Low-maintenance planting scheme
Low-maintenance planting scheme
Low-maintenance gardens are an excellent solution for both private and public spaces where sufficient ongoing care and maintenance will likely be limited. When carefully planned, they offer year-round interest, support pollinators, and provide structure and colour with plants that are resilient and need little attention once established. They are ideal for private gardens that cannot be cared for every day, for rental or holiday homes, or for public areas with limited maintenance budgets that still need to look good throughout the year.
This 2m x 4m plan is designed to provide structure at the back, seasonal colour through the centre, and groundcover and texture at the front. Together, these plants create a balanced display that is easy to maintain and provides visual interest in every season.
At the back of the bed, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ forms a colourful backdrop with its bright red stems, which shine in winter and only need pruning every few years to keep them fresh. Alongside it, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ grows in fine, upright clumps and produces soft, feathery plumes from late summer that remain attractive well into winter. Just in front, Echinops ritro stands tall with spherical blue flowers in summer, providing a strong shape and attracting bees and butterflies.
In the middle section, a mix of flowering perennials keeps the display changing from spring through to autumn. Leucanthemum x superbum produces classic white daisies with golden centres through summer. Astrantia major fills the space with clusters of starry flowers that last for weeks and are excellent for pollinators. Perovskia atriplicifolia threads between the other plants with its silvery foliage and haze of purple-blue flowers, which continue into autumn. Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ brings warm, orange-red tones in late summer, adding richness to the border. Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Matrona’ offers large, dusky pink flower heads that age to bronze and provide structure even when dry, giving interest into winter.
At the front of the bed, lower-growing plants bring texture, colour and groundcover. Erigeron karvinskianus blooms for several months, spilling white and pink flowers over edges and softening the look of the border. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ lights up shady spots with silver foliage and sprays of tiny blue flowers in spring. Polystichum polyblepharum adds glossy, evergreen fronds that keep the border looking full all year. Lavandula angustifolia provides fragrant purple flowers in summer and is loved by pollinators. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ completes the display with rich burgundy leaves that contrast well with the greens and silvers around it, along with delicate flower spikes in late spring.
Once established, this plan needs very little care. Watering is only needed in very dry spells, grasses can be cut back in late winter, and occasional deadheading will encourage more flowers. The planting stays attractive through all seasons, supports pollinators, and brings lasting colour and structure with minimal effort.
1. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, 2. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’, 3. Leucanthemum × superbum, 4. Echinops ritro, 5. Perovskia atriplicifolia, 6. Astrantia major, 7. Lavandula angustifolia, 8. Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’, 9. Erigeron karvinskianus, 10. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, 11. Polystichum polyblepharum, 12. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’, 13. Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Matrona’
①
Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’
A deciduous shrub grown for its bright red winter stems, which create striking colour after the leaves fall. In summer, it has green foliage and small white flowers, followed by white berries that attract birds.
②
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’
A graceful ornamental grass with fine, silvery-green leaves edged in white, forming neat upright clumps. From late summer it produces soft, feathery plumes that remain attractive well into winter.
③
Leucanthemum × superbum
A perennial with dark green, finely cut foliage and large, classic white daisy flowers with yellow centres. Blooming from early summer, it adds bright, cheerful colour to sunny borders.
④
Echinops ritro
A clump-forming perennial with spiky, grey-green foliage and globe-shaped blue flowers that bloom in mid to late summer. Its architectural form adds structure and attracts pollinators.
⑤
Perovskia atriplicifolia
A woody perennial with silvery-grey, aromatic foliage and spikes of soft lavender-blue flowers from midsummer to early autumn. It brings airy colour and attracts bees and butterflies to sunny borders.
⑥
Astrantia major
A clump-forming perennial with finely divided green leaves and star-shaped, pincushion-like flowers in shades of pink, white, or red. Blooming from late spring to summer, it adds delicate texture and attracts pollinators.
⑦
Lavandula angustifolia
A bushy, aromatic shrub with grey-green leaves and long stalks bearing dense spikes of violet flowers in summer. Lavandula angustifolia is great for edging pathways.
⑧
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’
A clump-forming perennial with dark green foliage and bright, daisy-like orange-red flowers that bloom from late summer to autumn. It adds vibrant colour and attracts pollinators to sunny borders.
⑨
Erigeron karvinskianus
A useful, informal perennial that is great for softening the edges of borders and providing a very long flowering period. The daisy-like flowers emerge white and turn pink which look stunning against the dark green foliage.
⑩
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
A clump-forming perennial with large, heart-shaped leaves marked in silver with green veins. Tiny, delicate blue flowers appear in spring, adding subtle colour and texture to shaded borders.
⑪
Polystichum polyblepharum
A robust evergreen fern with glossy, dark green fronds that form a dense, arching clump. It adds structure and texture to shaded borders and woodland gardens.
⑫
Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’
A clump-forming herbaceous perennial with deep purple and bronze leaves on red stems, alongside small, cream flowers. Great for groundcover.
⑬
Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Matrona’
A succulent with bronze leaves on purple stems, which contrast nicely with green-leaved plants. The flowers are pink and are great for adding structure as even the faded flowerheads look pretty in winter.