English formal gardens are most renowned for their strict adherence to hedging and topiary. Many gardens across Australia are heavily influenced by the formal English garden style, with beautiful hedged gardens, ornamental trees and leafy, colourful foliage. Ceres Homestead, located in central Victoria, is ideal for visiting during autumn and winter. With deep red and orange branches, winter-blooming flowers and well-maintained hedges, this homestead is perfect for a chilly morning stroll.
Let’s take a look at how Ceres Homestead showcases the formal English garden style in an Aussie setting, and find out what plants can be used to create such a lovely landscape.
How Ceres Homestead uses the formal English garden style
If you fancy an oak tree, like the one down below, because of the glorious autumn golds and reds of its leaves, be sure you have the room. They live a long time – this one was planted 160 years ago – and grow large!
When your garden space is limited, plant an ornamental pear tree. The lovely soft green foliage turns golden yellow, rich red or deep burgundy in autumn and, of course, the sparkling spring blossoms are a showstopper!
If you have no room for a magnificent hoop pine, try a row of slender pencil pines or Mediterranean cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens). They maintain their elegant shape so there’s no need for pruning.
Fancy a summer picnic in the garden under the shade of a tree? The golden elm is fast-growing and spreads wider than its standard 15m height – plenty of room for the whole extended fam. The soft green pleated leaves turn butter yellow in autumn.
Maybe a bush has more appeal than a tree, especially if space is limited. And especially if you love a bit of drama. The deep red-burgundy leaves of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) will be a hit, but watch out for thorns! You can keep its enthusiastic growth at bay with a box hedge.
Try layering for full exposure and impact. A bust of Thomas Bath, who established Ceres in the late 19th century, is embraced by Pride of Madeira (Echium fastuosum) and haloed by smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria).
A smooth lawn next to your driveway may be an option, or you can create a flower bed with a range of plants that give seasonal delight – try ornamental grasses, clivias and succulents!
Pop a sago palm (Cycas revoluta) into an ornate urn to take the edge off a clipped hedge.
76 Coghlans Road, Learmonth, central Victoria. Available for photoshoots, as a film location, private garden tours, talks or special events such as weddings.
Visit Ceres Homestead
4 plants in the Ceres Homestead formal English garden
01
Agave
Agave americana
Often called a century plant, agave is a hardy species that will survive the toughest of conditions and outlive most of the other plants in your garden. Although it is slow growing, it adds the perfect hint of dusty blue to break up a green landscape.
02
Hydrangea
Commonly called hortensia
Hydrangea is a common feature in any English garden, formal or not. With beautiful blooms coming in pink, white, blue and purple, this plant will add a touch of whimsy to your Aussie English garden.
03
Rugosa rose
R. Rugosa
This plant is commonly called a beach rose and is found in abundance on the coastline of eastern Asia. Although it has beautiful blooming roses in spring and summer, it’s during the colder months where the foliage and fruit will shine through.
04
Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’
Agastache
Nothing compares to the bright bursts of colour that this cultivar of Agastache brings to this winter garden. With long, delicate stems and foliage, this plant will sway in the wind, and create a free-flowing quality that complements the formal hedge style with ease.
