains a private garden in the UK , has share images from the garden where he works with us several times ( insure out the most recent billet here ) , and I ’m always thrilled to have more , because every metre I see range of a function of his employment , I come away inspired and excited for things to try in my own garden .

A cloud of beautiful sages . In the front , a darkSalviaguarantica(Zones 7–10 or as an yearly ) , which is a sage from South America . Behind it to the leftover isclary sage(Salviasclarea , Zones 5–9 ) with argent - pink flowers and bracts . This sage is native to Europe and is a biennial , uprise a rosette of leaf the first year and then this marvelous explosion of flowers in the second year . It is n’t get a line much in American gardens but deserves to be produce more . Behind them both is another European salvia , the perennialSalvianemorosa(Zones 4–9 ) with its narrow spires of violet blooms .

Spires of foxglove ( Digitalispurpurea , Zones 4–9 ) andLysimachiaatropurpurea(Zones 4–8 ) line with the round flower heads of theornamental onion(Allium ) behind them .

More clary sage blooming in the garden . Much of the colour comes from the long - lasting bracts , not just the flowers themselves . This stool a big assertion in the garden over a long period .

Istvan ’s panache is very lush , very full , and a little wild . The spilling of the plants over the edges of this stone path pass the look of the plants remove over a little .

But sometimes simplicity rules . immense hedges of lavender ( Lavandula ) in full , fragrant efflorescence contrast with a planting of just low - growing silver and white .

A arras of silver , blue , and whitened foliage and flowers make a arresting background for these luxuriously colored poppy blossoms ( Papaverrhoeas , annual ) .

It is unvoiced to grow delphiniums ( Delphiniumelatum , Zones 3–7 ) to this level of uttermost looker and perfection unless you garden somewhere with very cool summers . But if you have the climate for them , they are some of the most beautiful plants in the humans . Delphiniums can depend very stiff and formal , but by placing them in an airy swarm of other flowers , Istvan weaken them and helps them blend in with the sleep of the garden .

This planting could look messy and disorderly , but keep the colouring material limited to shades of red , pink , and white bring in harmony and one .

My number one object lesson from Istvan ’s planting : make full every column inch ! There is no bare ground here , no visible mulch , and by packing in plants densely , he creates a racy , peak - fill borderthat just looks amazing .

Have photos to apportion ? We ’d have a go at it to see your garden , a finicky collection of plants you love , or a terrific garden you had the chance to confabulate !

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