Height is provided by the central Elaeagnus, whilst all the plants contribute to year-round seasonal colour. The Geranium will provide ground cover and help prevent erosion of bare soil. The ground cover can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and will help to suppress weed growth.  

Additional organic mulching, preferably with homemade compost, can further help with soil moisture retention and weed suppression. Avoid spreading bagged potting compost on beds and borders. 

The plants in this scheme will attract a variety of beneficial insects to your garden. Including a variety of different flowering times and flower shapes will attract a wide variety of pollinators over time.

1 - Escallonia ‘Iveyi’

2 - Salvia rosmarinus ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’

3 - Elaeagnus x submacrophylla ‘Gilt Edge’

4 - Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’

5 - Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosí'

6 - Geranium oxonianum ‘A.T. Johnson’

2 - Salvia rosmarinus ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’ is an evergreen shrub with aromatic, dark green leaves, paler beneath. Small, light blue flowers are borne mainly in spring and summer.

3 - Elaeagnus x submacrophylla ‘Gilt Edge’ is an evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and yellow margins. Small, highly fragrant, silvery flowers appear in autumn and are sometimes followed by orange berries. 

4 - Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ forms a domed shrub with dark green leaves that contrast with showy panicles of red buds in late winter, opening to fragrant white flowers in spring.

5 - Salvia microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’ is an evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves and tubular magenta-pink flowers from mid-summer to late autumn.

6 - Geranium oxonianum ‘A.T. Johnson’ is a clump-forming perennial, with lobed, mid-green leaves. Pale silver-pink flowers are borne freely over a long period from early summer.