The Saga Insurance Garden - Gold

Gold winning show garden by Cleve West. The plants, many of which are supplied by Jekka McVicar, demonstrate the importance of herbs, not just from an aesthetic point of view, but for their medicinal, culinary and domestic use, which is increasingly playing a significant part in our busy lives.

Garden description

This garden explores the natural use of these herbs together with more familiar perennials to create a low maintenance garden. Simple lines and generous proportions belie the garden's quiet sense of drama and inspiration. A large concrete sculpture at the front of the garden is both striking and serene; it leads the eye along a path, through the herbs, to a quiet space at the back of the garden where a table and chairs offer relaxation. Here, seven sentinels of pollarded field maples create a sense of intimacy, security and permanence while three, sculpted, concrete vessels proffer quiet contemplation as they wait for rain.

Plant list: (click on any of the green links below to read more about the plant and to add to your own 'Plants I want' list)

Herbs
Allium schoenoprasum
Aloysia triphylla
Artemisia caucasica
Artemisia abrotanum
Atriplex hortensis var. rubra
Borago officinalis
Borago pygmaea
Bulbine frutescens
Calendula asiatica
Eriocephalus africanus
Escallonia resinosa
Ferula asafoetida
Foeniculum vulgare 'Giant Bronze'
Lavandula x 'Christina'
Leptospermum scoparium
Melissa officinalis
Mentha sp.
Mentha longifolia silver
Mentha suaveolens subsp. tarentina
Nepeta x faassenii
Ozothamnus marjorana
Origanum majorana
Perilla frutescens var. purpurescens
Phlomis fruticosa
Phlomis lanata
Rosmarinus officialis 'McConnells Blue'
Salvia argentea
Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. Rosmarinifolia
Teucriumx lucridrys
Thymus 'Jekka'
Thymus vulgaris
Westringia fruticosa 'Variegata'

Perennials
Acaena microphylla 'Copper Carpet'
Dianthys cruentus
Erigeron karvinskianus
Iris florentina
Verbascum blattaria 'Albiflora'
Verbascum pheoniceum

Bulbs
Allium albopilosum
Allilum multibulbosum
Allium schubertii

Trees
Acer campestre