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Plant ideas -tall

Ross.ssoRRoss.ssoR Posts: 20
in Plants
Does anybody have any ideas for plants with the following description...

two metres tall with a busy habit but a minimal width/ footprint (approx 30cm)

The spot is full sun and not moist. I love cottage gardens plants and am trying to disguise a fence.

Thanks!
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Posts

  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Hi Ross

    Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) grows quite tall, though they may want a little more moisture. If it’s really dry you could try some Hollyhocks or Verbacums? 
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,379
    Verbena bonariensis is not bushy but gets to a good height and is good for detracting attention from things
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    Lillies depending on variety can reach 6ft, delphiniums, clematis or roses on an obelisk if you can't attach wires to the fence but you will need to water 
    You are going to struggle to limit a plant to 30cm but you can lift and divide also if it's dry add some well rotted manure to help and water all plants really well after planting and mulch with compost, bark or just the basic multi purpose compost. 
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' would be my choice because division every few years after establishment would see its width stay fairly restricted whilst it can easily attain the desired height. The spot you mention may be dry but if you could commit to giving this a little more water than falls out of the sky it will be happy. Mine comes through drought every year but it's been in the ground a long time.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,305
    If the conditions are appropriate, then a mix of Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' and verbena bonariensis would work. I have such a combination along with Heliopsis Summer Nights (but they spread more than 30cm) it looks really good in late summer and the grasses look great over winter too
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 982
    If you’re looking to disguise a fence, are you hoping for something evergreen?
    Could you consider a climber, like a trachelospermum or star jasmine, that will flower all summer long and the rest of the time reward you with a nice green backdrop against which to plant once of the other suggestions above?
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,053
    edited March 2021
    The combination of two already mentioned, Verbena Bonariensis and Helianthus Lemon Queen, would look good, be nice to mix it up rather than have all of the same. I would also add some Agastache Black adder, which has a compact footprint and upright growth - plant guides say it gets to 90cm, but in full sun it got to twice that for me. There is a taller Agastache called Serpentine, but less common than Black Adder - maybe because it’s too tall for some. Salvia Amistad is a lovely tall, bushy plant, will be fine planted in that footprint but will get wider, so would hang over a fair bit, would that matter? All are cottagey and great for pollinators. If drainage is poor, dig in lots of grit and compost to improve it.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Ross.ssoRRoss.ssoR Posts: 20
    Hi all! Wow, so many brilliant recommendations. All sound great. Thank you so much.

    Will let you know how I get on and what ends up going in the ground.

    I love Agastaches, Serpentine sounds fantastic


  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,053
    I love Agastaches too and the shrubby ones (wrong shape for you situation tho) are especially attractive to various species of hawkmoths, which are amazing to watch. Tango is a great compact one for the front of the border, if you like orange 😊 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 395
    Not to everyones taste, but how about Cardoon? 
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