Plants That Tolerate Wind

If you want colour in the summer as well, choose one of the purple-leaved cultivars.

SILVER BERRY (Elaeagnus commutata) — This extremely hardy shrub has intensely silver foliage and, in late spring, fragrant white flowers.

For windy sites certainly all of those small hardy evergreens can be recommended, but some larger shrubs may be required to give height:

BAMBOO (Arundinaria japonica) — Although only moderately hardy, this bamboo takes wind in its stride. The wind easily passes through its clump of olive green canes, rustling the long, lance-shaped, dark evergreen leaves.

SMOKE BUSH (Cotinus coggygria) — This very hardy shrub is noted for its autumn leaf colour, which comes in flame shades.

KERRIA JAPONICA `VARIEGATA’ - This shrubgives colour and interest in spring and throughout summer. The deciduous foliage is variegated creamy white, and yellow flowers are produced in the spring. A pleasing picture is created when spring- flowering bulbs are planted around it, such as blue grape hyacinths (muscari).

One might think that some of the tall ornamental grasses are highly unsuitable for windy situations, but in fact they are very wind resistant; wind filters easily through the stems so that they do not flatten. All of these grasses associate particularly well with shrubs, providing dramatic contrast in leaf shape, texture and colour.

ZEBRA GRASS (Miscanthus sinensis `Zebrinus’) — This plant grows to about 1.2m (4ft) in height, somewhat lower than the species that can reach about 1.8m (6ft). The arching leaves of the cultivar are banded with yellow. It is a very hardy grass.

AMUR SILVER GRASS (Miscanthus sacchariflorus) — Often planted as a windbreak in gardens, this plant can grow up to 3m (10ft) in height. It has narrow, medium green leaves that arch over.

GARDENER’S GARTERS (Phalaris arundinacea `Pieta’) — One way to contain this grass is to grow it in a tub. In gardens it is inclined to spread vigorously. But it is one of the most beautiful of the ornamental grasses, with its white and green striped foliage that rustles in the wind. This is a lower-growing grass at only 60cm (2ft) in height; it is very hardy.

FEATHER GRASS, OR NEEDLEGRASS (Stipa gigantea) — This plant is not so hardy and therefore recommended only for areas where minimum temperatures are not below —12^°C (10^°F). It can grow to about 1.8m (6ft) in height. The virtually evergreen foliage is greyish green and in summer bold, attractive silvery purple plumes of flowers are produced.

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