Create a Tudor era garden

2nd August, 2023

If you love the Elizabethan era, why not create a Tudor inspired garden! Perfect, if you are lucky enough to live in an original Tudor era house, or even a 20th century or 19th century Neo-Tudor suburban house. Of course, you can even create a lovely Tudor garden regardless of the style of house, if you want to recreate a scene from one of Shakespeare's plays.

During the Tudor era, garden design was heavily influenced by classical ideas and features. Gardeners often created formal, geometric designs using knot gardens, and parterres. (A parterre is a part of a formal garden constructed on a level substrate, consisting of symmetrical patterns, made up by plant beds, plats, low hedges or coloured gravels, which are separated and connected by paths.) Water features such as fountains and ponds were also popular in Tudor gardens. Colours were often used in groups or blocks, and hedges and walls were used to create structured spaces. Gardeners also incorporated herbs and medicinal plants into their designs, reflecting the importance of these plants in Tudor medicine.

1. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): This fragrant herb was used to scent linens and as a medicinal herb. It was also commonly used in potpourri and as a flavouring herb in cooking. Gardeners in the Tudor era often grew lavender in knot gardens or as a border in parterre gardens. 

2. Tudor rose : The Tudor rose, with its distinct red and white petals, was a symbol of the Tudor dynasty. Roses were also highly valued for their fragrant blooms and were commonly trained over arches and trellises. For an Elizabethan garden, only plant, old rose varieties, not modern cultivars. Roses such as Damascus rose (Rosa × damascena), that have been planted in garden for many centuries is a good choice.  

3. Marigold (Tagetes spp.): The bright yellow and orange blooms of marigolds were popular in Tudor gardens and were used to make garlands and posies. Marigolds were also believed to have medicinal properties that could be used to treat skin irritations and digestive issues. 

4. Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.): The sweetly scented flowers of honeysuckle were commonly grown in Tudor gardens and were often used to create arches and screens. Honeysuckle was also used in cosmetics, perfumes, and medicines. 

5. Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus): The fragrant flowers of peas were grown in Tudor gardens and were often used in floral arrangements and potpourri. Peas were valued for their edible pods and nutritious seeds. For a Tudor garden, grow the old fashioned wild sweet pea, or garden pea varieties rather than more recent colourful sweet pea varieties. 

6. Daffodil (Narcissus spp.): Daffodils were commonly found in Tudor gardens and were valued for their bright yellow and white blooms, which often signified the arrival of spring. 

7. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Thyme was a popular herb in Tudor gardens and was used in medicinal remedies, cooking, and perfumes. Thyme was often grown in knot gardens or as a border in parterre gardens. 

8. Hollyhock (Alcea rosea): The tall, showy blooms of hollyhocks were commonly grown in gardens during the Elizabethan era and were used to create colourful borders and backgrounds. Hollyhocks were also used to make dyes and herbal medicines. 

9. Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria): Meadowsweet was a popular herb in Tudor gardens and was used in medicines to treat fevers, digestive issues, and rheumatism. Meadowsweet was often grown in knot gardens or as a border in parterre gardens. 

10. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): Foxgloves were commonly found in Tudor gardens and were valued for their medicinal properties. Foxglove leaves were used to make a heart medication called digitalis.