Leading Swedish landscape architect Ulf Nordfjell drew his inspiration from Carl Linnaeus when working up the plant list for the ‘Tribute to Linnaeus’ Garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Commissioned by the National Tercentenary Committee in Stockholm in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and The Swedish Institute, the garden promises contemporary styling whilst playing tribute to particular aspects of Linnaeus’ work and to his native Swedish landscape
Pinus sylvestris has been chosen as it is the most important tree in Swedish forests, used for building and furniture production for many centuries. The garden walls and the benches have been constructed using Pinus and the planted Pinus appear in a grid type formation where they give the garden a naturalistic feeling, grace and formality all year round. Although Pinus is a large tree the roots not especially aggressive and therefore allow for ground cover planting.
Viburnum opulus `Roseum´ has been chosen for its excellent structure and fresh flowers which turn from lime green to white. ‘Roseum’ is a sterile cultivar that produces 3” diameter pom-pom-like globular inflorescences of entirely white flowers. Flowers bloom in May and can acquire light rose flushing as they fade, hence the cultivar name of ‘Roseum’. Plants typically grow to 10-12’ tall with a rounded form. Cultivated by Linnaeus himself at Hammarby and today a common bush all over Sweden, particularly the variety `Strömsund´.
Malus ‘Evereste’ is a beautiful white flowering tree in spring and produces ornamental fruits in autumn and on this garden is used in horizontal and vertical topiary forms. These plants will provide contrast to the wild growing iconic Swedish pines, picea and birches.
Perennials such as Asarum europaeum are used as ground cover in the shady part of the garden. Asarum europaeum is a European species of wild ginger with petiolate and reniform leaves of about 10 cm wide. Traditionally it was used as snuff! A characterful and very hardy plant it is used as a background for other plants such as the beautiful Hosta `Patriot´ which is planted in rows for a majestic effect when mixed with late blooming tulips. Cont…
Used in Swedish gardens since the days of Linnaeus, Lilium martagon var. album is the perfect plant for the shady part of the garden and one that he planted at his beloved Hammarby residence near Uppsala. Lilium martagon var. album is planted in the ground cover of Asarum europaeum together with white blooming violets and ferns. Stretching across Europe to Mongolia, the original Turk’s Cap, Lilium martagon inhabits a broader range than any other lily.
Another trademark Linnaean plant is Linnaea borealis, a Swedish woodland sub-shrub, wild growing with a beautiful scent, flowering time varies from May to end of June in the northern part of Sweden. Linnaeus took the flower as his own personal symbol when he was raised to the Swedish nobility in 1757. Linnaeus said, ‘Linnaea’ was named by the celebrated Gronovius and is a plant of Lapland, lowly, insignificant, disregarded, flowering but for a brief time - from Linnaeus, who resembles it". The flower is the provincial emblem of Småland in Sweden, Linnaeus' home province. Linnaea borealis are planted in carved holes in the rounded blocks of granite, inspired by the form of a millstone. Sempervivum soboliferum syn. Jovibarba soboliferum is planted the same way. Both simple plants, but used this way they are jewels strictly associated with Carl Linnaeus himself.