This scheme promotes experiencing plants through a variety of senses. The fragrant Lonicera provides scent in winter, the Syringa in spring and the roses in summer. The textural and tactile qualities of the Stipa and Stachys provide other sensory interest throughout the year. There is plenty of visual impact throughout the seasons too.

The Lonicera, Syringa, Verbena and Stachys also attract pollinators, helping to increase your garden’s biodiversity.

The Stachys will provide groundcover, which helps to reduce soil surface erosion and moisture loss as well as aiding in weed suppression.

Using an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, while the plants establish can help to provide the same benefits. Avoid spreading bagged potting compost on beds and borders. Mulches should be spread when the soil is already moist to help trap some of that moisture before it dries out in summer.

1- Rosa GERTRUDE JEKYLL 

2 - Lonicera fragrantissima

3 - Syringa ‘Red Pixie’

4 - Verbena bonariensis

5 - Stipa tenuissima 

6 - Stachys byzantina

2 - Lonicera fragrantissima provides the central height and structure of the scheme and has beautifully fragrant, pale yellow-white blooms in late winter, with repeat flowering if deadheaded. 

3 - Syringa ‘Red Pixie’ provides spring interest with sweetly scented lilac-pink flowers. If lightly pruned after flowering, a second flush of flowers can appear later in the season. 

4 - Verbena bonariensis has heads of bright purple flowers held high on tall, wiry stems all summer. These allow a view through to planting behind.

5 - Stipa tenuissima has a spray of very narrow leaves and feathery plumes of flowers in summer. This gives a sense of movement in the breeze.  

6 - Stachys byzantina forms an evergreen groundcover of silvery leaves, covered in a soft furry layer of hairs. In summer, spikes of small purple-pink flowers nestle amongst silvery bracts on furry silvery stems.