Why British native perennials deserve a second look and a prominent place in your planting plan
Eleanor Ashford
When wandering through the English countryside, with its rolling hills and verdant meadows, you might feel a sense of nostalgia, a yearning for a connection with nature that is as old as the land itself.
There's an innate beauty in the native flora of Britain, a tapestry of greens and colours woven into our collective identity. Yet, despite this rich heritage, British native perennials often find themselves overlooked in the dizzying whirl of modern garden design. It’s high time we give these underappreciated beauties the acknowledgment they deserve.
Let's delve into why British native perennials are more than just a pretty face; they're a crucial element in creating a sustainable and vibrant garden.
As many of you may know, a perennial is a plant that graces us with its presence year after year, reaching a climax of beauty at its own pace. What better group of plants to embody this enduring charm than those that have naturally adapted to our climate over centuries?
One of the standout features of native perennials is their resilience.
They are, without a shadow of a doubt, perfectly suited to the British climate, an ever-changing landscape of sun, showers, and the occasional tempest. Unlike certain exotic imports who demand constant pampering, our native heroes thrive with minimal fuss. Imagine the ease of tending a garden where the plants know instinctively how to survive a harsh winter or blossom after a particularly soggy season. These plants evolve alongside us, learning, adapting, and flourishing in a way that feels almost symbiotic.
Let’s consider the foxglove, a quintessential British native.
Its tall spires of bell-shaped flowers can turn even the most conventional garden into a sanctuary teeming with wildlife. The humble foxglove offers nectar-loving bees and pollinators a feast, supporting ecosystems just as our ancestors relied on it for medicinal purposes. Each plant tells a story, weaving a rich narrative tapestry full of texture and meaning.
In recent years, there has been much talk about creating gardens that are not only beautiful but also ecologically sound.
British native perennials tick both boxes with aplomb. They are magnificent multitaskers, appealing to the gardener’s aesthetic sense while serving up a veritable banquet for local wildlife. Planting natives can significantly increase the biodiversity in your garden, offering shelter and sustenance to a myriad of creatures, from butterflies fluttering amid the verbascum to hedgehogs seeking solace among the heleniums.
A personal favourite of mine is the common yarrow, Achillea millefolium.
This modest perennial, with its feathery leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers, has a timeless elegance that belies its robustness. Beyond its aesthetic charm, yarrow plays a double role, attracting beneficial insects like ladybirds and hoverflies and acting as a natural companion plant that helps improve the health of nearby neighbours. It’s the sort of plant that whispers rather than shouts, but those whispers enrich the entire chorus of your garden ensemble.
Now, we mustn’t forget about scent, that most evocative of senses which effortlessly links memories and moments.
The distinctly refreshing fragrance of woodruff or the musky allure of meadowsweet adds layers of sensory delight to any space. These fragrant native perennials invite us to pause, to lose ourselves in the present and appreciate the beauty of simplicity. They ask nothing more than a patch of soil and a little sunshine.
Moving beyond individual plants, incorporating native perennials into your planting plan can surprisingly reduce maintenance.
As these plants are already well-adapted to the local soil types and weather patterns, they typically require less watering and fewer soil amendments. This means less time spent laboriously watering during droughts or de-thatching after upon a particularly drizzly month. Instead, your energies can be better spent on the enjoyable tasks of gardening, pruning a rose, perhaps, or cultivating a crop of sweet-smelling herbs.
In my experience, a garden flourishes most when it mirrors the natural landscapes that engrain our hearts.
This doesn’t mean striving for a wilderness but aiming for balance, a garden that thrives with less, not more. As sustainable gardening becomes ever-more pertinent, thanks in part to the noble battle against climate change, British native perennials present an opportunity to act. Adopting these plants into our strategies not only helps preserve an irreplaceable genetic lineage but fosters a nurturing space. One that echoes the ancient wildness of our isles while crafting a personal haven.
Imagine your garden as a connector, linking the past with the present, relating local heritage with the identity of future generations.
As a gardening community, we are guardians of this incredible lineage. Each time we plant a native perennial, we contribute to a continuity that honours the old ways while opening doors for new eco-conscious practices.
In closing, let us recognise that incorporating British native perennials into our gardens isn’t merely a design trend; it’s a thoughtful lifestyle choice that benefits us personally and collectively as stewards of the land.
It is an embrace of a deeper connection to the earth, one that rewards us with resilience, a riot of life, and a legacy made evergreen. So, if you’ve yet to embrace these natural gems, I urge you to find space in your garden. Not merely because they’re fashionable, but because they mean something. Indeed, our gardens might just be the richer for it.
