Designing with Seedheads

Alium seedheads forming in my garden

By mid-July, the energy of early summer has softened. Many perennials have done their first show, borders start to settle, and a different kind of beauty emerges – quieter, textural, more about rhythm than colour.

In my garden work across East London, I use this moment to celebrate seedheads and stillness – designing for longevity rather than constant bloom.

1. Let Seedheads Stand

Where possible, I leave the spent blooms of plants like Allium sphaerocephalon and Digitalis ferruginea in place. Their silhouettes carry through high summer, offering sculptural interest and contrast against lighter, late-flowering companions.

Favourites for seedhead structure:

• Allium sphaerocephalon – small, drumstick heads that dry beautifully.

• Digitalis ferruginea – tall spires with tawny tones and strong verticals.

• Papaver somniferum – opium poppies that leave silver-green pods after flowering.

2. Pair with Late-Forming Connectors

To soften the static quality of seedheads, I weave in plants that bring light movement. These connectors extend the life of the border and shift focus toward texture and tone.

Connectors I often introduce in July:

• Scutellaria incana – cool blue spires that hover just above the main planting layer.

• Nepeta nuda – taller and looser than Walker’s Low, with a more meadow-like quality.

• Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ – delicate haze to lift and catch the light.

3. Design for Stillness

July isn’t about pushing new growth – it’s about holding form. The best late summer gardens know when to pause. I keep interventions minimal now: light pruning, subtle edits, no upheaval. Stillness in a garden is not emptiness – it’s a form of presence. By mid-summer, your garden can become a place to rest the eye, not overstimulate it.

🌿 Looking to balance your summer borders?

I offer seasonal refreshes across East London – focusing on structure, seedheads, and soft movement to extend your garden’s rhythm into late summer.