Take a sneak preview of the Flora pro-activ garden to feature at Gardener’s World Live 2011.
Urban setting
Designed for an urban setting, The Flora pro.activ Heart Healthy Garden for Gardener’s World Live 2011, features wisteria and climbing roses along the side borders, while a pleached hornbeam hedge along the third boundary completes a feeling of privacy.
Providing shade will be a fabric sail that floats over the garden’s terrace. The result is an enclosure in which a sumptuous and colourful array of plants can thrive.
Plants
The garden incorporates a wide range of plants including shrubs, trees, roses, perennials, ferns, grasses, climbers and hedges.
Central to the colour palette and structure of the design are Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’, Rhus ‘Tiger Eyes’, Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ and Hydrangea macrophylla ‘The Bride’.
‘The Flora pro active garden’
Designer: Paul Baines of John Woods Nurseries
Sponsor: Flora
Inspired by interior designer and Flora pro.activ brand ambassador Linda Barker’s London Garden. The design aims to reflect Flora pro.activ’s core values, healthy, active and accessible and provide practical inspiration for visitors.
Size: 10x9m
Plant list
Shrubs
Coprosma Pacific Sunset (‘JWNCOPPS’)
Found as a sport of the top-selling Coprosma Pacific Night at John Woods Nurseries.
New to the market in 2010. Winner at IPM 2010 – Patio Plant Innovation Striking evergreen variegated foliage.
Neat upright habit and year-round interest make it ideal for container gardening.
Drought tolerant once established. Hardy to -5° Eventual Height and spread 1.5×1.5m
Diervilla Cool Splash (‘LPDCPODASA’)
Another member of the First Editions range, the US-developed Cool Splash™ is perfect for brightening up those dry shady spots.
The eye-catching, crisp white variegation thrives in dry shade and is also happy in full sun.
A densely-branched deciduous shrub closely related to Weigela, Diervilla sessilifolia Cool Splash™ is hardy, easy to grow and keeps its clean fresh variegation well into autumn.
Tiny yellow flowers in late May/June.
Height and spread 1m x 1m
Hydrangea Bombshell
Compact new paniculata hybrid, extremely free-flowering over a long period.
Easy to care for and ideal for the front of a border.
Hardy to – 20C
Height and spread 1 x 1m
Hydrangea Endless Summer® ‘The Bride’
Flowers throughout the summer, year after year
Ideal for patio pots, beds and borders.
Good for cut flower decoration, pure white flowers with a hint of blush.
Easy to grow in a well drained soil in sun or partial shade
Height and spread 1-1.5m (3-5ft)
Physocarpus Little Devil™ (Donna May PPAF0
Bred in the USA by David Zlesak, this a compact opulus form. Rich plum-purple foliage acts as a great foil to shrubs and perennials.
White-pink button like blooms in June.
Hardy to -30C
Height and spread: 90 x 90cm
Rhus Tiger Eyes (Balitiger)
Deeply cut golden green leaves turn bright red/orange and intense scarlet in autumn.
Height and spread 2 x2m
Sambucus Black Lace (Eva)
The finely cut purple foliage of this fast reliable easy to grow shrub looks really special.
The attractive pink flowers and edible fruit all add to the interest.
Height and spread 3 x 2m
Santolina Lemon Fizz
New form of ‘cotton lavender’ Bright golden foliage, all year around, at its brightest in spring.
Ideal for container gardening and creating contrast in a border and has a typical yellow Santolina flower.
Drought tolerant once established.
Height and spread 30x30cm
Trees
Catalpa bignoniodes Aurea
Large deciduous shrub/tree.
A golden form with coppery new leaves that unfurl to gleaming yellow in May.
White flowers Jul-Aug.
Avoid exposed sites
RHS AGM
Height and spread: 9 x9m
Perennials
Geranium Black Beauty (Nodbeauty)
Clump forming geranium.
Dark almost black leaves and violet blue flowers.
Excellent contrast of leaf and flower.
Height 30cm
Heuchera Midnight Rose
Long season of interest and ideal for patio pots.
An evergreen with a neat mound forming habit. Black leaves densely spotted pink in spring.
Easy to grow best in well drained soil in partial shade
Height 25cm
Ophiopogon plan Nigrescens
Ideal for patio pots or the front of a border.
Easy to grow evergreen with all year round interest and delicate pink flowers in summer followed by black berries.
Prefers a moist well drained soil in sun or partial shade.
Height 20cm with a slow spreading habit
Sedum Angelina
Vigorous and hardy.
Golden yellow succulent foliage takes on attractive orange tints in cold weather.
Good ground cover plant. Height 10-15cm
More information
John Woods Nurseries – Obtain all of these plants and more from the designer of the Flora pro-activ Heart Healthy garden 2011.