Ideas for a cottagey lavender edge

23 years ago

I cross posted this on the Cottage Gardens forum as well.

I need to renovate part of my lavender edge and get rid of an obnoxious raspberry which is smothering it. IÂ´m planning to rip out the left side of the edge (straight row), plant new lavender bushes at some distance from each other and then something else for vertical interest in between. Do you have any suggestions?

My first thought was roses (of course), but this edge provides access to our gas house and I donÂ´t want the service men getting caught in the thorns. I also thought something taller and narrower would be a better choice.

The wall faces south, has irrigation and the fence at the back has a wisteria which IÂ´m training to cover it. I would like something to complement both the lavender and the wisteria. On the right side of the edge (which I donÂ´t plan to remove) itÂ´s my small herb garden, two old roses and two small fruit trees (quince and damson), still quite small. Very "pottager" like.

I would prefer a flowering or berrying shrub, but I canÂ´t think of anything that would be vertical and slim enough to fit in that space. I can always place conifers there, but somehow they donÂ´t seem to fit the ingenuity of the design too well, so I would like to hear other options from you.

TIA

Eduarda

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Comments (5)

isabelbc
23 years ago
vertical junipers- skyracer, Skyspire? I just acquired a fastigiate variety of box, which the vendor assured me woud get to about 6 ft in 10 years. Don't know the name, unfortunately.
Eduarda
Original Author
23 years ago
Thank you, IsabelBC. I agree, tall junipers would look right and I thought about them too. I posted this question in the cottage garden forum, and got several lovely suggestions as well, including a beautiful perennial known as fireweed. In the end I may combine both approaches and mingle one or two junipers with the perennial, in the middle of the lavender. That should take care of the year round interest issue!

Eduarda
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jadagreen
22 years ago
How about Beauty berry? I will have some if it interests you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Beauty Berry
Madison2Project
21 years ago
Rose of Sharon, Blue Bird: This exceptional cultivar ensures at least three months of late season blooming as 3-4" rich blue flowers with burgundy centers cover the branches from midsummer to frost. Easy-to-care-for shrub reaches a height of 6-8' tall and similar spread.
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Lilac, Charles Joly: The vivid coloration of the deep, wine-red flowers of this variety is considered to be the best in its color class. A warm welcome hue in any garden. Grows up to 15' tall. Space 8-10' apart
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Lilac, Beauty of Moscow: large, gorgeous, white double flowers with a tinge of pink are perfectly formed and strongly fragrant. Reaches 15' high and spreads 6-12' wide. Hardy.
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Trumpet Vine, Madam Galen: Fast growing and easy to grow! Provides a nonstop display of trumpet-shaped flowers from midsummer to frost. Makes an effective screen or accent for walls and fence lines. Also makes an excellent ground cover. Can grow 20-30' if given sturdy support. Thrives in average, well-drained soil.

Here is a link that might be useful: Springhill Nursery
bahia
21 years ago
Alyogyne huegelii, the Asutralian Blue Hibiscus might also vork for you in this spot, and has similar water needs to lavenders. Verbascums of several sorts might also work for you here, and V. bombyciferum 'Arctic Snow' is a personal favorite. You could also consider using other hedge like plants with winter bloom, such as Erysimum linifolium 'Bowles Mauve' or 'variegata'. A taller growing plant for late summer lavender bloom could also include Jamesbrittania grandiflora, or for plain foliage, Eleymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'. Helictrotrichon sempervirens is another blue foliaged grass that might be more available in Portugal. Lavatera trimestris or Spharalcea ambigua are also nice cottagey perennials for a narrow bed, and Salvia leucantha can also be a nice long blooming filler behind a hedge, or one of the evergreen Alstromeria hybrids, or the Mexican Lobelia/Lobelia laxiflora.