Flowering Shrubs And Their Important Characteristics

Scented shrubs
Shrubs with scented flowers add oomph to whatever else is looking good at the time. Plant them in a sheltered spot so that the fragrance doesn't blow away; the warmer and more still the air is, the more powerfully the scent will build up.

Filling in the fine detail
Trees, evergreens and flowering shrubs provide the background to the garden and some seasonal highlights, but what makes the ever- changing tapestry of colors are the flowers — roses, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, annuals, alpines and exotics.

Making plant associations

The smaller flowers are the next plants to add as your planting develops, but it's no good just picking your favorites and hoping they'll look good together, because they probably won't. You need to create plant associations — attractive groups — so that each plant shows its own best points, but also brings out the best in its neighbors. The one thing I'd always do if you are buying plants for a particular bed is to stand them in a group at the garden centre to see how they look together. At home, stand them in position on the actual spot and rearrange them as necessary until you hit the winning combination. Making good plant combinations is an art that grows on you with practice, but a few tips come in very handy for starters. It takes me ages to get it right, sometimes — but I still get a lot of pleasure out of doing it.

Contrast, contrast, contrast

Designers don't see things the same way as gardeners. Where we see a good plant, what they see is texture, height, shape, size and color. When you make plant associations, try to think more like a designer, and leave your horticultural appreciation for later.

The aim is to put plants together that contrast well. Go for contrasts of shape and texture first. A tall, upright, bony-looking plant, such as bamboo, looks good with a large, prickly, horizontal leaf, such as those of gunnera. Strappy-leaved phormium looks great with a low, creeping carpet at its feet. Contrast shiny evergreens with rough-textured trunks or prickly stems. Big, round flower shapes, like those of the ornamental alliums, stand out well against a background of small, frothy, filler-flowers and upright spikes.
 You can visit this flower guide for more information about this article.