Great plants for small gardens

Great plants for small gardens

Jane Brockbank's garden was featured in Ideal Home magazine, July 2007 - it is a beautiful small garden that shows colour all year round due to Jane's clever planting.
Here are some plants to hunt out for your own garden that are recommended by Jane and all are perfect for a small garden.

TREES
Malus 'John Downie' (Crab apple tree)
Why? It has a nice small upright shape with pretty white blossom in the spring and fruit in the autumn – it's considered one of the best crab apple trees

Amelanchier 'Lamarckii' (Juneberry)
Why? For its coppery red leaf colour in the autumn, blossom in the spring and for being a beautiful ornamental tree.

FOR SHRUBS
Myrtus communis (Common myrtle)
Why? Aromatic leaves cover this bushy evergreen shrub. Lots of white flowers in summer and dark berries in the autumn.

Euphorbia mellifera (Honey spurge)
Why? Hardy evergreen with honey scented flowers in summer with bright lime green leaves.

FOR CLIMBERS
Akebia quintata (Chocolate vine)
Why? Its quick growing with beautifully shaped leaves and plum coloured chocolate smelling flowers in spring. Chocolate vine suits south facing walls best.

Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea' (Grapevine)
Why? Beautiful big purple red leaves in late summer and autumn. It also produces grapes if planted against a south facing wall

FOR POTS
Gypsophila rosenschleier (Rosy veil)
Why? For the explosion of frothy lilac flowers in summer

Armeria maritima (Sea Thrift)
Why? For its evergreen tufty mounds that you just want to stroke! Wonderful as it's drought tolerant with pink flowers in summer.

FOR HEIGHT
Molinia 'Skyracer'
It does exactly what the name says and races up as it's a quick grower. Really tall and unfussy, it will grow anywhere and adds drama to any garden thanks to its height.