Planting a Swedish Garden
Sweden is known for its seaports, fish exports, and vibrant, healthy culture, but their gardens are as equally beautiful as the fjords and also quite possibly under-appreciated by those who visit the country. Many flowers that grow in North America also grow in northern Europe and can be arranged to form an appealing garden in either the front or back yard. The best way to design a Swedish garden is to make it as open as possible, with minimal walls of hedges and flowering bushes, which the latter should be planted separately instead of together. Below are some common flowers found in gardens growing in Sweden:
Twinflower. Also called Linnea, this flower is shaped like a pale pink bell and grows on delicate stems found in the woodlands. The flower is so named because two flowers grow per stem. Many of these will also appear in garden boxes of Swedish homes, along with forget-me-nots, another common flower. The daintiness of these flowers is hard to pass up when it comes to giving your own garden a new look.
Hibiscus. This flower is native to the Caribbean but curiously enough will grow in colder climates. Flower colors range from red to pink, white, and yellow. The exotic appearance of these flowers will brighten up any garden and look especially beautiful when combined with the dainty twinflower. Hibiscus likes full sun exposure, so plant this in the sunniest part of your yard. Before planting, add some compost to the soil.
Hoya plant. This plant is easy to grow and has flowers shaped like stars forming clusters on a vine. These look great in baskets hanging from your front porch, and prefer lots of sunlight. These cannot be over watered and like dry soil for periods between waterings. Hoya plants grow best in potting soil purchased at the nursery.
Yellow lady’s slipper. These flowers grow in the woods in New England, especially swamp and bog areas that are damp year round. Like the pink lady’s slipper, the yellow one looks just like a real lady’s slipper that gives the flower its unique name.
Salt-marsh Sand Spurrey. Also a native flower of the New England woodlands, this one can be found in Swedish bogs with the tiny pink flowers with yellow centers on succulent stems. These will grow in salt marshes and gardens with well drained soil. These plants like to have the soil kept moist.
Mountain wintergreen. This can be found in most parts of the United States, which is a low growing shrub that has small white or pink bell shaped flowers on the stems. The bush produces red berries between the fall and winter months and is quite attractive. The berries are edible, so they can be added to salads and desserts like pies, as they produce a delicate, tart taste.
Forget-me-nots. Practically everyone has seen a forget me not, the tiny little white or soft blue star shaped flowers that grow in patches on the ground of forests and yards. These are easy to grow and will return year after year in the springtime.
To plant your Swedish garden, mark out the area that will have flowers planted inside. Arrange for the wintergreen, and hibiscus, to be scattered at the points of your garden if it is rectangular or square shaped, and if a circle, in the center. Create small sections with a wide walking path in between. In each section, combine two of the tiny flowers like the forget-me-nots and twinflower. In another section, plant the hoya plant if you live in zones 6 to 8; otherwise, the plant can be left in a pot and hung outside on a stand or on the porch. Combine the yellow lady’s slipper and salt-marsh sand spurrey as these plants like damp soil, so theses can be watered more often that the other plants if needed. Finally, plant the wintergreen and hibiscus at the marked points in your garden. After everything is planted, water, and remove any weeds sticking out. The smaller flowers will require weeding so they do not become overcrowded. You can also add a piece of statuary to your garden if desired. Choose something modern with smooth lines when you go shopping for it at your nursery. Right on the outside of your garden, arrange your garden furniture. That way your garden will be in full view where it can be enjoyed.
Image Credit: W.carter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
