Early Summer Gravel Garden Plants

We give you the tools, you create the garden

This is a plant which very much evokes the seaside. Its ground- hugging, glaucous crown of leaves hunker down low and in early summer it produces small sweet-scented flowers reminiscent of Alyssum. As its common name sea kale suggests, the leaves of this plant are edible.

Crambe maritima does a good job as a compact filler plant, such as Alchemilla mollis might in a border. If you’re looking for a dramatic statement plant, check out its relative Crambe cordifolia.

We give you the tools, you create the garden

Instantly transport yourself to the Outback with a Corokia cotoneaster! This variety “Ohau Yellow’ was spotted in full flower at Kew Gardens and can be tricky to source, but there are many varieites to choose from, all sporting an intricate network of geometrically spectacular stems giving rise to the plants common name; Wire Netting bush.

Place this plant where you will pass right by it. The stems are best marvelled at close up.

We give you the tools, you create the garden

Self sowing plants like this Nigella damascena ‘Miss Jekyll Alba’ will be quite happy in a dry garden and will seed themselves around gently wherever they’re happy. Beware some other drought tolerant plants that will survive in a dry spot but may be too enthusiastic with their propagation, such as Verbena bonariensis.

We give you the tools, you create the garden

This is a plant with it all really; scent, foliage colour, low maintenance requirements and flowers that are beloved by pollinators. Given the right conditions it will spread around in neat cushions. It takes a certain amount of abuse so can be used in areas of ocassional foot traffic.

Plant it near a food prep area and harvest it for culinary use throughout the year too.

We give you the tools, you create the garden

This peony is native to the sunny, drier climes of the Iberian peninsula and needs less moisture in the soil than you might expect of a standard peony. Not as tall as some of the other peony varieties, this early-flowering plant will add a shot of colour to your gravel garden in spring to early summer.

It contrasts particularly well with plants that have thinner, strap-like foliage or lots of smaller leaves.

We give you the tools, you create the garden

Our 4 Seasons of Colour in Your Garden course will help you identify the areas and seasons where you have little or no colour and help you make the changes to bring you 4 Seasons of Garden colour. By the end of our garden colour makeover course, you will create a comprehensive, considered plan so you can make effective decisions and achieve long-lasting results.

For more information visit www.gardencourses.com/4-seasons-of-colour

Please visit us at www.gardencourses.com to find out more about our world-leading courses in horticulture.

We give you the tools, you create the garden