Woodland Gardens
I want to make a woodland garden, what plants do I need to achieve this?
Most gardens, whatever there size, can house a selection of woodland plants that will enjoy the sheltered and dappled shaded areas that deciduous trees provide. Larger gardens with mature oak, ash or other broad-leaved trees, allow some sunlight through, but the smaller birch trees and to an extent mountain ash, filter through more sunlight owing to the trees' small leaf size. A woodland garden on a smaller smaller scale may be made by using Japanese acer specimens, these aesthetically appealing architectural trees can be used to create a beautiful woodland garden along with a careful selection of appropriate smaller flowered perennials and ferns. Consider removing lower limbs of mature trees to lift the canopy allowing more light through if mature trees are heavily wooded.
A path of grass or bark chippings may be installed in order to enjoy woodlanders at close quarters; a timber bench strategically placed will further enhance the woodland garden and allow rest and quiet contemplation. As well as many suitable perennial plants, ferns and bulbs will further enhance the woodland garden by providing different growth interest. Beware of planting too close to surface roots of trees as the tree will undoubtedly out compete the woodland plants and aim to place the plants in a natural looking way, by planting in groups of threes and fives to make a natural looking clumps,certainly not in serried rows as you would in a parkland setting! Prior to planting sprinkle fish, blood and bone fertiliser, at the rate of 28gm2 and work into the soil surface. Adequate moisture will need to be present throughout the year and watering will probably need to be carried out during summer drought conditions.
Post planting, a mulch of leaf mould applied each year will help to retain moisture in the soil and also set off the woodland garden. But what of suitable plants for this situation? The following lists provide the details of many fine perennials, bulbs and ferns.
| Suitable Woodland Ferns | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | SEASON | COMMENTS |
| Adiantum venustum AGM | Himalayan Maidenhair Fern | All Year Round | An evergreen fern of triangular, mid-green fronds; in early summer the growth is tinted bronze-pink. A delicate-looking fern but hardy. |
| Athyrium filix-femina AGM | Lady Fern | March - November | A deciduous fern of tall, vertical fronds in spring, which gradually arch elegantly over during the summer. Plant at the edge of woodland schemes or in a woodland clearing. |
| Blechnum penna-marina AGM | Deer Fern | All Year Round | A small evergreen fern of pinnated fronds, reddish-bronzy-green when new, ageing slowly to glossy green. |
| Dryopteris erythrosora . AGM | Copper Shield Fern | March - November | A deciduous fern producing tufts of triangular fronds; these are copper-red when young but changing to dark green on maturity. |
| Dryopteris wallichiana AGM | Wallich's Wood Fern | March - November | A lovely deciduous fern bearing shuttlecocks of lance-shaped yellow-green fronds which later turn dark green; black or brown scales on the midribs. A highly recommended fern. |
| Polystychum polyblepharum | Japanese Tassel Fern | All Year Round | A handsome evergreen and very hardy fern bearing glossy shuttlecock- shaped green fronds that are covered in golden hairs when young. |
| Woodsia polystichoides | Holly Fern Woodsia | March - November | A tufted fern of lance-shaped pale green fronds, hairy and so tactile. |
| Suitable Woodland Bulbs | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | SEASON | COMMENTS |
| Arum italicum marmoratum (Pictum) AGM | Lords and Ladies | October - March | Green and white marbled leaves and berries during the winter months. Strictly speaking a tuberous perennial, and worth inclusion in any woodland garden. |
| Brimeura amethystina | syn. hyacinthus amethystina | May - June | A bulbous and diminutive bell-shaped flower of bright blue-amethystina or white-Alba; from the Pyrennees; great planted at the woodlands edge. |
| Chinodoxa Lucilae AGM | Glory-of-the snow | February - April | A bulbous perennial related to Scilla. Perfect diminutive plants for naturalizing in woodlands. Racemes of 3 star-shaped deep blue flowers produced in the spring. Quite charming. |
