Putting the technically correct construction of a gravel bed into practice is the sweaty overture for the garden project. The bed design is only complete with successful planting. This guide aims to inspire your gardening imagination with planting ideas for sunny to low-light locations.
Which plants are suitable for designing beds with gravel?
For a successful bed design with gravel, choose plants according to the location: sun lovers such as pearl baskets, Junker lilies and summer aster for sunny areas and hostas, purple bells, magnificent spars and monkshood for low-light locations. Give the bed a suitable border, such as metal or wickerwork.
Inspirations for the sunny gravel bed
The bed design with gravel is ideal for sun-drenched locations with sandy, lean soil. Floral specialists thrive in this location and do not give up in the blazing sun and short-term drought. The following species and varieties create a lively combination of stony barrenness and colorful blossoms:
- Pearl Basket 'Silberregen' (Anaphalis triplinervis) with silvery-white flowers from August to October; 30cm
- Junker lily (Asphodeline lutea), Mediterranean ambassador with yellow flowers in May and June; 80-100cm
- Summer aster (Aster amellus), easy-care abundance of flowers in beautiful colors from July; 40-50cm
Delicate and majestic ornamental grasses show off their most beautiful side in the sunny gravel bed. The wide selection ranges from the delicate mosquito grass (Bouteloua gracilis) to the picturesque diamond grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) to the mighty Pyrenean giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea).
Design a gravel bed in a low-light location - with these plants you can do it
It is a common misconception that designing beds with gravel is limited to sunny, dry locations. A garden with fresh, moist soil and partially shady to shady lighting conditions does not have to do without the magic of a gravel bed. The following plants add floral charm to the stone bed:
- Hosta, such as the small gold-edged hosta 'Abby' or the large gold hosta 'Amalia'
- Purple bells (Heuchera) with delicate flowers and beautiful decorative leaves
- Magnificent spars (Astilbe) bloom even in shady gravel beds from July to September
- Monkshood (Digitalis purpurea) boasts majestic flower candles even in low-light locations
If a shade-tolerant maple (Acer saccharum) boasts its furious foliage in the gravel bed, yellow elf flowers 'Fronleiten' (Epimedium x perralchicum) are useful as underplanting.
Tip
Give the gravel bed the finishing touch with a tasteful border. Choose a material that fits harmoniously into the appearance. In the modern garden, metal profiles made of aluminum, zinc or steel act as stylish boundaries. The gravel bed in the romantic cottage garden is surrounded by wicker segments made of hazelnut or willow.
