Plant ideas please for edge of deck.

[Jungfraujoch]

Hello, DH has just dug out a bed close to our seating area and I’m stuck now on what to plant!

I quite fancy a standard olive perhaps for a start? But am also thinking something scented would be nice too. Preferably evergreen so year round interest.

Osmanthus is a lovely small leaved shrub that has loads of small white flowers, out now. The scent is heavenly.

My Osmanthus has absolutely zero smell. I’m so disappointed! It’s an Osmanthus burkwoodii - is that what yours is, Beebumble2 ?

I'd put in a mahonia, preferably 'soft caress' because it's the only spineless one. Evergreen, yellow flowers in autumn and early winter and fragrant. Sorry seems to be a long link!

www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/mahonia-soft-caress-spineless-evergreen-mahonia-shrub-12764?fee=1&fep=12764&msclkid=f791c81d1fb91872485da86c95073ce5&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TD%20-%20Shopping&utm_term=4575067887528498&utm_content=TD%20-%20Shopping

And I'd probably also have a philadelphus - there are lots of different ones - because I love the flowers and the fragrance. Not evergreen though.

I've just bought eucalyptus "France Bleu" which is a dwarf variety of the usual eucalyptus gunnii. It grows between 2m-3m tall depending on what website you read. The classic eucalyptus can be pruned aggressively to keep it in check but I was worried I might accidentally let it go too far.

I've also got a bay tree which only really smells if you crush the leaves but has been really useful for cooking.

MilduraS that eucalyptus looks lovely, I didn't know you could get dwarf eucalyptuses.

Daphne odora - possibly the slowest growing plant I've ever bought so I'd recommend forking out the cash and buying a big one if possible.

Thank you all, I will check out your suggestions.

Catabogus mine must be Delavalyi, I bought it several years ago, it has the smaller darker leaves.

Gaura is really pretty and Mediterranean looking. Very drought tolerant too though it’s not scented.
I bet it would look gorgeous coupled with standard olive trees though

Does it get a lot of sun? Daphnes don't enjoy too much sun, although D Bholua are more sun friendly, we have Jacqueline Postill .

Gaura is insanely pretty, we lost one to the snow this winter, but I was overjoyed to see the other beginning to shoot.

Penstemon are worth a look OP, they keep their leaves through winter, then get cut back around now. Lovely spires of flowers in lots of colours. Reds, purples, blues, pinks.

I'd forgotten that daphnes aren't sun lovers - that's a good point. I was thinking fragrant evergreens.....

A neighbour has a border with olive trees, and in between, a mix of salvia amistad, white gaura, verbena bonariensis, and a rather lovely dwarf echinops. It looked lovely.

@MrsBertBibby

Does it get a lot of sun? Daphnes don't enjoy too much sun, although D Bholua are more sun friendly, we have Jacqueline Postill .

Gaura is insanely pretty, we lost one to the snow this winter, but I was overjoyed to see the other beginning to shoot.

Penstemon are worth a look OP, they keep their leaves through winter, then get cut back around now. Lovely spires of flowers in lots of colours. Reds, purples, blues, pinks.

Sun for most of the day until early evening. So needs to be able to tolerate!

@MrsBertBibby

A neighbour has a border with olive trees, and in between, a mix of salvia amistad, white gaura, verbena bonariensis, and a rather lovely dwarf echinops. It looked lovely.

That sounds lovely!

Lavender. Keep it pruned and it’ll be fantastic and bee friendly. Also creeping thyme and oregano.

Catnip is attractive for bees and butterflies and has the advantage of not going woody (i always panic about pruning).

Salvia amistad and gaura are great suggestions - neither are hardy enough for our garden (Cambs) so I have to over winter them in a greenhouse but if your spot is warmer you'll be fine