| Cyclamen coum AGM | Sow Bread | January - March | A diminutive tuberous perennial of rounded, deep green leaves with silver patterns. Various shades of pinkand is always a cheery sight. |
| Cyclamen coum Album AGM | Sow Bread | January - March | As above but white apart from a pink nose. |
| Eranthis hyemalis AGM | Winter Aconite | February - March | A clump-forming perennial of bright yellow flowers held over a ruff of bright green leaves, great with Cyclamen coum. |
| Ipheion uniflorum Albert Castillo | Spring Starflower | February - April | Clump-forming perennial that produces its foliage in the autumn. AC is a handsome and large-flowered white Ipheion that looks great planted close to small trees. |
| Ipheion uniflorum Charlotte Bishop | Spring Starflower | February - March | As I. Albert Castillo, but a more delicate form with pink flowers. |
| Leucojum aestivum Gravetye Giant AGM | Summer Snowflake | March - May | White, hanging and bell-shaped flowers, with green tips, borne over mid green strap-like foliage. Foliage dies away during late summer with new shots emerging in early winter. |
| Muscari azureum AGM | Grape Hyacinth | March - May | A bulbous perennial with lance-like leaves and powder-blue flowers, plant at edge of woodland garden to get the best light. |
| Ornithogalum nutans AGM | Ornithogalum | May - June | A bluebell-like looking plant that has a stripe of silver along the centre of the leaves.Grey-green star-shaped flowers of a pendulous nature. |
| Scilla bifolia AGM | Scilla | February - March | A diminutive bulbous perennial of purple-blue flowers. Perfect for naturalising. |
| Scilla siberica AGM | Siberian Squill | March - April | A bulbous perennial of Prussian-blue flowers produced slightly before the narrow leaves. |
| Tulipa kaufmanniana | Water Lily Tulip | March - April | Plant on edge of woodland garden or in area where they will receive good light, these tulips will give an early and cheery splash of colour. |
| Suitable Woodland Flowering Perennials | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | SEASON | COMMENTS |
| Anemone apennina AGM | Appenine Anemone | March - April | A perennial plant of short rhizomes and palmate leaves. A good fern for dry areas under trees; blue flowers above soft mounded foliage are borne in the spring. |
| Anemone nemorosa AGM | Windflower | March - July | A fast spreader of palmate leaves and solitary white flowers- A. n. 'Blue Bonnet' has deep blue flowers. A. 'Flore Pleno' has small double white flowers. |
| Anemone nemorosa 'Robinsoniana' AGM | Wood Anemone | April - June | As Anemone nemerosa but with large pale blue flowers- a quite enchanting woodlander and highly recommended. |
| Anemone rivularis | Anemone rivularis | April - June | A clump-forming woodlander of white, tinged blue flowers, held on stalks of around 80 cms in height. |
| Anemone sylvestris | Snowdrop Anemone | April - June | A carpet-forming anemone of white, fragrant flowers of up to 30cms in height. |
| Anemonella thalictroides | Anemone | March - June | A lovely little anemone with foliage resembling a Thalictrum. White flowers with yellow centres. |
| Aquilegia viridiflora | Aquilega | April - June | A dainty plant of brown and green flowers, scented but short-lived. |
| Arisaema candidissimum AGM | Arisaema | June - August | A tuberous perennial plant that carries scented spathes of pink and white stripes. The foliage is of 3-palmate leaves. China origin. |
| Arisaema flavum | Arisaema | June - August | A tuberous perennial of green and yellow spathes, followed by red fruits held above the 2- palmate foliage. An unusual looking plant that deserves to be more widely grown. |
| Beesia calthifolia Beesia | Beesia | April - July | Crumpled and leathery leaves with small white flowers from mid spring; a small but handsome and charming woodlander that looks good planted under trees. |
| Brunnera macrophylla AGM | Siberian Bugloss | April - June | A clump-forming and vigourous growing herbacaceous plant of heart-shaped hairy leaves with 'Forget-me Not' type bright blue flowers. |
| Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' | Siberian Bugloss | April - June | Description as brunnera macrophylla but with heavy silver foliage mottling. |
| Cardamine quinquifolia | Bittercress | April - June | A 5-palmate divided leaf of mid green with white simple flowers. Long flowering. |
| Convallaria majalis AGM | LIly of the Valley | March - June | A rhizamatous perennial of green sheath leaves and with pendulous bell-shaped, white sweetly scented flowers. Well known woodlander. |
