Perennial planting at the Sussex Prairie Garden 

Earlier this month we took a visit to Sussex Prairie Gardens in search of some inspiration. 

Nestled in the heart of West Sussex, Sussex Prairie Garden is a magical, 8-acre display of naturalistic planting. Designed by Pauline and Paul McBride, it's a haven for plant lovers and wildlife. The Prairie method, known for its sweeping grasses, bold perennials, and natural look, is not only visually amazing but has the benefit of being low maintenance. Prairie planting is also drought-tolerant, and brilliant for supporting biodiversity and pollinators. The garden was still bursting with bees and butterflies when we visited in late Summer. 

Now is the perfect time to take inspiration from this unique Sussex garden. Read on for 7 easy ways to use perennials in your garden this Summer.

1. Plant Perennials for Late Colour 

At Sussex Prairie Garden magical, wood chip pathways cut into deep borders full of late Summer colour. Plants like Echinacea, Aster, and Rudbeckia come into their own later in the season in shades of warm orange, purple, and pinks.  Their long-lasting blooms are loved by bees and butterflies and will keep looking splendid until the first frosts appear. Why not plant a few in your own garden to fill in gaps in beds or pots and keep it looking vibrant into the colder months? 

2. Plan your own cut flower garden

Whether you have already planted Summer-flowering bulbs or looking to fill your beds with new perennial plants, now is a great time to create a small cut flower border or bed. At the Sussex Prairie gardens their cut flower garden, located next to the house, blooms into Autumn with flowers like Helenium, Sedum, Dahlias and Verbena still looking fantastic and providing lots of colour for indoor displays. 

3. Add Grasses for Texture and Movement 

No prairie garden is complete without ornamental grasses, and Sussex Prairie Gardens is full of varieties like Miscanthus, Stipa, and Panicum. These grasses create movement with the breeze, add texture to borders and bring a lovely sound to your garden. Planting them now ensures they’ll establish before winter, providing height and structure all year round. 

4. Bring Sculpture into your Garden 

Sussex Prairie Garden works with artists to display and sell their work. Sculptures are dotted throughout, adding focal points and lovely surprises. Why not take a leaf out of their book and introduce a sculpture or feature into your own garden? We loved the white-washed wood in the cut flower garden, large metal bison and these striking stone heads. 

5. Plant for Pollinators and Wildlife 

Late Summer and Autumn are a critical time for wildlife, and Sussex Prairie Garden's diverse planting scheme is a haven for birds, bees, and butterflies. When planting perennials include late-flowering varieties like Sedum and Echinops in your garden to provide food for pollinators as the season winds down. Consider leaving seedheads on plants like Echinacea and Sunflowers for birds to feast on during the winter months. Or why not add a bee hotel? We loved the ‘Brutalist’ Solitary Bee Hotels dotted around the gardens, designed by Brighton artist Robert Blackledge and made from recycled and repurposed building materials.  

6. Grow you own 'Potager' patch

Inspired by the French potager tradition, Sussex Prairie Garden has a brilliant vegetable patch that mixes edible and ornamental plants (edimental). Large containers and no dig beds feature autumn vegetables like kale, chard, and leeks mixed with colourful flowers such as nasturtiums, cosmos and marigolds. There is also a selection of fruit trees and bushes in large containers. Autumn is the ideal time to plant a fruit tree while the ground is still warm. If you choose a dwarf variety, you can even grow them in a pot, on your patio or balcony. 

7. Get creative with containers and pots 

There were lots of imaginative (and big!) containers featured in the potager garden and around the house, including this recycled trough filled with succulents. Gardening in containers is a creative way to grow lots in a smaller space, on a patio or balcony. Be more sustainable - make containers out of repurposed objects or materials, just remember to drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

Our favourite plants for a Summer Prairie Garden 

If you’re feeling inspired and ready to dive into planting, here are 8 plants to bring some prairie-style magic to your own garden: 

1. Echinacea – Vibrant colours and loved by pollinators. 

2. Ornamental grasses – Adds height, movement, and texture. 

3. Sedum  – Great for late-season colour and attracting bees. 

4. Rudbeckia  – A splash of sunshine with its yellow petals. 

5. Verbena  – A tall, airy plant that draws butterflies. 

6. Asters - myriads of small daisy-like flowers in jewel-like colours. 

7. Dahlias - fantastic in early autumn, with flowers in various colours, shapes and sizes.  

8. Penstemons -  will flower from midsummer well into autumn. Deadhead them regularly, but don't cut them back until Spring. 

Visit Millbrook Garden Centre for all your planting needs, and don’t forget to tag us in your garden transformations on Instagram and Facebook – we’d love to see how you're bringing a prairie garden vibe to your own space! #MillbrookGrowers 

For more information about The Sussex Prairie Garden visit: www.sussexprairies.co.uk.

Where to next?

• Loving Local, Adam's visit to Balfour Winery
• Tammy's tips for peat-free growing
• Tammy's Top 5: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024