Plants for a cottage garden border

[PinkCamelias]

I have some space under a south facing wall where I’d love to have a cottage border, continuing the already existing style. From the right, there’s a wisteria, then pink shrub roses, peonies and phlox, then in front of the exposed stretch of the wall more roses (pink and dark red) and peonies, a Japanese spindle (?) and a tree peony. At the end of the border there’s another, white shrub rose.

The strip that I have available for planting is max. 50 cm wide and ca. 3 m long (the wall is a bit more than 2 m high, for scale).

i have so far planned: hollyhocks (dark purple and cream/peach); delphinium (blue, two shades), peach leaf bellflower (purple and white), shrubby sage (apricot), hardy geranium. I don’t think I have space for anymore smaller/filler plants.

Does it sound good? Would you change or add anything? How many of each plant to get?

Euphorbia to fill in gaps and provide year round colour. I have a lovely one with dark purple leaves and stems.

Is sweet William any type of pinks, or just these with a different coloured edge? I bought cream pinks (dianthus).

I'm a fan of geums, which seem pretty slug resistant.

That's a great idea @Blarn . I didn't think about it, but I could get it next time, if I have space. Maybe for my other border, more in the shade - I don't think they like too much sun?

Instead of Honeysuckle why not a Jasmine? Flowers last ages, bees love it and it's evergreen. We also have Dunnocks living in ours!

I've got a couple in full sun and they do ok. Are very good with dry conditions.

I built this wall and have some espalier pear and apple planned against it

Do you mean the star jasmine @SleepingisanArt ? I have it on my terrace, and the real jasmine too, but that one is not evergreen. I love them both so yes, definitely an option.

That's good to know! I will remember about them then, and geums, @menopausalmare which are also on my list.

That looks very romantic @billysboy !

Agree with the wall admiration! I'd start with the tall stuff you're suggesting (but more of each) and the wall-trained fruit, and gradually over the next couple of years take up the boring meadowy grass and let the beautiful border get wider and wider with the shorter perennials....

I think you will need to plant a few inches away from the wall as it will remain very dry there

@napody I got 3 of each of everything (and 4 hollyhocks), unless a plant came in a bigger pot (a couple did). Its very hard to imagine how many I will fit there, especially if I should leave space between them to not overcrowd them, so I prefer to add more later, if needed.

If the border expands, it will quickly meet the one on the opposite side (the garden is only 6 m wide) :) But here is still space for some front of the border plants at the expense of grass.

Have you tried putting it into Gemini ai for some ideas and then ask it to give you an image ?
I have found this really useful as my creative mind is exhausted now I am at the end of the build