| Corydalis cava AGM | Corydalis | March - May | A perennial of pale green dissected foliage. Flowers in the early part of spring of purple or white. |
| Corydalis flexuosa | Corydalis | March - August | A reliable woodlander of dissected foliage and blue flowers. Dormant during late summer, but leaves emerge again in late autumn and held throughout the winter months. |
| Corydalis solida AGM | Fumewort | March - April | Small tubers produce frothy grey-green foliage with spikes of pink, purple or white flowers. |
| Corydalis solida Beth Evans | Fumewort | March - April | A selected form of C.solida with white flash on flower spur. Not seed setting. |
| Dactylorhiza foliosa AGM | Marsh Orchid | April - June | A strong growing orchid with columnar spikes of purple flowers and strap-like leaves, sometimes mottled; best under trees. |
| Dicentra cucullaria | Dutchman's Breeches | March - May | A spreading perennial of blueish green foliage and racemes of white, yellow-tipped flowers of charm |
| Dodecatheon pulchellum AGM | Shooting Star | April - June | A striking and diminute plant of downward pointing pink flowers on reddish stems. For woodland or Alpine House. |
| Epimedium acuminatum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | May - July | A clump-making evergreen perennial of mid green foliage often with reddish brown markings. Light purple flowers. |
| Epimedium davidii | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | May - June | Clump-forming evergreen of green leaves copper when young; pale yellow flowers. 30/45 |
| Epimedium diphyllum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | Clump-forming evergreen of green leaves; bell-shaped white flowers. |
| Epimedium 'Enchantress' | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A clump-forming perennial with dark green foliage and pink/mauve flowers. |
| Epimedium grandiflorum 'Rose Queen' AGM | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | May - June | Clump-forming evergreen of green leaves, bronze when young, and rose-pink flowers. |
| Epimedium grandiflorum 'White Queen' AGM | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | May - June | A clump-forming evergreen of green leaves and large pure white flowers of 45cms. |
| Epimedium leptorrhizum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | May - June | A slowly spreading epimedium of red-stalks and pure white flowers. |
| Epimedium membranaceum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A slowly spreading epimedium of red-stalks and pure white flowers. |
| Epimedium perralderianum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A slow spreading epimedium of bronze young foliage and yellow flowers. |
| Epimedium pinnatum subs. Colchicum AGM | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A fairly slow clump-forming epimedium of dark green leaves and yellow flowers. |
| Epimedium pubigerum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A clump-forming evergreen of green leaves; white to yellow flowers held well above the foliage. |
| Epimedium sempervirens | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A clump-forming epimedium of mid green foliage and white flowers. |
| Epimedium x setosum | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A clump-forming epimedium of reddish brown mottled leaves and white flowers. |
| Epimedium x versicolor | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | Mottled bronze and green foliage with small shell-pink sepals and yellow petals. |
| Epimedium x versicolor var. versicolor | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A mottled bronze and green foliage perennial with small shell-pink sepals and yellow petals. |
| Epimedium x youngianum 'Merlin' | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A clump-forming deciduous epimedium of red tinged leaves and mauve flowers. |
| Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' AGM | Barrenwort or Bishop's Mitre | April - June | A lovely epimedium with pure white flowers and beautifully coloured foliage. Highly recommended. |
| Erythronium dens-canis AGM | Dog's Tooth Violet | April - June | A clump-forming perennial bearing mid green leaves that are mottled bronze; solo white, pink or lilac flowers on slender stems. A beautiful addition to the woodland garden. |
| Erythronium hendersonii | Erythronium hendersonii | March - June | Bright green mottled leaves and lilac-pink flowers of subtle fragrance. |
| Erythronium revolutum | American Trout Lily | April - June | A bulbous perennial with brown-mottled foliage and pink pendant flowers with curved tepals. |
| Hepatica nobilis AGM | Liverleaf | March - May | Lobed foliage and flowers of white, pink or blue; slow growing and quite charming. Very popular in Japan. |
| Hepatica transsilvanica AGM | syn. H. Angulosa | March - May | A most charming woodlander of kidney-shaped leaves and pale blue flowers. |
| Jeffersonia dubia | Jeffersonia | May - July | A diminutive blue-flowered woodlander, with blue/green kidney-shaped leaves. Not well known to British gardens. |
| Kirengeshoma palmata | Kirengeshoma | August - October | A plant of angular foliage and nodding yellow flowers of great interest. |
| Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' AGM | Summer Snowflake | March - June | A perennial of strappy foliage and pendulous white flowers with a green petal tip. A majestic plant suitable for light woodlands. |
| Maianthemum racemosum AGM | aka Smilacina racemosa | March - June | A clump-forming perennial of arching stems amd creamy white flowers. |
| Polygonatum x hybridum AGM | Solomon's seal | April - June | A perennial of horizontal stems and upward pointing leaves and greenish/white flowers descending from the stems in spring. Much used by Gertrude Jekyll. |
| Primula sieboldii AGM | Primula sieboldii | March - May | A plant for a damp woodland area bearing umbels of rose/violet flowers in spring. Carpets slowly in woodland setting. |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose | January - June | The native and much loved primrose of pale yellow flowers. Best grown close to hedges and woodland edges but also open woodland areas. |
| Pulmonaria angustifolia AGM | Blue Cowslip | February - May | A clump-forming perennial of unspotted, intense blue flowers. |
| Pulmonaria mollis | Pulmonaria | February - May | A vigorous perennial with an unspotted leaf and rich blue flowers. |
| Pulmonaria saccharata | Jerusalem Sage | February - May | A clump-forming perennial with spotted leaves and red/violet flowers. |
| Saxifraga 'Black Ruby' | Saxifrage | April - October | An attractive new plant of ruby coloured foliage and deep pink flowers. Dormant form late autumn. |
| Saxifraga fortuneii AGM | Saxifrage | April - June | An attractive plant of kidney-shaped leaves and panicles of white flowers borne freely |
| Saxifraga 'Southside Seedling' AGM | Saxifrage | April - June | An excellent plant for many situations and the edge of a woodland setting. Rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves and arching panicles of white flowers spotted red. A beauty. |
| Saxifraga stolonifera 'Tricolor' AGM | Saxifrage | May - July | A tuft-forming and kidney-shaped leaved perennial of red and white. Panicles of tiny white flowers. |
| Smyrnium perfoliatum | Perfoliate Alexanders | March - July | A plant of bract-like yellow-green foliage and minute greenish-yellow flowers; very handsome plant. |
| Soldanella villosa | Soldanella | March - May | An edge of woodland charmer of rounded leaves and violet fringed petals. |
| Synthyris missurica stallata | Synthyris | March - June | A diminutive and pretty woodlander of hairy, heart-shaped leaves and purple/blue flowers. A very worthy addition to your woodland garden. |
| Thalictrum kiusianum | Meadow Rue | May - August | A small woodlander of bluish 5-lobed leaflets and pale pink flowers. |
| Tiarella cordifolia AGM | Foamflower | May - August | A spreading woodlander of heart-shaped leaves and a myriad of small white flowers. |
| Tiarella wherryi AGM | Foamflower | May - August | A clump-forming perennial of white tinged pink flowers and heart-shaped flowers. |
| Trillium albidum | Sweet Trillium | April - June | A lovely woodlander of showy white blooms held over glossy mid green leaves. Ideal at the edge of a woodland scheme. |
| Trillium erectum 'Maroon' AGM | Birth Root | March - May | An upright and strong growing woodlander of maroon flowers and green sepals. |
| Trillium grandiflorum AGM | Wake Robin | April - June | Pure white wavy-petalled flowers that slowly take on a pink tinge. A beautiful woodlander that must be grown. |
| Uvularia grandiflora var. 'Pallida' | Large Merribells | March - June | A spreading perennial with downward pointing leaves and tubular bell-shaped flowers of pale yellow. |
