Reach for the sky

Tall perennials can be a strategically smart way to hide unsightly features or create a vertical wall of colour in a small garden, as Graham Clarke explains

- Graham Clarke

SOMETIMES we want height in S our gardens, but we don't want the permanence of trees or shrubs. For example, a tall perennial may be just what's wanted as a centrepiece in an island bed. Or maybe you desire some in-your-face colour against a house wall, but no shrub will give you the look you want.

Perhaps privacy from your neighbours is an issue for you, but only in the warmer months (because of barbecues, beer and bare bodies). If so, a tall perennial that dies down at the end of the year, and re-emerges the following spring, can be a godsend.

Perhaps you need height on a patio or in a courtyard, and the only option here is to have it in a container. Well, that's not a problem. Growing perennials with height in large pots can really be an excellent option to spruce up the space you have by bringing a small area to life.

Living wall of colour

Today, also, increasing numbers of people want a 'living wall' of colour. Very often, because of smaller spaces, you can't plant outwards, so you go upwards instead. Tall plants growing in a bed in front of that wall may be just the ticket. Whatever your desire, there are plenty of towering perennials with just the right lofty, dramatic vibes for you.

Tall plants of any type help to bring structure to a garden year after year, and of course reward you with bursts of colour. But if you opt for perennials, remember that they are best grown in a relatively sheltered part of the garden, to prevent them from bending or snapping in the wind. Some tall perennials, but not all-think of ornamental grasses - may benefit from supporting or staking, and making this 'invisible' can be a skilled job, but very satisfying.

Lush and lavish leaves