We typically think of brightly blooming flowers, floral fragrance, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators when we think of a garden. And that is the normal type of garden setting with the idea being ‘the more the merrier’. However, just the opposite is true for a peaceful garden seating area.
Colorful blooms and pollinator activity should be kept to a minimum to create a calm and peaceful seating area. One focal plant surrounded by low-maintenance green plants that don’t produce blooms (or very small blooms) and descend in height to create layers of green is ideal.
Try these 5 plants for a peaceful garden seating area that will create a beautiful, inviting, and tranquil. scene.
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
An evergreen southern magnolia will make an ideal backdrop for a garden seating area. Place a wooden bench in front of the magnolia tree to block out the sights and sounds that are on the other side of the large tree.
If your climate is not good for growing southern magnolia, select a native evergreen tree for your garden seating area. An evergreen should be the center-point and/or backdrop so you won’t be stressed by fallen leaves that need to be cleaned up.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
These beautiful bushes planted on either side of the southern magnolia or other evergreen tree will thrive in the shade the tree provides. A conifer evergreen would also increase the soil acidity that hydrangeas love.
Hydrangeas reach 6-feet (1.8m) tall and wide when mature. They will produce large colorful blooms in spring that remain on the bush to dry and change colors.
You may be interested in my other article, How to Create Shade For Your Summer Gardens.
Ornamental Grass
Any type of ornamental grass that is native to your climate will work fine as the 3rd layer of green plant life for a peaceful garden seating area. Consider trying some of these:
Muhly grass reaches a mature height of 3-feet (90cm) and produces a bloom that looks like a Burgundy cloud.
Blue fescue produces brilliant blue needle-like foliage and grows to around 3-feet (90cm) tall.
Monkey grass is evergreen, drought-tolerant, reaches a mature height of 2-feet (60cm), and produces a small spike of purple flowers at the end of summer.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.)
This is a perennial groundcover that thrives in tree shade. It bears fragrant blue, pink, or white flowers during spring and summer. It reaches a mature height of 6-inches (15cm) and is drought-tolerant and good for planting in a shady container garden.
I have an article about 5 Scented Lawn Substitutes. You could plant these as groundcover too!
Container Plants
Containers of plants will finish the appearance of the garden seating area. Select foliage plants that grow well in your climate and create a container to place at each end of a garden bench. Plant:
*An elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta) as the central thriller
*Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) as the filler
*Coral bells (Heuchera americana) as the spiller plant
for a well-rounded appearance.
You may be interested in my other article, 5 Best Flowers for Hanging Baskets.
Creating a peaceful seating area in the garden sounds really fascinating. Let’s start working on a project this week!
How to Grow Magnolia
