British Columbia: Plant suggestions for small southfacing plot

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here- please let me know if I can provide more info.

I'm planning to add a perennial garden in the 3x11' plot shown in the picture. It is southfacing, with a 4-5' fence and 13' laurel hedge behind. The sidewalk and townhouse gates on either side have fairly high pedestrian traffic. I'm hoping for suggestions of a few low lying perennials for the edge, as well as suitable perennials for against the fence, ideally a mix which would provide some interest year round.

Thanks for any help!
Nancy

 

If you use shrubs it will be easier to keep up. The best height is 1 1/2 times that of the width of the bed. So if the bed is 3' deep then shrubs would be nearly the height of the fence - something the blankness of the fence needs. Shrubs liking warmth include Abelia, Abeliophyllum, Arctostaphylos, Cistus - this last and various other Mediterranean as well as Californian types in particular might work out. With the laurel roots all through it planting might be quite a chore, maybe use edging or rocks to retain low strips or mounds of soil to be able to plant without hacking through roots.

 

The fence looks like a nice spot for an espaliered camellia or ceonothus (both spring flowering evergreens). For year round interest, I'm at a bit of a loss as far as perennials go. Most have short blooming seasons and most die back the ground in the winter. Hmmm... For short perennials along the front, perhaps some Iberis sempervirens (evergreen candytuft)? I'm having difficulty with taller perennials. How about some grasses? Blue Oat Grass or Miscanthus sinensis 'morning light'? I'll give it some more thought.

Incidentally, there is a house in my neighbourhood with a similar space and they just threw in a "Wildflower Mix" of seeds and it looked lovely... especially the red poppies that accented the other flowers in the mix beautifully. This solution has no winter interest however.

 

Thanks very much for your suggestions- both of you gave me some much needed food for thought!

Nancy