Plants and young children can co exist in your garden. The following plants are all easy to grow and maintain and are available in most good garden centres. They all have a reasonably long flowering period and can cope with being hit by the odd football.
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(Common name Crane’s-bill)
Not to be confused with the summer bedding plant pelargonium
which is often referred to as a geranium.
- Key features Perennial with lovely blue flowers. Height 30cm spread 60cm.
- Why family friendly Star performer. Not usually eaten by slugs. Has a long flowering period.
- Watch out Would not be able to copy with persistent trampling.
- Alternatives Geranium x Oxonianum ‘Wargrave Pink’ or many of the other perennial geraniums.
Lady’s Mantle (Common name)
Alchemilla Mollis
- Key features Perennial with light green foliage and small yellow green flowers. Height 30cm spread 30cm.
- Why family friendly Long display period, good self-seeder and low grower for front of border. Leaves look lovely with water droplets on them.
- Alternatives Alchemilla Conjuncta
Perennial Wallflower (Common name)
Erysimum ‘Bowles’ Mauve’
- Key features Perennial Bushy plant with mauve flowers and evergreen leaves. Height to 75cm spread 45cm or more.
- Why family friendly Flowers for up to 9 months. Evergreen leaves.
- Watch out Can become shrubby and may have to be replaced after a couple of years. Once the first flowers finish cut back the stems to produce a succession of flowers.
- Alternatives Erysimum ‘Fragrant Sunshine’
Hebe ‘Red Edge’
- Key features A compact evergreen bush with mauve flowers and leaves edged in red. Height 50cm spread 50cm.
- Why family friendly All Hebes are attractive to bees and many butterflies. Summer and winter interest and easy to grow.
- Alternatives Hebe ‘Mrs Winder’
Clematis ‘Bill Mackenzie’
Orange Peel Clematis (Common Name)
- Key features fast growing climber with yellow bell shaped flowers.
- Why family friendly Long flowering period, masses of flowers. Large silky seedheads provide winter interest.
- Watch out Will need to be supported or tied in. Will require pruning in early spring.
- Alternatives Clematis Orientalis ‘Golden Tiara’
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