Quandry

I've recently grubbed out a couple of bramble (blackberry) bushes and have about twelve square feet of border waiting for something to go in. They were self-seeded and it seemed a bit pointless keeping them when they grow wild in such profusion round here.

My first thought was another rhubarb crown and currant bush but, to be honest, we have more soft fruit than we can eat so I'm inclined to something more decorative than edible. I'd like something that will attract pollinating insects but be compact and manageable. We already have buddleia and other flowering shrubs so any thoughts would be welcome.

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Permalink Reply by Bobby on October 31, 2011 at 10:12

What is the aspect of the area and soil type? Did you want something shrubby, or perennials?

Here's a few random ideas: Viburnum bodnantense Dawn? Good for early insects. Or a mixed planting of lavendars, rudbekias, echinaceas, perovskias etc for some late summer colour? Grow an ivy and allow it to mature - there's one growing up an old tree stump in our neighbours garden and it is literally humming with insects at this time of year when it is flowering. I assume you've already got a comfrey patch? You could plant a little tree if it wouldn't shade your veggie patch - I love amelanchiers. I've got two that I planted early in the year and the autumn foliage is fabulous.

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Permalink Reply by sweetpea lou on October 31, 2011 at 14:03

Definitely some Verbena bonariensis. Butterflies love it and I have been lucky enough in the last week to have 2 hummingbird hawk moths visiting my garden for the Verbena. Why not sow some cornflowers as well. They germinate really easily and bees love the blue variety.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Rideout on November 3, 2011 at 10:09

Agree with other suggestions and would add some Sedum and early spring flowers which will come up and disappear on their own like crocus, snowdrops, pulmonaria (sp?) and bluebells if its shady - invaluable for the bumblebees that get caught out by a few sunny days early in the year and come out too soon.

Have had masses of insects in a plug-planted patch of tussocky grass in our garden - put in Vipers Bugloss, Echinacea, ox eye daisies, Mullein, all plastered in insects, many of which I'd never seen before. Another patch just has garlic mustard and ramsons, early edible salad for us, little haven for orange tip butterflies.

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Permalink Reply by Bobby on November 3, 2011 at 10:39

Forgot to mention Eryngiums, if you've got good drainage. I had erygium planum in my old garden and it was covered in bees all summer. Smells a bit like manure, though! Also feverfew.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on November 3, 2011 at 16:14

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to go with the verbena and some more perennial herbs. I have some seeds of ramsons and sweet cicely and will pick up some plants at a local nursery.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Willetts on November 6, 2011 at 23:48

I dug up a bramble patch that was shading out the greenhouse and we have loads of blackberries in a bridleway just round the corner. The shade was actually quite useful in the summer so I am planting a patch of perennial asparagus instead-I can let the ferns grow after the harvest has finished so at least the greenhouse will get some shade in the hottest months.