The brief
With the landscaping already complete, the garden provided a true blank canvas: a series of newly formed beds with no existing planting to work around.
The clients wanted a garden filled with white and purple flowers, generous drifts of Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, contrasting purple foliage and enough evergreen structure to carry the garden through winter. As the brief closely reflected the style of planting I naturally gravitate towards, I was given considerable creative freedom to build the scheme from the ground up.
The planting
The planting was designed around layers of structure, foliage and seasonal colour, with each bed responding to its light conditions while keeping a consistent purple-and-white palette.
Acer griseum, Prunus serrula, Japanese maples and Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ provide height, bark, blossom and autumn colour, while Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ creates bold white focal points through summer.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ are repeated throughout to tie the beds together, with Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’ used in shadier areas and Echinacea ‘Alba’, Verbena ‘Bampton’ and white Agapanthus bringing lightness and movement to the sunnier planting.
Evergreen Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’ and the winter stems of Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ help maintain structure and interest beyond the main flowering season.
Seasonal bulbs extend the display from early spring, with purple crocuses and alliums alongside white daffodils and tulips.
Design approach
The planting was designed to feel abundant without losing structure. Repeated plants and colours tie the individual beds together, while contrasting foliage, grasses, flowering perennials and multi-stemmed trees create layers of height, texture and movement.
Spring bulbs begin the season before the perennials emerge, followed by a succession of white and purple flowers through summer and autumn. In winter, evergreen shrubs, ornamental bark, seedheads and structural planting ensure the garden retains interest long after the flowers have faded.
Key plants: Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ · Acer griseum · Prunus serrula · Geranium ‘Rozanne’ · Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ · Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’ · Echinacea ‘Alba’ · Verbena ‘Bampton’
Services: Consultation · Planting design · Plant sourcing · Installation · Irrigation · Aftercare
Chris & Sam. West Wickham, Bromley.
“Robbie helped us to design our garden in early 2025. Following a house renovation, we started with a complete blank canvas, and Robbie took the time to understand our ideas and bring them to life.
From the initial design he sketched to give our borders some shape, and plant selections based around a Pinterest board and colour scheme we loved, through to the planting itself, he was great to work with. Robbie really listened to our preferences to help us design our perfect garden, the space is exactly what we had imagined, with all the different plants working beautifully together and a lovely mix of colours and textures that change through the seasons and continue to give an interesting outlook which was just what we wanted.
It’s completely transformed the garden and has given it so much character. We’ve already had so many compliments from friends and family, and can’t wait to enjoy our garden for many more years to come.
Robbie is genuinely incredibly passionate about what he does, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone.”