Plant combination ideas
‘Simply the best Hydrangea ever!’ Adrian Bloom says. That’s some statement but it is based on his twenty-five-year experience growing ‘Annabelle’ at Bressingham. A chance to find out for yourself! Hydrangea Annabelle, in the picture above, makes a very good partner in late summer to early autumn with Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, which is a black-eyed Susan sensation in the garden for several weeks.
More planting inspiration from Adrian Bloom’s private garden below
Seen in a planting at Foggy Bottom and central to the picture is the chocolate leaved Ageratina, funnily enough called ‘Chocolate’. This provides perfect contrast to Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and behind, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’. Left is Sedum (or if you prefer Hylotelephium) ‘Matrona’.
A plant for both flower and foliage is Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, here seen in spring with forget-me-not like blue flowers against a Japanese maple.
Plant now for enjoyment all summer
We would love to encourage you to consider planting a range of plants which have proven themselves at Bressingham. We highlight plants that singly are great, together are dramatic and dare we suggest “fantastic” partners planted together. Let’s build a combination for light shade, or full sun, where not too dry.
If you want to have a good show over a long period, here is a possible planting plan. The key plant (1) is the Hydrangea, but the others are in a fully supporting role with both foliage and flower, creating contrast and a combination to last even as much as a few years. Below you find information on the single plants.
1. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
The number one plant in the centre must be Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, which is spectacular in many places in The Bressingham Gardens. Many of you may not be aware that we have plants for sale, as it is a shrub, but a shrub that you treat like a perennial, cutting old growth to the ground right about now. New shoots soon emerge, first, green flowers in June and thereafter all summer and into autumn, when you can cut dead flowers for drying. Read More on this Plant
We called this hardy Geranium, the perennial of the millennium, and for sheer flower power no other Geranium can come near it. To uphold respect from others, no gardener can afford to be without, but if you haven’t got it, now is your chance (and we won’t report you!) to order. Read More on this Plant
3. Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’
A top 10 perennial of all time. Glossy leaves and a succession of black-eyed Susan flowers from August to October. What’s not to like? Read More on this Plant
4. Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’
Remember the chocolate. Forget the flowers (if you want to). This was formerly listed as a Eupatorium, an easy growing plant with purple-brown leaves which from spring emergence to early autumn are a deep chocolate colour, used mainly as a foliage plant, and combining well with the others. Eventually 5ft if allowed to flower, white heads in late in autumn.
5. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
And near the front for spring flowers and summer foliage, the aptly named plant ‘Jack Frost’ is another great plant suitable for sun or part shade. Read More on this Plant