How to use perennial flowers to create long-lasting garden design | Gardening Australia

Sophie shows us how to harness the power of perennials to create a long-lasting garden design. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
There aren’t many things more beautiful than a perennial garden. When you manage to hit just the right note with a skillful combination of forms, colours and textures, it can be breathtaking. Sophie gives us a straightforward guide using design principles for a long-lasting garden display.

Perennials:
A perennial is any plant that lives at least three growing seasons. ‘Woody perennials’ such as trees, shrubs and vines technically fit the bill, however, the term ‘perennial’ is widely used to describe longer-lived plants with non-woody growth that replenish either continually or in yearly cycles. Perennials can be evergreen or herbaceous such as hydrangeas, which send up stems that reach full height, bloom, die-down and re-grow all within a cycle of a year. There are a myriad of dynamic options including ferns, bushes, grasses, ornamental flowers and groundcovers. This style of gardening is known for its harmony and variety, so, aim for a diverse range of forms, heights, textures, colours and seasonal interest.

Form:
Consider the silhouette you want to create. Something bold against something soft can really highlight the beauty in each plant. A good pairing could be a straight and strappy Lomandra against a wispy Russian salvia. Take advantage of plants that already have two tiered habits, such as kangaroo paw, or create varying layers by contrasting plants that offer different habits, or different leaf and flower shapes. A good pairing could be Easter daisies that have wide disc-shaped flowers and an upright structure, against the cape fuchsia that has long tubular bells and an arching habit.

Height:
No matter how big or small your garden bed is, a well-positioned range of varying heights will look good from all angles. Tall sculptural plants, like giant miscanthus and salvia ‘Meigans Magic’, can be positioned at the back of a border or the centre of an island bed for a strong impact. Mid-size plants, such as bluebeard and stokes aster, are best planted in groups or ‘drifts’ for full effect. Groundcovers, like native violets and seaside daisies, are best positioned towards the edges of the bed or weaved throughout.

Texture:
While flowers contribute to the texture of the planting scheme, it’s the foliage that has the greatest impact for creating a long-lasting, harmonious design. Try pairing a succulent glossy sedum against the soft fluffy leaves of lamb’s ears.

Colour:
This can be as daring or subtle as you please. You may wish to blend cool tones like blues, mauves and purples, warm tones like yellows, pinks and oranges, or an elegant monotone design in silver and white. Certain colours can also attract beneficial insects and contribute more than just aesthetics.

Seasonality:
A range of bright seasonal flowers, interspersed with a mix of interesting foliage, can provide long-lasting colour year-round. For foliage colour, try orange sedge, Carex testacea, for its eye-catching arching copper-orange leaves, or wormwood, Artemisia sp., for its fine grey-silver foliage. There's a perennial for every season so plan a succession of seasonal colour that changes and excites throughout the year.

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