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Every designer has their favourite plants – ones which they will use over and over again because they know they are good value for money, have long seasonal interest, are unlikely to die at the drop of a hat, and don’t mind a bit of neglect or mismanagement! 

However, in these times of changing weather patterns it is sometimes still difficult to know exactly what to plant.  Even though we are supposedly in the grip of global warming, last years summer downpours would have washed away most attempts at planting a Mediterranean theme garden.

So what should we plant?  Unless you are a very keen gardener who does not mind spending a lot of time nurturing your soil and raising obscure species of plants then it is best to play safe. 

This does not mean choosing the old standby plants that you see everywhere – but using those that will thrive with minimal attention. 

If I had a penny for every time I have been asked for a ‘low maintenance’ garden then I would be very rich! 

So – here are my recommended top ten plants for your garden.

1. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ – fantastic bright red twigs in winter, white flowers, practically indestructible.  Needs minimal attention – a once a year prune back.

2. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ – good colour from summer through to autumn and great for attracting butterflies. 

3. Cotoneaster lacteus – a tall shrub with red berries throughout winter loved by birds

4. Iris sibirica sp.– comes in a variety of colours, grows in most positions. Cut back once a year to tidy up.  Will bulk out and need dividing eventually so is good value.

5. Hebe ‘Midsummer Beauty’ - a difficult decision as there are so many lovely hebes.  This one has a good long flowering season.

6. Pittosporum tenuifolium – lovely wavy bright green evergreen leaves and small scented flowers.  A good background shrub for the border.

7. Stipa arundinacea (syn Anemanthele lessoniana)– Pheasant grass – happy anywhere even in a pot.

8. Dryopteris erythrosora – a stunning evergreen fern with bronze tinged fronds.

9. Helianthemum ‘Ben More’ – low growing evergreen which flowers throughout summer.

10. Sarcococca hookeriana – Sweet box – winter flowering evergreen with fragrant white flowers.

And lastly – there is no such thing as a low maintenance garden!