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    SD Landscapes · Garden Pal planting guide

    The Zigzag drought-tolerant border in three climates

    Plant it in three climates

    Top view of the 3 m × 1.50 m zigzag drought-tolerant border
    Top view, 3 m × 1.50 m

    One design, three versions: the UK, a dry Mediterranean garden, and the cool, wet north of Europe. The bed is 1.5 × 3 m. Keep the layout, and swap the plants to suit where you live.

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    Front elevation and top view of the UK zigzag drought-tolerant border, 1.5 by 3 metres.
    The UK version: front elevation and 1.5 × 3 m top view.

    The UK plant key

    Evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous plants, with the symbols used on the plan.

    UK plant key: evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous plants, with the symbols used on the plan.

    Three climates, side by side

    Dry Mediterranean front elevation of the zigzag drought-tolerant border.
    Dry Mediterranean version.
    Cool, wet north of Europe front elevation of the zigzag drought-tolerant border.
    Cool, wet north of Europe version.

    The swaps by height

    Height-swap board for the taller plants, with the UK, dry Mediterranean, and cool, wet north of Europe side by side.
    Height-swap board for the frame shrubs, mounds and grasses, with the UK, dry Mediterranean, and cool, wet north of Europe side by side.
    Height-swap board for the strap leaves, silver mats, pink-red mids and oregano, with the UK, dry Mediterranean, and cool, wet north of Europe side by side.

    The full swap table

    RoleAmountUKDry MediterraneanCool, wet north of Europe
    Frame shrub3Phlomis fruticosa (50–100 cm, RHS)Phlomis fruticosaPotentilla fruticosa (60–120 cm, NC State Extension)
    Frame mound5Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' (10–50 cm, RHS)Lavandula latifolia (60 cm in flower, Filippi)Hyssopus officinalis (10–50 cm, RHS)
    Fine fountain grass5Stipa tenuissima (60 cm, RHS)Stipa tenuissimaSesleria autumnalis (30 cm, flower spikes to about 45 cm, MBG)
    Strap leaves + spike5Sisyrinchium striatum (80 cm, RHS)Asphodeline lutea (1–1.5 m, RHS)Iris pallida (60–90 cm, flower stems to 100 cm, MBG) or I. germanica (50–100 cm, RHS)
    Low silver mat5Stachys byzantina (10–50 cm, RHS)Stachys cretica (40–50 cm, Filippi)Stachys byzantina
    Pink-red mid5 (Med: 2)Lychnis coronaria (80 cm, RHS)Centranthus ruber (50–100 cm, RHS)Lychnis coronaria
    Tall spires5Echium vulgare (90 cm, RHS)Echium vulgareEchium vulgare*
    Pollinator mound3Origanum vulgare (20–80 cm, RHS)Origanum laevigatum (10–50 cm, RHS)Origanum vulgare
    Purple back-middle3 (Med: 2)Centaurea nigra (75–90 cm, RHS)**Salvia candelabrum (125 cm+, Filippi)Centaurea nigra**
    Airy crimson-purple3Knautia arvensis (1.5 m, RHS)Scabiosa holosericea (50 cm, Filippi)Knautia arvensis
    Small red self-seedersow lastPapaver rhoeas (75–90 cm, RHS)Papaver rhoeasPapaver rhoeas

    • Frame shrub

      Amount
      3
      UK
      Phlomis fruticosa (50–100 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Phlomis fruticosa
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Potentilla fruticosa (60–120 cm, NC State Extension)

    • Frame mound

      Amount
      5
      UK
      Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' (10–50 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Lavandula latifolia (60 cm in flower, Filippi)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Hyssopus officinalis (10–50 cm, RHS)

    • Fine fountain grass

      Amount
      5
      UK
      Stipa tenuissima (60 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Stipa tenuissima
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Sesleria autumnalis (30 cm, flower spikes to about 45 cm, MBG)

    • Strap leaves + spike

      Amount
      5
      UK
      Sisyrinchium striatum (80 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Asphodeline lutea (1–1.5 m, RHS)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Iris pallida (60–90 cm, flower stems to 100 cm, MBG) or I. germanica (50–100 cm, RHS)

    • Low silver mat

      Amount
      5
      UK
      Stachys byzantina (10–50 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Stachys cretica (40–50 cm, Filippi)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Stachys byzantina

    • Pink-red mid

      Amount
      5 (Med: 2)
      UK
      Lychnis coronaria (80 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Centranthus ruber (50–100 cm, RHS)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Lychnis coronaria

    • Tall spires

      Amount
      5
      UK
      Echium vulgare (90 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Echium vulgare
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Echium vulgare*

    • Pollinator mound

      Amount
      3
      UK
      Origanum vulgare (20–80 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Origanum laevigatum (10–50 cm, RHS)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Origanum vulgare

    • Purple back-middle

      Amount
      3 (Med: 2)
      UK
      Centaurea nigra (75–90 cm, RHS)**
      Dry Mediterranean
      Salvia candelabrum (125 cm+, Filippi)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Centaurea nigra**

    • Airy crimson-purple

      Amount
      3
      UK
      Knautia arvensis (1.5 m, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Scabiosa holosericea (50 cm, Filippi)
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Knautia arvensis

    • Small red self-seeder

      Amount
      sow last
      UK
      Papaver rhoeas (75–90 cm, RHS)
      Dry Mediterranean
      Papaver rhoeas
      Cool, wet north of Europe
      Papaver rhoeas

    Sources: Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) plant profiles; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox; Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) Plant Finder; Pépinière Filippi, Mèze, France (jardin-sec.com) plant data sheets; Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board; Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN), Michigan State University. Heights are typical ranges and vary with site.

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