Sample planting plan: sunny cottage border on clay
A 4 metre sunny cottage border on clay soil, facing south-west.
Made 12 October 2026
This is a real plan made by My Planting Plan for an example garden. Yours will be made for your own border.
Your border drawing
- 1Wall bellflower
- 2Drumstick primula
- 3Peach-leaved bellflower
- 4Peony
- 5Masterwort
- 6Tall verbena
- 7Hebe
- 8Purple-leaved weigela
- 9Grape hyacinth
- 10Early crocus
- 11Summer snowflake
- 12Mountain clematis
Plant these between the other plants: 9. Grape hyacinth; 10. Early crocus; 11. Summer snowflake.
Through the year
In January: 0 of your 12 plants are in flower.
Shopping list
| Number | Common name | Botanical name | Quantity | Tick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wall bellflower | Campanula portenschlagiana | 3 | |
| 2 | Drumstick primula | Primula denticulata | 9 | |
| 3 | Peach-leaved bellflower | Campanula persicifolia | 7 | |
| 4 | Peony | Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' | 1 | |
| 5 | Masterwort | Astrantia major | 3 | |
| 6 | Tall verbena | Verbena bonariensis | 3 | |
| 7 | Hebe | Hebe 'Great Orme' | 1 | |
| 8 | Purple-leaved weigela | Weigela florida 'Foliis Purpureis' | 1 | |
| 9 | Grape hyacinth | Muscari armeniacum | 15 | |
| 10 | Early crocus | Crocus tommasinianus | 15 | |
| 11 | Summer snowflake | Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' | 10 | |
| 12 | Mountain clematis | Clematis montana var. rubens 'Elizabeth' | 1 | |
| Total: 12 different kinds | 69 | |||
Perennials: 9cm pots are cheapest and fill out in a year or two; 1 to 2 litre pots look fuller sooner. Shrubs: 2 to 3 litre pots are good value.
Flowering calendar
| Plant | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wall bellflower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 2. Drumstick primula | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 3. Peach-leaved bellflower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 4. Peony | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 5. Masterwort | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 6. Tall verbena | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 7. Hebe | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 8. Purple-leaved weigela | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 9. Grape hyacinth | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 10. Early crocus | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 11. Summer snowflake | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 12. Mountain clematis | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
Plant notes
1 Wall bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana
- Height × spread
- 15 × 50cm
- Flowers
- June, July, August · violet
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with violet flowers in June, July, August.
- August: Trim after flowering
2 Drumstick primula
Primula denticulata
- Height × spread
- 30 × 30cm
- Flowers
- March, April, May · lilac
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with lilac flowers in March, April, May.
- June: Remove old flower stems and divide crowded clumps
3 Peach-leaved bellflower
Campanula persicifolia
- Height × spread
- 90 × 30cm
- Flowers
- June, July, August · blue or white
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with blue or white flowers in June, July, August.
- July: Deadhead for more flowers
4 Peony
Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'
- Height × spread
- 90 × 90cm
- Flowers
- June · pale pink double
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- Yes
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with pale pink double flowers in June.
- April: Add support rings before flowering
- October: Cut back old stems
5 Masterwort
Astrantia major
- Height × spread
- 60 × 45cm
- Flowers
- June, July, August · white or pink
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees and hoverflies
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with white or pink flowers in June, July, August.
- August: Cut back after first flowers for a second flush
6 Tall verbena
Verbena bonariensis
- Height × spread
- 180 × 45cm
- Flowers
- July, August, September, October · purple
- Other interest
- see-through stems you can plant at the front
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for butterflies and bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with purple flowers in July, August, September, October.
- April: Cut back old stems once new growth shows
7 Hebe
Hebe 'Great Orme'
- Height × spread
- 120 × 120cm
- Flowers
- June, July, August, September, October · pink fading white
- Other interest
- dark stems
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees and butterflies
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with pink fading white flowers in June, July, August, September, October.
- April: Trim lightly in spring to keep bushy
8 Purple-leaved weigela
Weigela florida 'Foliis Purpureis'
- Height × spread
- 120 × 120cm
- Flowers
- May, June · pink
- Other interest
- purple-flushed leaves
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with pink flowers in May, June.
- July: Cut flowered stems back after flowering
9 Grape hyacinth
Muscari armeniacum
- Height × spread
- 20 × 5cm
- Flowers
- March, April · blue
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- Yes
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with blue flowers in March, April.
- September: Plant bulbs 8cm deep (spreads)
- Harmful if eaten
10 Early crocus
Crocus tommasinianus
- Height × spread
- 10 × 5cm
- Flowers
- February, March · lilac
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with lilac flowers in February, March.
- September: Plant corms 8cm deep
- Harmful if eaten
11 Summer snowflake
Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant'
- Height × spread
- 45 × 10cm
- Flowers
- April, May · white tipped green
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- No
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with white tipped green flowers in April, May.
- September: Plant bulbs 10cm deep
- Harmful if eaten
12 Mountain clematis
Clematis montana var. rubens 'Elizabeth'
- Height × spread
- 700 × 300cm
- Flowers
- May, June · pale pink
- Evergreen
- No
- Scented
- Yes
- Wildlife
- Good for bees
Chosen for sun and clay soil, with pale pink flowers in May, June.
- June: Trim after flowering only if it needs reining in
- Sap can irritate skin: wear gloves
Care calendar
January
February
March
- Spread a 5cm layer of compost or bark over the soil while it's damp.
April
- Peony: Add support rings before flowering
- Tall verbena: Cut back old stems once new growth shows
- Hebe: Trim lightly in spring to keep bushy
May
- Water new plants weekly in dry spells during their first year.
June
- Drumstick primula: Remove old flower stems and divide crowded clumps
- Mountain clematis: Trim after flowering only if it needs reining in
- Water new plants weekly in dry spells during their first year.
July
- Peach-leaved bellflower: Deadhead for more flowers
- Purple-leaved weigela: Cut flowered stems back after flowering
- Water new plants weekly in dry spells during their first year.
August
- Wall bellflower: Trim after flowering
- Masterwort: Cut back after first flowers for a second flush
- Water new plants weekly in dry spells during their first year.
September
- Grape hyacinth: Plant bulbs 8cm deep (spreads)
- Early crocus: Plant corms 8cm deep
- Summer snowflake: Plant bulbs 10cm deep
October
- Peony: Cut back old stems
- Good time to plant shrubs and perennials while the soil is warm.
November
- Leave seed heads standing for birds and winter interest.
December
How to plant your border
- Clear weeds and grass, then dig over the soil and mix in some compost.
- Set the plants out in their pots following the drawing. Stand back and adjust before you plant.
- Water the pots well. Dig each hole a little wider than the pot and plant at the same depth it was growing.
- Firm the soil gently and water well.
- Water once a week in dry spells for the first summer.
- Best times to plant are spring and autumn. Plant bulbs in autumn: daffodils and crocuses in September, tulips in November.
Some garden plants can be harmful if eaten or can irritate skin. We've marked the ones on our list. Always check plant labels, wear gloves when pruning, and teach children not to eat garden plants.
Water new plants weekly in dry spells during their first year.
My Planting Plan gives general planting suggestions for UK gardens. Plant sizes and flowering times vary with weather, soil and care. Always check plant labels, especially if you have children or pets. My Planting Plan is independent and not affiliated with the RHS or any nursery.
