Suffolk contemporary courtyard garden
By Suffolk based garden desginer Sue Townsend. The crisp contemporary lines of sawn sandstone, clipped box cubes and hedging, yew and pleached hornbeam form the structure to this contemporary courtyard garden, whilst perennials and grasses introduce a softer feel bringing texture, movement and light.
13 Feb 2010 | 1 min read
An L-shaped rill mirrors the shape of the property and creates distinct areas within the courtyard and interesting views from the house. Gentle ripples radiate in the rill, whilst Iris sibirica and agapanthus provide a succession of blue flowers and grassy foliage along the rill edge.
Two large stepping stones allow access over the rill to an informal seating area to enjoy the evening sun and to a pathway leading to an archway with enticing views of the grounds beyond.
Lavender and herbs enclose the main dining area next to the kitchen whilst four olive trees in planters provide height. Beyond the main dining area, two beds with olive trees, clipped box cubes, grasses and perennials bring texture, colour and movement.
Along the boundary border, layers of planting give depth, colour and structural interest - lavender, clipped box, an avenue of Robinia pseudoacacia `Umbraculifera' underplanted with perennials and grasses and finally pleached hornbeam rising above an old red brick wall.
Plants list
Click any of the plants names below to read more about the plant and to add it to your own 'Plants I want' list.
Acanthus spinosus
Agapanthus campanulatus Jack's Blue
Allium schoenoprasum
Anemone x hybrida Konigin Charlotte
Aqueligia vulgaris Alba
Artemisia dracunculus
Asarum europaeum
Astelia chathamica Silver Spear
Aster frikartii Jungfrau
Astrantia major Claret
Calamagostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Cirsium rivulare Atropurpureum
Cotinus Grace
Cynara cardunculus
Digitalis purpurea f albiflora
Echinacea Purpurea Ruby Giant
Erigeron karvinskianus
Euphorbia characias ssp wulfenii
Euphorbia x pasteuri
Foeniculum vulgare
Foeniculum vulgare Purpureum
Gaura lindheimeri
Iris germanica St Petersburgh
Iris sibirica Silver Edge
Knautia macedonica
Lavandula Hidcote
Melianthus major
Miscanthus nepalensis
Olea europea
Origanum Kent Beauty
Paeonia lactiflora Sarah Bernhardt
Papaver oreinetale Patty's Plum
Pennisetum alopecuroides Hameln
Penstemon Blackbird
Perovskia Blue Spire
Rodgersia podophylla
Romneya coulteri
Rosmarinus officinalis Miss Jessop's Upright
Salvia officinalis Purpurescens
Salvia x sylvestris Mainacht
Sanguisorba Red Thunder
Schizostyllis coccinea Mrs Hegarty
Sedum Purple Emperor
Sedum spectabile Herbstfreude
Stipa gigantea
Stipa tenuissima
Taxus baccata
Thymus citriodorus Silver Posy
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Verbena bonariensis
Zantedeschia aethiopica Crowborough