Erigeron karvinskianus

Plants for city gardens

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 16 March 2022 at 8:34 am

Discover 21 of the best plants to grow in a city garden, with limited space.

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City gardens tend to be smaller than the average plot. Fortunately, there's no shortage of plants that will work well in a limited space. There are even plenty of beautiful trees for small gardens.

The plants we've chosen won't outgrow their plot. They might be used to provide screening for privacy, to filter pollution from a busy road, or even to deter intruders.

Many city gardens benefit from the shelter of buildings and boundaries close by. These can create a mild microclimate, allowing you to grow beautiful exotic species that might not thrive on a more open site.

Plants for shade

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' AGM

Wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae) – fabulous acid-yellow bracts in spring and glossy evergreen foliage, and makes great ground cover in dry shade. Perfect for underplanting trees and shrubs
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' (pictured) – this deciduous perennial has heart-shaped leaves dusted with white. Dainty sprays of blue flowers rise above the foliage in spring
Sarcococca confusa – a great choice if you're after an evergreen shrub. Small white flowers appear from December to March and throw out a powerful scent

Blocking out noise

Miscanthus sinensis

Fargesia murielae 'Simba' – a well-behaved, clump-forming bamboo reaching 2m. It rustles gently in the wind, and its new leaves are a fresh green
Yew – a yew hedge will muffle noise and can be sited anywhere, including tricky shade
Miscanthus sinensis (pictured) – reaches 3m tall and forms dense plants that catch the wind to help block noise. Grow individually, in small groups or as an informal hedge

Creating privacy

Pittosporum tennuifolium

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) – its large, textured, evergreen leaves and spreading canopy make it ideal if you're overlooked. In a warm summer, it bears scented flowers and orange fruits
Pittosporum tenuifolium (pictured) – one of many great pittosporums, this evergreen has a columnar growth habit, so it is ideal for blocking out an overlooking window
Cotoneaster lacteus – can be clipped into a formal hedge or left as an informal screen. It has strongly veined leaves, white summer flowers and lots of berries for birds in autumn and winter. Some cotoneasters (not Cotoneaster lacteus) are listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in England and Wales. It is an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow these species in the wild. You should stop them spreading from your garden and avoid purchasing or accepting gifts of these species.

Deterring intruders

Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Milkmaid'

Pyracantha 'Orange Glow' – forms a thorny, impenetrable hedge with white flowers in June, followed by bright orange-red berries, and it will do well on a north- or east-facing boundary
Holly (pictured) – use holly to protect a vulnerable corner. It will grow anywhere and can be clipped into neat shapes, and many varieties produce berries. Slow-growing, so consider buying a large plant
Rosa rugosa 'Roseraie de l'Hay' – has wine-coloured, scented flowers with cream stamens and large hips. Very thorny, so let it grow to full size against a wall or fence to deter intruders

Combat pollution

Best winter-flowering plants - Mahonia 'Winter Sun'

Elaeagnus x ebbingei – this tough evergreen shrub can be left to grow loose, clipped or made into a very pollution-tolerant hedge. Has the bonus of creamy-white, scented autumn blooms
Osmanthus delavayi – an evergreen shrub with small, serrated leaves and highly fragrant spring flowers. Can be clipped into a neater shape after flowering
Mahonia 'Winter Sun' (pictured) – will grow in almost any setting and soil. Has large, architectural leaves and spikes of scented, cheery yellow flowers in late winter, great for masking pollution smells

Year-round interest

Acer griseum

Paperbark maple (Acer griseum, pictured) – this lovely maple has cinnamon-coloured, peeling bark that adds interest throughout winter and foliage that turns brilliant shades of orange and scarlet in autumn
Blueberries – tasty blueberries are ideal edible crops for city gardens. They produce pretty, bell-shaped flowers and fruit and have fabulous autumn colour. Grow in acidic soil in the ground or containers
Phlomis russeliana – the spent flowerheads look fabulous punctuating planting, and look magical when covered in frost. Pale-yellow, hooded flowers above heart-shaped leaves from late spring to early autumn

Roofs and balconies

Erigeron karvinskianus

Escallonia 'Apple Blossom' – has dark green, glossy foliage with pinky-white flowers in summer and copes well with strong winds. Can be trimmed back, shaped or used as a windbreak
Hebe rakaiensis – clusters of large white flowers in early and midsummer and glossy green leaves. It's a tough, rounded, evergreen shrub that forms a neat hummock and grows well in containers
Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus, pictured) – hard to beat for non-stop flowers. This low-growing, versatile perennial will grow away in a container and cope with just about anything

Watch what you plant

Some very vigorous plants can quickly smother a small garden. So before you buy a plant, spend a few minutes researching its habit, height, spread, soil and light conditions to be sure it will suit your plot.

Don't miss out this Winter

Enjoy expert advice on what to plant and grow this winter, and how to prepare your plot for the year ahead. Enjoy, 6 months for just £31.99

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