Trailing flowers for a raised bed with fruit trees?

[HurdyGurdy19]

My husband is currently building a deep (bottomless) bed (see photo when it's uploaded), where he wants to plant our fruit trees. He will do a second one, once the first (experiment!) has been finished.

We have apple, one tree with two types of pears, one tree with two types of plums, one with two types of cherry (which I think has given up on us) and a pomegranate (which I think we've lost over the winter, but will keep everything crossed for it). He wants to put something at the bottom of the trees, to trail over the wood.

That part of the garden is the part that gets most sun, and the plan for the next stage is to create a seating/firepit area just in front of the beds, so something that has a nice fragrance would be lovely.

We also have raspberry, loganberry, blackberry and blueberry bushes, but he thinks he's read that you shouldn't put these under/around trees. Does anyone know if this is the case?

I love Nicotania, but they have a fairly short flowering period, so would need to interspace them with something else. I like the look of Surfinia, but very open to any other ideas/suggestions. I would like a riot of colour 😃

How many fruit trees are going in each raised bed? They could be a little crowded.

For a riot of colour there are loads of sun loving annuals but they will be competing with the trees and in shade once the trees are out. Cosmos are cheap and flower for ages.

Hopefully more knowledgable posters will be along.

He's thinking of putting three trees in each bed. They are mainly patio trees, which are currently in large pots.

I didn't realise Cosmos are trailers, so will definitely consider those. I grew some from seeds last year, but ended up giving them away, as I wasn't sure where to put them 😅

If you want perennials look at hardy geraniums like Rozanne, or Erigeron - both are prolific & great trailers.
For scent - phlox & night scented phlox (great for moths).

I have a similar arrangement in my garden, OP, so will be looking out for nice suggestions here.

Agree that the fleabanes would be a good choice - there are some nice colours but they don't smell. How about some trailing rosemary?

Nasturtiums would be a good choice for vibrant colour and trailing habit and would work well as companion plants for fruit trees. For scent in the evenings, night-scented stocks would be as good as anything. Nicotiana also excellent in the evening, of course, though they won't trail. In my view, the affinis variety gives stronger scent than sylvestris.

Trailing rosemary, the flowers encourage the bees for pollination. Also lavender and sage for a lovely perfume.

Nasturtiums trail.

Creeping thyme if it’s for ground cover? Trailing rosemary too. They’re both bee friendly and smell lovely.

Nasturtium are lovely but a summer bloom only - what about some lobelia or even some perennial trailing (or hanging basket type) sweet peas (again, summer)

Herbs are good under fruit trees: encourage pollinators for the fruit trees and have a fitting vibe. I’d go with thyme, trailing rosemary, chives, perhaps oragano maybe some lovely red basil in the summer?

Last year mine flowered well into December.

Oh wow - thank you. Some lovely suggestions.

Do you buy online, or it is best to go to the garden centre/B&M/The Range to see the plants in person. (Fairly new to, and therefore lacking in experience and knowledge of, this gardening malarky! )

I have bought some bare root strawberries online, and so far, apart from one plant, they seem to be growing well.

Chives are also meant to deter aphids if you plant them round the trunk of the tree.

Can't beat petunias for trailing and colour.