Garden Plants?

My son lives in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. His birthday is next month and he has asked me to take him to a local garden centre and buy him some plants to stock his ragged garden. The garden is east facing (so sunny, but also not that warm), he doesn't know what soil he has (acid, alkaline, chalky, etc) and i need to find some easy, low-maintenance plants for him, but also something with a bit of colour. I am compiling a list from the huge RHS book, but can anyone help me make that list a bit longer? Also, if i can't get them from a garden centre, what is a good website to order from?

Garden Plants?
My gardening tips are to create an easy to maintain garden with seasonal interest, rather than just a summer splash.





The plants that I use are:





Phormiums - come in range of leaf colours, variegated, green, reds to purple. Grows from 2' to 5' with large flower spikes, when established and in a good sunny spot. Spear shaped leaves.





Buddleia - the butterfly bush - showy flowers, attracted butterflies, from around June. Only need pruning hard, around Feb, then just let them riot. There's also a variegated form, with purple flowers, otherwise flower colours from white, pinks to purple.





Lavenders:there are alot of different types:


Hidcote is around 18'' tall, lovely dark blue flowers.


Old English: 'lavender' blue flowers, around 2-3' tall.


French: these have coloured 'wings' ontop of their flowers.


All are best with a fairly harsh spring pruning, stops them getting leggy.





Heuchera's: good for semi shaded areas, fantastic choice of leaf colours and textures, plus flowers too.





Sedum Spectabile is 1 of the easiest plants to grow: roots easily too, if he takes cuttings next year onwards. Attracts butterflies.





I'd add some grasses, for leaf texture variation. Festuca Glauca is a short very blue grass. Otherwise, there are tons of colours from red, to variegated green/white or golden.





A Peony will flourish in the same spot for 50years +, so is really easy and showy. Some come with scented flowers.





Daylilies are lovely summer flowering herbaceous plants, yellow, reds etc. (Hemerocalis is the botanical name)





Phlox paniculata are herbaceous summer flowering plants, whites to pink. Very easy.





Foxgloves are easy, but the typically grown types grow from seed one year, flower and die the next. Good in partial shade, especially for back of borders, as they can reach 6' tall. Maybe you could start some from seed yourself, and post or take them to him?





Roses could be ok, either climbers or freestanding. Require an annual prune. Good long season colour.





Hardy Geraniums are easy showy plants, with long flowering periods - don't confuse with the summer bedding geraniums, which aren't hardy and thus not perennial in UK gardens.





I love Oriental Poppies, Papaver Orientalis - mine are just about to flower now. From white to pink, red, orange. Many with contrasting colours in the centre of the flower. Herbaceous.





Gaillardia have a broad colour range, for long summer periods of flowers.





Add some Hellebores for late winter, early spring colour:


Heeleborus Niger (Christmas 'Rose'), white flowers or Helleborus Orientalis - late spring, whtie,pinks, reds. Herbaceous, but usually carry leaves through the year.





Lupins are also showy flowering herbaceous plants, in a wide colour range. Easy.





I'd add some bulbs, for flowering next spring:usually purchased/planted from around August. Daffodills/Narcissus, Bluebells, Scilla Siberica, Crocus, large flowered and species types, for easly spring flowers.





Tulips are lovely, but can be prone to rot, as you're not sure of his soil type, might want to avoid. Best planted late autumn, even upto December.





Ref. ordering: I'd shop around, as you'll find variations in pricing. It's also a really good idea to select the plants yourself, as you can pick the healthiest - I know he's some way from you, but perhaps you could find some garden centres that are on your way, or local to him.





Hope these ideas help. I've chosen from what I grow and know are reasonably easy but showy plants.





Good luck! Rob
Reply:Choosing plants for your garden is like buying something to wear you have to like the item so its personal choice. You need to think of space and coverage and how big the plant grows that you purchase. Don't forget you can also obtain slips from other gardens.


I like Camellias they come in various colours and bloom march April time.


Butterfly bushes are great in the summer and attract the butterfly's.


Hostas make a nice display but die back after the first frost but come back the following year bigger and better.


Honeysuckle grows all year and can smell lovely when in bloom.


Roses, climbing or standard can give a nice display but need plenty of care ie spraying.


Lavender is nice to look at and smells great.


Hebes can grow really big so unless you have the room best avoided.


I also like clematis, different varieties bloom at different times and give a colourfull display.


The list goes on its best to buy from the garden centre.





Enjoy picking the plants
Reply:THE GARDEN CENTER SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP SO USE A LOCAL ONE.
Reply:If you are looking for flowers that come back every year with no mess or fuss, (maybe just a little,) try some day lilies, salvia and sages, mums, columbine, foxglove - camelot, and snapdragons - rocket. I'm sure I could come up with a much bigger list, but these are all beautiful, cover a lot of ground, and all the seasons.


Hope I could be of some help and good luck!
Reply:Oh boy! Reading the replies to this answer is making me jealous. Australia is in the grip of a now 3 year long worst drought in our history for over 100 years.





All gardens are just about dead. or already brown.





The day lillies are very popular here as they are just about indestrucable %26amp; give lovely blooms. They were mentioned in one of the answers here. The rest of the plants we here in Aussie can forget.





What is important to your son's garden is to make sure that the plants you get for him are ok long term for his local area %26amp; growing conditions.





If I were you I'd go to his own local nursery %26amp; talk to them. Ask for their advice. Take along a drawing of his garden looking down on the house. (just quickly hand drawn) They will then be able to advise on what's best.





Remember, a garden doesn't have to be done overnight. Sometimes it is best to let it evolve over time. Still the local nursery will give you all the best local advice. Particularly, if your son wants it all done now.





A tip: keep the higher growing plants to the back of the garden bed %26amp; then medium %26amp; then low growing to the front.





Important: find out how invasive the root systems of the larger plants are before buying %26amp; planting.





Aaaaah! the joys of having garden - I wish - maybe when the rains return.
Reply:Go to this website for ag information. http://www.glenrosearkansasffa.org/glenr...


Most seed companies have all the plant info you will need.
Reply:Morning Glories and Iris' are hardy and thrive just about anywhere. Some varieties of mums are hardy too. You could also get lilacs or scented thyme.
Reply:Does he want editable plants? Try Petunias, Nasturtiums for not editable. Look at what is grown in the area...contact the county agent.