Prairie planting

Garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith raised his own prairie garden from seed and was delighted to find it requires a fraction of the maintenance of a conventional border

In the February 2015 issue of Fine Gardening, we introduced you to a stunning garden in central Illinois designed by Adam Woodruff. Here are the plants featured in each of the photos.

Fairly easy to replicate, this lush prairie planting includes a few spectacular elements which thrive on neglect while providing striking color and contrast for weeks. Fast-growing with bumblebees and butterflies dancing in attendance, all these perennial plants are low maintenance, pest and disease-free, deer and drought-tolerant, and make excellent cut flowers.

Design a native landscaping plan that resonates with the general public. Consider these tips to keep your landcape from being the neighborhood "weed patch".

Landscape archtect Petra Pelz own garden is a magical mix of structural grasses and a carefully chosen selection mix of colourful perennials. Read her tips on creating your own prairie planting

This perennial border is brimming with a colorful, naturalistic planting. It is…

Over time, plants that self-seed help a wild-looking garden become chock-full of plants without extra expense

What does it take to grow a North American-style meadow garden in Europe using prairie-style plants? Planting expert Noel Kingsbury considers the best plants to grow from perennials to wild flowers and how to plant a prairie style garden, plus the best way to maintain the garden so it stays looking its best .

Learn all about ornamental grasses - choose the best ones to grow, where to buy, where to plant and care advice from RHS experts.

The garden at the Hauser and Wirth gallery in Somerset is a planting installation by garden designer Piet Oudolf called the Oudolf Field. Here you'll find 24 of the key plants that make up the stunning perennial meadow garden. Photographs: Jason Ingram