April 25, 2018 Garden Paradise

Like us, many plants have their preferred climate.

If you’re creating your dream garden, it’s important to consider your climate and surroundings. Do you live near a windy coastline or in a polluted city with limited space?

Here’s our guide to coastal and city plants...

Coastal Plants

If you live near or next to the sea, there are a few things to consider when choosing plants for your garden. The first thing to do is ensure you create a barrier against the sea winds, such as hedges, shrubs or trees. You then have a choice of coastal loving plants:

1. Stachys byzantina (Lambs ear) - Lambs ear is a perennial plant with velvety soft leaves. They’ll also bring colour to your garden with pink and purple spikes during the Summer months.

2. Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) - These “vigorous deciduous climbers” are usually found climbing walls and houses. They show brilliant colour in the Autumn.

3. Glaucium flavum (Yellow horned poppy) - These plants naturally grow on sea shores, so they’re perfect for gardens near the coast. They flower in the Summer and look beautiful.

4. Quercus robur (Oak tree) - For use as your sea breeze barrier or to give you some privacy. Quercus robur are classically English and look great in many gardens!

City Plants

Living in London or a bustling UK city could mean your garden is relatively small, lacks light or has to deal with the city pollution. Here are four plants we recommend you go for:

1. Clematis - Clematis are beautiful plants that bloom in the Summer. They’re great for smaller city gardens as they’re extremely versatile - they grow on walls, in containers, or left to scramble through trees and shrubs. Remember, it’s important that they’re pruned in early Spring!

2. Grasses - Grasses create movement in any space and they’re easy to grow. Just comb it through with your fingers to freshen it up in spring.

3. Herbs - Herbs can create borders for your garden and they can be placed in pots or planters. Plus, they look and taste great! We recommend rosemary, oregano and thyme to get you started. Read more about creating a herb garden.

4. Lavender - With a smaller garden, it’s hard to pack in the colour and smells that a larger garden has. There’s no mistaking the gorgeous smell of lavender and it’s colourful appearance when in bloom. We highly recommend it for any small garden!

Are there any more plants you suggest for either a city or coastal garden? We’d love to hear your thoughts...

Garden Paradise are British Manufacturers of beautiful wooden planters, ponds and sandpits. Ideal for any garden, as they can be placed on ANY surface!