Hardy Plant Choices: Thriving Options for Windy Gardens
Wind in Your Sails: Thriving Gardens Amidst Gales
Welcome, green thumbs! If you're gardening in a windy or exposed spot, brace yourself for a blast of planty wisdom. Here's our curated list of floral warriors designed to withstand the spirited breeze.
Sick of your plants rockin' in the wind like a ship lost at sea? Fret not! Dive into our guide on plants susceptible to wind rock.
👉 Stipa tenuissima
This versatile grass, Also known as Mexican Feather Grass, flaunts wispy yellow-green leaves and silver-green blooms that dance gently in the breeze. Pair it with alliums and find it flourishing in sunny sites.
👉 Ornamental Grasses
Combined with flowers, ornamental grasses make quite the pairing. Delight in these 5 inspired combinations.
👉 Geranium 'Glenluce'
Hardy geraniums come in a spectrum of pinks, purples, and whites, and serve as a smorgasbord for insects. Spoil your eyes with this plant's large, light candyfloss-pink flowers from spring to summer.
👉 Discover More
Here are 10 captivating hardy geraniums that make your heart skip a beat.
👉 Brachyglottis compacta 'Sunshine'
Hailing from New Zealand, Brachyglottis are hardy evergreen shrubs featuring ovate hairy grey-green leaves and yellow, daisy-like flowers in summer. As stalwarts against drought and salty winds, they're just the ticket for coastal gardens.
👉 Silver Foliage
Elevate your coastal garden with more plants sporting silver or grey foliage.
👉 Crataegus monogyna
With fragrant white flowers in May, followed by round, glossy fruits or 'haws,' Hawthorn becomes a haven for wildlife. This shrub is a gem when used as hedging, attracting bees, moths, and birds alike.
👉 Wildlife Magnet
Get inspired by more wildlife-friendly ideas to make your garden their home.
👉 Allium cristophii
Boasting huge globes of tiny star-shaped flowers, this striking variety of allium is perfect for sunny, exposed borders amidst ornamental grasses.
👉 More Alliums
10 fantastic alliums to grow for a dazzling display.
👉 Eryngium variifolium
Robust and thriving in coastal gardens, this variegated sea holly boasts small, grey-blue flowers that emerge above rosettes of spiny, variegated leaves in July and August.
👉 Eryngiums for Pollinators
Discover more plants that attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
👉 Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'
Blooming from early summer to autumn, wallflowers are a delight for bees and butterflies alike. This plant, a magnet for pollinators, features white-veined grey-green leaves and striking lavender blooms.
👉 More Pollinator-Friendly Plants
Find your new floral friends among other plants that attract pollinators.
👉 Cordyline 'Firecracker'
With narrow, bronze-purple and painfully spiky leaves, this striking cordyline adds a touch of drama. Grow it in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade, but beware—it may need protection during the winter.
👉 Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'
A chic addition to silver borders, the catmint, Nepeta cataria, features large, hardy grey-green foliage and lavender-like flowers that invite bees. Its leaves can be infused in hot water for a soothing tea.
Create a Living Windbreak
By planting a hedge facing the prevailing wind, you can create a living windbreak that reduces wind speed, shielding other plants in the garden and providing a haven for wildlife. Consider these suitable hedging plants: berberis, hawthorn, oleaster, sea buckthorn, and don't forget about clumping bamboo varieties such as Fargesia and Bambusa. Opt for drought-resistant shrubs to enhance wind protection and aesthetics.
Embrace your windy garden with Stipa tenuissima, a versatile grass that thrives in sunny sites, creating a delicate dance with its wispy leaves. Ornamental grasses, such as those combined with flowers, can also lend a dynamic touch to your home-and-garden lifestyle.
