Sun Trap Plants

[SarahJinx]

Hi all

We have a pretty substantial but previously neglected garden and have spent a lot of time getting it under control. At the back of our house we have a potentially lovely, but very grey and tired terraced area that needs a lot of patching up, patio replacing etc. It’s huge though, and so it’s out of our budget and low on our (huge list of) priorities at the mo but we’d like to be able to use it for outdoor dining. So, we’ve weeded and steam cleaned it, so we can at least use it. It could be gorgeous and gets total sun, no shade at all for most of the day.

We’re going to live with it for now but it needs some colour desperately and I’ve found about 15 gorgeous old pots that I’ve steam cleaned. What sort of plants thrive in this sort of area? I have a giant olive tree that I’ve plonked there and a gorgeous huge potted hydrangea that is struggling in the direct heat and sunlight but looks gorgeous. I need colour and low maintenance, any ideas please?

Similar to my list on another thread!

Rock rose
Convulvulus cneorum
Vinca
Pinks, other alpines
Lavender
Rosemary
Thyme, creeping thyme
Rose campion
Verbena
Erigeron

Also various climbers if you want to go up the walls - trachelospermum, honeysuckle, clematis (if you can keep the roots in shade), grapevine, wisteria

As you have no shade, what about building some sort of pergola from trellis and growing a vine or wisteria over it to create a shaded dining area?

Thank you.

We considered a pergola but think we’re going to be knocking out a wall to put in some french windows so that will come a bit later on. We have MUCH to do but seems criminal to have such a lovely area and not try to at least use it u til we can make more of it.

Thanks loads for the plants, off to google!

Sedums and houseleek type plants in some of the smaller pots?
Perlagoniums in summer, there might still be a few (and various other annuals) around in nurseries.