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Ideas for a fluffy shrub or perennial

LucidLucid Posts: 385
in Plants

Hi everyone,

I've got some planting to finish off in my new flowerbeds. We unfortunately lost some previous plants so there's a bit of a gap at the moment. I'm thinking it'd be a good plan to move the mini buddleja that's in front of the honeysuckle (back centre of 1st photo) and that a good place for the new plant would be there. Please excuse the state of the soil, it will be getting some extra mulch layers once the planting has been finished.

image

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We're thinking something that's mid sized, round and fluffy as a bit of a contrast to the tall upright plants that are dominating. I'd probably prefer a perennial but if there's a suitable shrub I'd be glad to hear of it. Being beneficial to wildlife is a priority too.

Thanks for any ideas you can give,

Lucid image

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,130

    For wildlife, go for sanguisorbia or persicaria bistorta which both have fluffy flowers rather than grasses which are wind pollinated and not attractive to insects.   Astilbes do best in moist soil as their foliage can go brown at the edges in dry soil.   

    Hardy geraniums are good ground cover perennials which attract pollinators but are not eaten by slugs and many forms make good round, hummocky shapes.   Sedum spectabile will provide flowers for bees and hoverflies and butterflies form mid summer to autumn.

    For a small rounded shrub with evergreen foliage and fluffy flowers have a look at hebes.

    This is a list of pollinator friendly plants put together by the RHS and organised by season of interest so you can maybe spread the food sources through the year -  https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/pdf/conservation-and-biodiversity/wildlife/rhs_pollinators_plantlist

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,234

    That's a mighty blue looking salvia you have there Verd. Wish I had one like that. image

    The Pennisetum villosum is beautiful. It gives interest at the front without blocking what's behind.

  • LucidLucid Posts: 385

    Sorry for my delayed reply with thanks for the suggestions. Verdun, I'm envying your filled up flowerbed look - I really hope mine develops in to something like that.

    I need to do some exploring of the suggestions and see which I think will suit best.

    Lucid image

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