At Hermannshof, we use the German system of garden habitats to select plants according to their habitat requirements, sociability and aesthetic qualities. This is essential to achieve long-term, ecologically balanced and low-maintenance horticultural plant communities in gardens and urban green spaces. With climate change, this will become even more important for future planting design. My selection of 100 beautiful and sustainable plants is categorised according to growing conditions and use.
For long-lasting interest
1 AMSONIA ‘BLUE ICE’ A neat mound of narrow, dark-green foliage is topped with large clusters of vivid, lavender-blue flowers. An amazingly vigorous plant with excellent yellow autumn colour. Height (H) 40cm. Spread (S) 40cm. Conditions (C) Well-drained soil; full sun to part shade. Season of interest (SI) May – November. Hardiness ratings (HR) RHS H4, USDA 4a-9b†.
2 BAPTISIA AUSTRALIS VAR. MINOR An easy-togrow, drought-tolerant perennial that I favour for its blue flower racemes, held well above blue-green, waxy foliage. Later, black seedpods add interest. Looks good as loosely scattered specimens in a matrix of grasses or in any naturalistic prairie-style planting. H 80cm. S 50cm. C Well-drained soil; full sun. SI May - November. HR RHS H7, USDA3a-8b.
3 BAPTISIA ‘LEMON MERINGUE’ One of the best of the many new hybrids, praised for its beauty, size, long-term performance, drought tolerance and overall durability Forms nice clumps with blue-green foliage, topped with dark-purple spikes and adorned with contrasting large, dark-yellow flowers. Attractive dark-purple seedpods. H 90cm. S 60cm. C Well-drained soil; full sun. SI May November. HR RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b.
4 CORNUS ‘PORLOCK’ In May and June, this semi-deciduous dogwood is almost fully covered with creamy-white flowers that fade to a beautiful reddish pink. Leaves turn vibrant orange-red in autumn. Loaded with red, strawberry-like fruits in late summer and autumn. AGM*. H 4-5m. S 2.5-4m. C Moist, well-drained, neutral to acid, humus-rich soil; sun to part shade, sheltered. SI Summer - autumn. HR RHS H5, USDA 6a-8b.
5 DAHLIA ‘BISHOP OF AUCKLAND’ One of my favourite dahlias, with contrasting purple- to black-flushed, dark-green leaves and single, red flowers with orange-yellow centres. I combine it with Pennisetum villosum, green-flowered zinnias, gauras, white Ammi and velvet-red Amaranthus. H lm. S 50cm. C Moist, well-drained, rich soil; full sun. SI July - October. HR RHS H3, USDA 9a-ll.
6 DAHLIA ‘HONKA RED’ Star-like, single flowerheads with incurved florets that integrate with perennials and grasses. Over the past few winters we've left them in the ground, just covering them with a 30cm mulch layer of leaves. Watch for slugs in late spring when new shoots emerge. H 1.1m. S 60cm. C Moist, well-drained chalk, loam, sand; full sun. SI July - October. HR RHS H3, USDA 9a-11.
7 EUONYMUS CARNOSUS‘RED WINE’ This spectacular, semi-deciduous shrub with elegantly arching branches is especially impressive when its glossy, leathery leaves turn fantastic shades of dark reddish-purple for several weeks in late summer and autumn. Attractive yellowish-pink capsules contain red-orange seeds in autumn. H 2.5m-3m. S 2m-2.5m. C Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil; full sun to part shade. SI September - December. HR RHS H6, USDA 4a-7b.
8 EUONYMUS CORNUTUS VAR. QUINQUECORNUTUS An unusual, deciduous spindle shrub with narrow, glossy, bamboo-like leaves, dark-red flowers, and fruits with horn-like extensions that look like a jester's cap. The fruits open to reveal bright-orange seeds. I use it with Ophiopogon, low ferns and sedges in semi-shade. AGM. H 1.5-2m. S 1m. C Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil; full sun to part shade. SI Late spring - autumn. HR RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
9 MUHLENBERGIA RIGENS Drought-tolerant Californian grass that forms large tussocks of grey-green, arching foliage, and bears long, spear-like plumes in late summer, elegantly exceeding the foliage. Makes an eye-catching accent when emerging out of a low, mat-forming groundcover. The spikes and leaves turn warm tan in autumn and remain attractive until late winter. H 1.3m. S 1.4m. C Dry, lean, well-drained soil; full sun. SI July - February. HR RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b.
This compact cultivar never flops, and was a standout in our trials of a new generation of switch grass selections. The blue-green 80cm. 50cm. Well-drained soil; full sun. July - February. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.
