If you want a patio with lots of interesting compact plants, then perhaps try this:
Most of these have only been planted three or four years ago (see picture at the bottom of the page).
A wire netting fence has been covered by cheap rush screening material and then a few ‘structural plants have been put in to give height (watch out, the first two do get big!):
- Cotoneaster frigidus Cornubia
- Phyllostachys nigra (bamboo)
- Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus
Then within the flower bed there are a few medium tall plants and herbs:
- Lavender Munstead
- Blue Hyssop
- Catmint
- Bronze Fennel
- Stipa tenuissima
- Lavander pedunculata
- Rosemary Primley Blue
- Agastache aurantiaca Apricot Sprite
- Winter Savory
- Chives
- Common Thyme
These are the compact alpine plants that give lots of colour and interest:
- Dianthus La Bourboule
- Saponaria oliviana
- Thymus doerfleri Bressingham
- Thymus serphyllum Russettings
- Hypericum olympicum
- Helianthemum Bunbury
- Aubrieta Blaumeise
- Veronica prostrata nana
- Armeria maritima Dusseldorf Pride
- Armeria juniperifolia Bevan’s Variety
- Armeria maritima Nifty Thrifty
- Thymus serphyllum Hartington Silver
- Thymus serphyllum Minimus
- Veronica prostrata Trehane
- Campanula punctata Rubriflora
- Saxifraga x Canis Dalmatica
- Erysimum kotschyanum
- Dianthus Pink Jewel
- Silene alpestris Flore Pleno
- Iberis sempervirens Little Gem
- Sempervivum arachnoideum
- Sempervivum calcareum
- Sempervivum Rubin
- Helianthemum alpestre
- Campanula muralis
Here is a picture just 4 years before the photo above:
