When our gardens are bursting with vibrant colour and there is something new to see in the garden every day, we often wish it would last.

With just one example, we can show you how to make the most of every season, however big or small your garden, with our guide to creative planting associations.

Your inspiration could be the colours you love, your favourite plants or a garden theme – but whatever you want to create, a bit of careful planning and thought before you buy your plants will pay dividends.

Our inspiration is the fantastic ‘White Garden’ collection from the world-famous Chelsea veterans Hilliers – we’ve included the details below to get you started, and then it’s over to you to let your creativity and imagination go wild!

The White Garden

Designed as a place of enchantment, simple, elegant and timeless, this plant collection is a celebration of the classical English white gardens of Hidcote Manor and Sissinghurst Castle. Whenever Hilliers have included it in one of their Chelsea Flower Show exhibits, people love it and always comment that they would love to have it in their own gardens – and now you can!

The White Garden collection makes it easy for you to create a beautiful white planting scheme whether it’s in a bed, a border or an entire garden. It contains the all-important structural plants so that you only need to add seasonal white filler plants in order to achieve your unique design.

And not only do the White Garden collection of plants look good and work well together, they have been specifically chosen because they are at their best at different times of the year – which results in extended seasonal interest and more to enjoy in your garden!

So let’s look at the plants…

1. The Evergreens

Shrubs and foliage form the heart of the White Garden, and evergreen shrubs with green, silver or white-variegated foliage will create your structure and provide year-round interest.

Pittisporum and Rhamnus are used to form the upper canopy while the middle and lower levels use key shrubs such as Choisya, Cistus, Euonymous and Lavandula – additional structure is provided by Astelia.

And some of these also have fantastic flowers, wonderful scent and beautiful berries too!

Choose from:

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Irene Paterson’

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Variegatum’

Rhamnus alaternus ‘Argenteovariegata’

Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’

Cistus obusifolius ‘Thrive’

Euonymous fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’

Euonymous japonicus ‘Kathy’

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Arctic Snow’

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegata’

Astelia ‘Silver Shadow’

Convolvulus cneorum

2. Deciduous Shrubs & Climbers

Shrubs such as Cornus, Philadelphus and Viburnum  will provide a variety of plant shapes with their own stunning foliage and flower impact. And Passiflora adds floral height while herbaceous plants such as Centranthus, Digitalis and Hosta provide the flourishing finish.

Choose from:

Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’

Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’

Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’

Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’

Passiflora ‘White Lightning’

Centranthus ruber ‘Albus’

Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora

Hosta ‘Francee’

Hosta ‘ Patriot’

3. Seasonal Fillers

Cosmos, Snowdrops and Anemones would be just a few of our suggestions, but you can choose your own personal favourites to make your ‘White Garden’ unique.

Now you have the basic rules of structure, height and fillers, you can apply these ideas to any part of your garden using your favourite colours and themes to create your own designs – just don’t forget to make sure you have plants which are at their best at different times of the year.

And if you’d love your own ‘White Garden’ then we have the plants in-store NOW for your to re-create it for yourself – and lots of others if you need more inspiration!

So come in and take a look around – get thinking, get creative and prepare to enjoy your beautiful garden for longer!