There is no room in the natural garden for cocky exotics that have nothing to counter the climatic challenges of Central Europe. Only proven, local survival artists are included in the authentic design plan. The aesthetics are by no means left behind. These plants transform the natural garden into a sea of flowers.
Which plants are suitable for a natural garden?
Native wild perennials such as wood anemone, dark columbine, chamomile and large star umbel are suitable for a natural garden. Ornamental grasses such as the heart quaking grass and the shade sedge offer flower beauty. Flowering shrubs such as bird cherry, woolly viburnum, small-fruited crabapple and chokeberry serve as privacy screens and bird food.
Local wild perennials – the floral backbone in the natural garden
The ideal natural garden is a floral reflection of its natural surroundings. Therefore, it is best to include plants in the design plan that you might come across on a walk in the fields and forests. The following species are not only native, but also delight with their abundance of flowers:
- Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa); Flowering period from March to April
- Dark Columbine (Aquilegia atrata); flower-filled classic from May to June
- Dark chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria); golden yellow flowers from June to October
- Great Star Umbel (Astrantia major); white-pink flowers from June to July with subsequent blooms in September
Flower beauty with natural charm is displayed by local ornamental grasses with delicate spiked flowers. The heart trembling grass (Briza media) delights in sunny locations from May to July with green-yellow heart spikes that sway gently in the wind. Where light is in short supply, the shade sedge (Carex umbrosa) shines with red-brown ears in April and May.
Flowering bushes – privacy screen and bird food at the same time
In the natural garden, the function of plants is not limited solely to their decorative aspect. Only when beauty is complemented by a useful function do they deserve a place in the planting plan. For the woody plants in the enclosure, native flowering bushes with a privacy factor should be considered, whose flowers and berries serve as food for animals. The following species have qualified for this purpose:
- Black cherry (Prunus padus) with white flower spikes from April to May and berries in autumn
- Woolly viburnum (Viburnum lantana) with creamy white panicles from May and red-black berries
- Small-fruited crabapple (Malus sargentii) with white spring blossoms and yellow-red apples
- Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) with white umbels and black, vitamin-rich fruits
The best time to plant a hedge of wild fruit bushes is in autumn, when the warm, sunny soil offers the roots ideal conditions.
Tip
Flower meadows are the jewel in natural garden design. Specialist retailers have certified seeds (€19.00 on Amazon) available for all location conditions. Thanks to a carefully considered mix of wildflowers and grasses, flower meadows for natural gardens are somewhat resistant to wear and tear and are only mowed once or twice per season.
