The Chelsea Flower Show, dubbed the “catwalk of horticulture”, may seem like old news now, but fashion and trends in gardening move at a (hosta-devouring) snail’s pace, leaving us plenty of time to reflect. Most show gardens are just that, for show, and rather than getting caught up with what’s in and what’s out, I reckon the mantra “evolution rather than revolution” is best in garden design, as a radically chic or highly themed plot will quickly date. I always push for a classic style, which certainly doesn’t rule out contemporary gardens, and try to avoid shoe-horning in gimmicks and features. Sure, tweak the planting seasonally by adding in annuals, bulbs, herbs, etc, to keep it looking fresh, but realistically, who has the time and money to chase fashions? It’s an easy way to get sidetracked, too, resulting in the garden lacking the substance and depth that a well-designed, mature space should offer.

If you want longevity in a garden, you can’t go wrong with plenty of green. What was particularly interesting about Chelsea this year was the predominance of this colour throughout. Perhaps the current associations of green with eco-friendliness and sustain-ability is behind it and, boy, we gardeners are certainly conscious of our responsibilities these days. I have always been a fan of green, and was relieved not to have to pontificate on some of those in-your-face, crazy-coloured planting combinations too often seen at flower shows. I’m sure it had a huge effect on the exhibitors and visitors, too, as it was the most relaxed show I’ve been to – like “Chelsea meets the big chill”. All the verdant planting must have given this effect because there were certainly no drugs consumed.

The top designers at Chelsea celebrated the range of greens and the different ways they can be used. Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s Zen-influenced water garden was planted with water lilies, tall bamboos, and mostly green plants with a few whites thrown in to lighten certain areas. This was a garden that you could stand in front of and soak up, physically feeling your shoulders drop as the still, reflective water and green planting took effect. Tom Stuart-Smith won best in show with his unmistakably English garden, which went the whole hog by featuring solely green plants. Well, OK, 99.99 per cent green, as there were just a few white peonies, which I know he seriously stressed over putting in, as he thought they might detract. His purist plant palette consisted of a canopy of wonderfully cloud-pruned, sculptural hornbeam trees, which were under-planted with a mix of mainly perennials. These included the under-used cascading grass Hakonechloa macra and the exquisite Astrantia subsp. involucrata ‘Shaggy’, which was loving the dappled shade. At first, I was concerned that his range was a little too refined, sticking as it did entirely to mid-greens, but by the end of the week, I had come round to his rationale and saw the beauty of the subtle differences in leaf texture, their degrees of gloss or matt and their individual character, as well as their combined shapes. It was designed to be a room within a larger garden, but even if it was the only space you had, it would be one you could live with. Andy Sturgeon’s garden for Cancer Research UK was altogether more tropical and exotic, and the view up from the sunken terrace into the wild bank of tree ferns and Nothofagus trees showed how an untamed foliage of plants can, if chosen well, create a powerful, almost dangerous mood.

Although some designers may pretend that choosing the right shades is crucial, combining greens is a simple way to create a cohesive and harmonious look, as they rarely clash. As a basic rule, separate out your palette so that cool shades, such as the glaucous blue-green of hostas and blue grasses, are kept largely apart from the zingier yellow-greens found in euphorbias and Smyrnium perfoliatum, for example. Keep to one side of the spectrum and you won’t go far wrong. Variegated foliage plants with white or light yellow margins may not be to everyone’s taste, but they can help lift a composition, especially in a shady garden. If you find the discipline of creating an all-green garden too much, consider using it as a base colour, and add in a few brighter colours to work against it. Green, particularly dark greens such as yew and box, has the effect of intensifying other colours put next to it, so restraint is the key.

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BACKGROUND

• Gardening tips: ten things you need to know about trowels

• Gardening tips: ten things you need to know about wormeries

• Gardening tips: ten things you need to know about irises

• Gardening tips: ten things you need to know about slugs

TOP5 GREEN-FLOWERED PLANTS

– Paris polyphylla. A magical plant with leaves up to 30cm wide.

– Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Green Goddess’. This arum lily has a white-green flower-like spathe.

– Helleborus argutifolius. The Corsican hellebore has light green flowers and spiny, glossy green leaves.

– Alchemilla mollis ‘Lady’s Mantle’. This has frothy yellow-green flowers and will self-seed in the garden.

– Mathiasella bupleuroides ‘Green Dream’. Jade green, nodding bell-like flowers, held up to 1m tall.

Explore Gardens

• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

• Chelsea Flower Show

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