Ideas/Suggestions for new 'Waterfall' bed

Daithi29

Hi All, 

So I'd love to hear any planting ideas for my new bed. It's a raised bed with a podium within so the waterfall can sit level to the bed as you can see in the pic. 

The original plan was to put my Acer in the bed but I know eventually it will grow too big and the roots will probably push up the new patio down the line. 

Sooo, trying to figure out what to do now and it's kind of wrecking my head 😀 

It's just filled with a clay soil. I was thinking of adding compost to improve it but then I thought of just looking at plants that would thrive there??

I have a 10 year old Rosa Warm Wishes that I pulled out of the original bed that I might put in behind/beside the waterfall (know I'll have to feed it like crazy), and then maybe something like thalictrum or verbena, but would love to hear some thoughts before I start. 

Thanks a mil. 

Cheers,

Dave

fidgetbones

Where is the reservoir for the waterfall?

Daithi29

Hey @fidgetbones. It's in the waterfall. It's a closed system with a pump in the back 

Fairygirl

I don't see the point of having a water feature and then hiding it with lots of plants.
You could certainly put V.bonariensis at the sides to frame it, but lower growing stuff round the front would be better, with perhaps the odd plant with a few tall, airy flower stems. Salvias, Liatris or Veronicas - that kind of thing, and maybe something which will trail over the edges - alpine phlox or aubretia etc. I'm assuming it's a reasonably sunny site too.
Simple, toning colour scheme so that it doesn't detract from the fountain.

First thing I'd do is render and paint the walls though 

Loxley

Just plant a grass, e.g. Hakonechloa macra (the green type is nicer than the yellow or variegated ones IMO)

Hostafan1

Hostas. medium sized varieties

sarinka

Hostafan1 said:

Hostas. medium sized varieties

User name checks out.😎

I would put a rock garden there, filled with low growing alpines.

Daithi29

Thanks a mil for all yere thoughts everyone. 

@Fairygirl I have a Liatris that could go well with the rose and maybe a verbena on the other side. You're right about covering it up too though. Don't want it to get lost behind a maze of plants. 
I'll definitely get to the walls first though 😀

Thanks @Loxley I was never a big fan of grasses but they've kinda grown on me over the last few years. Hakonechloa macra looks nice, or maybe feather grass? Too much for that space I reckon. Also like the compact red grass I saw a few days ago but no idea what it was.


I do like a good hosta @Hostafan1 😀 might get a bit too much sun in the afternoon though?

Had thought about something like that as well sarinka, maybe at the front so they can trail over the front like Fairygirl was saying. 

Thanks again all. Lots of food for thought 👍 

Cheers

Dave

Hostafan1

Daithi29 said:

I do like a good hosta @Hostafan1 😀 might get a bit too much sun in the afternoon though?

So long as the soil is not dry , many will take full sun, all day long. I'm on a South facing slope

Loxley

@Daithi29 That's a phormium, it will get too big I reckon. I think Hakonechloa would give a nice quiet look which doesn't compete with the water feature and an almost Japanese simplicity. 

Fairygirl

Libertia is another good 'grass'. The golden one is particularly nice. Drier site for it, and sun, so again - it depends on the aspect/conditions you have there. It has small white flowers in spring, but they're not the main focus for the plant.
Hackonechloa is a lovely grass, although best with damp and a bit of shade. I must say  - I much prefer the golden ones @Loxley. The greens look too nothing-y  for me
There are plenty of smaller grasses that will suit, but always check on what conditions they prefer @Daithi29, so that you can choose well. Uncinia rubra  is a good one, and although it's a sedge, it will grow in a drier bed too. I think I have U. r. Everflame, which is a good reddish/orange colour.