There's an innate beauty in the native flora of Britain, a tapestry of greens and colours woven into our collective identity. Yet, despite this rich heritage, British native perennials often find themselves overlooked in the dizzying whirl of modern garden design. It’s high time we give these underappreciated beauties the acknowledgment they deserve.
Let's delve into why British native perennials are more than just a pretty face; they're a crucial element in creating a sustainable and vibrant garden.
As many of you may know, a perennial is a plant that graces us with its presence year after year, reaching a climax of beauty at its own pace. What better group of plants to embody this enduring charm than those that have naturally adapted to our climate over centuries?
One of the standout features of native perennials is their resilience.
They are, without a shadow of a doubt, perfectly suited to the British climate, an ever-changing landscape of sun, showers, and the occasional tempest. Unlike certain exotic imports who demand constant pampering, our native heroes thrive with minimal fuss. Imagine the ease of tending a garden where the plants know instinctively how to survive a harsh winter or blossom after a particularly soggy season. These plants evolve alongside us, learning, adapting, and flourishing in a way that feels almost symbiotic.
Let’s consider the foxglove, a quintessential British native.
Its tall spires of bell-shaped flowers can turn even the most conventional garden into a sanctuary teeming with wildlife. The humble foxglove offers nectar-loving bees and pollinators a feast, supporting ecosystems just as our ancestors relied on it for medicinal purposes. Each plant tells a story, weaving a rich narrative tapestry full of texture and meaning.
In recent years, there has been much talk about creating gardens that are not only beautiful but also ecologically sound.
British native perennials tick both boxes with aplomb. They are magnificent multitaskers, appealing to the gardener’s aesthetic sense while serving up a veritable banquet for local wildlife. Planting natives can significantly increase the biodiversity in your garden, offering shelter and sustenance to a myriad of creatures, from butterflies fluttering amid the verbascum to hedgehogs seeking solace among the heleniums.
A personal favourite of mine is the common yarrow, Achillea millefolium.
This modest perennial, with its feathery leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers, has a timeless elegance that belies its robustness. Beyond its aesthetic charm, yarrow plays a double role, attracting beneficial insects like ladybirds and hoverflies and acting as a natural companion plant that helps improve the health of nearby neighbours. It’s the sort of plant that whispers rather than shouts, but those whispers enrich the entire chorus of your garden ensemble.
Now, we mustn’t forget about scent, that most evocative of senses which effortlessly links memories and moments.
The distinctly refreshing fragrance of woodruff or the musky allure of meadowsweet adds layers of sensory delight to any space. These fragrant native perennials invite us to pause, to lose ourselves in the present and appreciate the beauty of simplicity. They ask nothing more than a patch of soil and a little sunshine.
Moving beyond individual plants, incorporating native perennials into your planting plan can surprisingly reduce maintenance.
As these plants are already well-adapted to the local soil types and weather patterns, they typically require less watering and fewer soil amendments. This means less time spent laboriously watering during droughts or de-thatching after upon a particularly drizzly month. Instead, your energies can be better spent on the enjoyable tasks of gardening, pruning a rose, perhaps, or cultivating a crop of sweet-smelling herbs.
In my experience, a garden flourishes most when it mirrors the natural landscapes that engrain our hearts.
This doesn’t mean striving for a wilderness but aiming for balance, a garden that thrives with less, not more. As sustainable gardening becomes ever-more pertinent, thanks in part to the noble battle against climate change, British native perennials present an opportunity to act. Adopting these plants into our strategies not only helps preserve an irreplaceable genetic lineage but fosters a nurturing space. One that echoes the ancient wildness of our isles while crafting a personal haven.
Imagine your garden as a connector, linking the past with the present, relating local heritage with the identity of future generations.
As a gardening community, we are guardians of this incredible lineage. Each time we plant a native perennial, we contribute to a continuity that honours the old ways while opening doors for new eco-conscious practices.
In closing, let us recognise that incorporating British native perennials into our gardens isn’t merely a design trend; it’s a thoughtful lifestyle choice that benefits us personally and collectively as stewards of the land.
It is an embrace of a deeper connection to the earth, one that rewards us with resilience, a riot of life, and a legacy made evergreen. So, if you’ve yet to embrace these natural gems, I urge you to find space in your garden. Not merely because they’re fashionable, but because they mean something. Indeed, our gardens might just be the richer for it.