Many of the 2,000 plants in the garden have been chosen for their architectural form and varied colour and texture.
The garden includes a collection of very rare Aralia chapaensis, which together with the elms (Ulmus minor ‘Jacqueline Hillier’) provide strong silhouettes throughout the garden.
At the front of the garden, the spines of Aralia chapaensis, Rosa and Eryngium provoke a feeling of foreboding. But as you move through the garden, the planting is softened with Stipa, Rosmarinus and Geranium, which entice you into the sunken garden and make this space feel harmonious and restful.
The stars of the show – the plants used in Samaritans' Listening Garden – are listed below.
Trees
Aralia chapaensis
Betula pendula
Corylus avellana
Elaeagnus umbellata
Lonicera fragrantissima
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Ulmus minor ‘Jacqueline Hillier’
Zelkova serrata
Shrubs
Aralia apioides
Aralia continentalis
Aralia cordata
Aralia decaisneana
Corokia cotoneaster
Decaisnea fargesii
Euonymus alatus
Euonymus fortunei 'Kewensis'
Hedera helix 'Arborescens'
Jasminum bignoniaceum
Kalopanax pictus
Nandina domestica
Platycarya strobilacea
Rosa omeiensis pteracantha
Rosa pimpinellifolia
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’
Ruscus aculeatus
Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’
Climbers
Holboellia brachyandra
Jasminum polyanthum
Lonicera henryi 'Copper Beauty'
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Ferns
Adiantum mariesii
Dryopteris wallichiana
Lophosoria quadripinnata
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Grasses
Carex remota
Chionochloa rubra
Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’
Stipa lessingiana
Perennials
Acanthus mollis 'Rue Ledan'
Acanthus sennii
Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'
Achillea millefolium 'Terracotta'
Actaea purpurea
Allium 'Summer Drummer'
Anemone leveillei
Angelica dahurica
Angelica pachycarpa
Angelica sylvestris 'Vicar's Mead'
Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow'
Asparagus meioclados
Astrantia 'Buckland'
Astrantia major 'Claret'
Brassaiopsis hispida
Bupleurum perfoliatum 'Bronze Form'
Centaurea 'Jordy'
Centaurea montana 'Black Sprite'
Cirsium rivulare 'Trevor's Blue Wonder'
Cistus × corbariensis
Curculigo crassifolia
Digitalis parviflora 'Milk Chocolate'
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Frohnleiten'
Erigeron annuus
Eryngium cymosum
Eryngium planum 'Blaukappe'
Eryngium venustum
Erysimum 'Gogh's Gold'
Euphorbia 'Blue Haze'
Euphorbia ceratocarpa
Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii
Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'
Euphorbia donii 'Amjillasa'
Euphorbia lathyris
Euphorbia mellifera
Euphorbia × pasteurii
Foeniculum vulgare 'Bronze'
Geranium Dreamland
Geranium phaeum 'Lily Lovell'
Geranium phaem 'Samobor'
Geum 'Mai Tai'
Geum rivale 'Leonard's Variety'
Hosta 'Krossa Regal'
Impatiens omeiana
Iris chrysographes
Iris 'Kent Pride'
Iris sibirica ‘Drink Your Tea’
Iris sibirica 'Unbuttoned Zippers’
Iris 'Sultan's Palace'
Lamium orvala
Libertia grandiflora
Libertia peregrinans
Ligularia dentata ‘Othello’
Lychnis coronaria
Lychnis coronaria 'Alba'
Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker'
Macleaya cordata
Mathiasella bupleuroides
Mentha suaveolens
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Myosotis scorpioides
Nepeta racemosa 'Snowflake'
Patrinia monandra
Persicaria polymorpha
Peucedanum verticillare
Phlox divaricata 'Clouds of Perfume'
Pimpinella major 'Rosea'
Polygonatum verticillatum 'Rubrum'
Pulmonaria 'Sissinghurst White'
Rheum palmatum ‘Rubrum’
Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub'
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’
Saxifraga × urbium
Silene fimbriata
Silene latifolia
Solanum atropurpureum
Solanum pyracanthum
Sonchus acaulis
Sonchus congestus
Tofieldia coccinea
Verbascum chaixii 'Album'
Verbascum 'Firedance'
Vinca minor 'Bowles's Variety'
Viola riviniana Purpurea Group
Waldsteinia ternata
Plants supplied by: Kelways Plants with assistance from Crug Farm Plants
Trees supplied by: Solitaire, New Wood Trees, Deepdale Trees