Garden Mementos for the Coronation
As the Coronation weekend approaches, it’s the perfect time to add a plant or two with a royal theme to the garden to commemorate the occasion. Plant now for enjoyment in the months and years ahead.
Roses
For an iconic addition to the summer garden, perhaps introduce a new rose such as Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’ Rose Bush. A tall rose, with lightly scented pink cup flowers, it will certainly make a big statement, towering at a potential height of 2.2 metres, perfect at the back of a border. The pink double blooms flower from June through to November. Rosa ‘Countess of Wessex’ Bush Rose delivers large cream flowers and is a highly scented, elegant shrub rose, perfect for beds and borders with a backdrop of dark, glossy green foliage – a wonderful addition to the garden to remember the King’s Coronation.
English Lavender
Choose traditional English lavender (‘Hidcote’, Munstead, Intermedia Gross) for a stunning and fragrant addition to a garden and reminder of the King’s Coronation of 2023. Planted singularly or as part of an attractive path feature, to create a cottage garden look, though an equally stylish look for a sleek, modern, Mediterranean oasis feature too.
Plant a Tree
Planting a tree with a royal link as a memento of the King’s Coronation is a lovely way to mark the occasion, especially given the King’s enthusiasm for trees. A regal acer such as Acer Platanoides ‘Crimson King’ which has large purple leaves, turning crimson in autumn and can grow to a height of 12 metres. For something a little smaller, a Malus Jelly King is a compact deciduous ornamental crab apple tree with springtime white flowers followed by orange/pink crab apples.
Alternatively, for a later summer flowering plant consider Cotinus Coggyria ‘Royal Purple’, a deciduous hardy perennial shrub with dark red-purple leaves, providing fluffy plumes of purplish-pink flowers in July and August.
Bedding Plants
If instant patriotic colour is what is required, think of grouping red, white and blue themed plants with the addition of bold bedding plants in beds, pots and hanging baskets. For ready blooms around the Coronation, think of planting up a perfect combination of red geranium, white “New Guinea” impatiens interspersed with bacopa “Blue”, in partial bloom now they will soon deliver a rich display of strong colour. Alternatively go for a regal purple theme. Other bold additions to consider are marigold, osteospermum, fuchsia and trailing lobelia as well as royal themed Regal Pelargonium Elegance Pink – all offering immediate colour.
Why not take inspiration from the Royal Family and choose one of their favourite plants. King Charles is noted for his love of delphiniums while Queen Consort Camilla has expressed her fondness for alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle), a great choice for every garden because it is so easy to grow, as it produces fantastic lime green foliage and elegant ground cover.
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, comments: “It’s a great idea to plant something to mark the Coronation, a rare occasion few of us have witnessed before. A rose bush or a tree can be enjoyed year after year to commemorate the day while a simple container of regal purple or patriotic red, white and blue bedding plants will look great and be welcoming to visitors all summer long.
