Plants in Biosis: Mode of Life Garden

“A statement plant with semi evergreen spiny rosettes that resemble agaves. Very hardy from our experience and towering flower spikes in summer make it a valuable drought tolerant statement plant with height.”

A handsome evergreen perennial forming a rosette of sharply toothed, sword-shaped leaves, with small, green thimble-like flower-heads on branched stems in late summer.

“Sulphur Clover has creamy bottlebrush heads atop trifoliate leaflets. Great for pollinators and a relative of our native clover. Adds a wild touch, but with a difference. Very hardy and can be cut right back after flowering to encourage a second flush.”

A clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with trifoliate green leaves. Creamy-yellow flowers are borne in rounded flower heads in summer and are a good nectar source for bees and butterflies.

“A more ornamental version of our meadowsweet hedgerow native. Attractive palmate leaves and candy floss frothy flowers. Great for damp meadows and again very hardy. A good host for caterpillars of both moths and butterflies.”

An upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with vine-shaped dark green foliage. Clusters of tightly packed dark pink buds open to clouds of small, dark rose-pink flowers with feathery anthers in July and August.

“A very hardy plant that is great for filtering winds as a shelter belt. Striking silvery willow like leaves with bright orange berries that are very high in antioxidants and great for making cordial, jams and even for cosmetics. Edible and medicinal. Native to our coasts on the southeast, its roots are nitrogen fixing making it a great pioneer shrub that improves the soil for other plants to grow.”
 

“Big palmate leaves with red undersides and chunky tall flower spikes add a natural drama to plantings. Large leaves are great at changing conditions within a garden, shading and sheltering from the elements. It also provides a great structure and weight to planting schemes and is a good alternative to the usual (and now banned), invasive gunnera plants often seen at historic gardens by water.”