Creating a garden that’s sensory-friendly can be a wonderful way to enhance well-being, encourage positive sensory experiences, and promote relaxation. For children with autism or anyone with sensory sensitivities, a carefully chosen selection of plants can make the garden a place of comfort and engagement. In this list, we’ve picked ten personally tried and tested low-maintenance plants that thrive in UK conditions and suit a range of soil types. Each of these choices is perfect for a sensory-focused garden that requires minimal upkeep.
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Why It’s Great: Lavender’s calming scent is known for its soothing effects, ideal for promoting relaxation. Its soft texture and subtle grey-green foliage add to the sensory experience. For a hardier variety for UK gardens make sure you choose English Lavender such as Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ rather than the French varieties.
- Care Tips: Lavender prefers well-drained soil and lots of sun. It’s drought-tolerant and only requires occasional pruning in the Autumn to maintain shape.
2. Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
- Why It’s Great: With soft, velvety leaves, Lamb’s Ear is ideal for touch-focused sensory experiences. It’s visually appealing too, with silvery leaves that brighten shaded areas.
- Care Tips: This hardy plant can grow in various soil types and is drought-tolerant once established. It needs minimal care—just trim it back in the autumn.
Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay
3. Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
- Why It’s Great: These delicate, floating blooms are a joy to look at, creating a gentle, calming visual appeal. They flower in late summer, providing colour just as other plants are fading.
- Care Tips: Japanese Anemones do well in most soil types, preferring slightly moist soil. They require little maintenance beyond deadheading after flowering.
Image by 💚🌺💚Nowaja💚🌺💚 from Pixabay
4. Herbaceous Sage (Salvia nemorosa)
- Why It’s Great: With a scent that’s earthy and slightly minty, Salvia offers a unique aromatic experience. Its tall, spiky blooms add structure and interest.
- Care Tips: Sage is tolerant of various soils and only needs occasional pruning. It’s happy in full sun or part shade, making it versatile in a range of garden settings.
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
5. Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
- Why It’s Great: If you have a medium to large garden this tree is a great choice. It’s papery bark and delicate leaves make it visually engaging. The gentle rustling sound created by the leaves in a breeze adds an auditory layer to your garden. It creates the perfect quiet zone with a bench underneath. Due to the delicate nature of the leaves this is a tree that doesn’t block out too much light either.
- Care Tips: Silver Birch adapts to different soils, though it prefers a well-draining environment. It’s low maintenance, needing only occasional pruning for shape, but can grow quite large so make sure it has plenty of room.
Image by Karsten Paulick from Pixabay
6. Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)
- Why It’s Great: With rich, coppery hues in spring that mature to lush green, this fern offers vibrant colors and a soft texture, creating a lovely sensory element.
- Care Tips: This fern thrives in shady spots with moist, well-drained soil but can tolerate different conditions. It needs minimal maintenance beyond basic watering.
Image by beauty_of_nature from Pixabay
7. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Why It’s Great: Known for its delightful scent, thyme releases its fragrance when touched, making it perfect for sensory gardens. Its compact size also makes it great for borders and paths.
- Care Tips: Thyme prefers sunny spots with well-drained soil. Once established, it’s drought-resistant and requires minimal care beyond occasional trimming.
Image by nie podaje from Pixabay
8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
- Why It’s Great: Russian Sage has long, feathery stems and small purple flowers that sway gently in the wind, providing both movement and visual interest. The soft lavender scent adds to its appeal.
- Care Tips: Russian Sage thrives in sunny, well-drained spots and requires little maintenance, just a light prune in early spring.
Image by Ann-Marie from Pixabay
9. Grasses (e.g., Stipa tenuissima)
- Why It’s Great: Ornamental grasses like Stipa offer gentle movement and a rustling sound, creating a calming auditory experience. Their feathery texture invites touch, and they add a lovely, natural element to garden beds.
- Care Tips: Grasses are generally easy to maintain and adaptable to a variety of soils. They typically only need cutting back once a year in late winter.
10. Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’)
- Why It’s Great: This evergreen shrub adds structure and texture with its silvery-blue needles. Its cool hue provides a peaceful atmosphere, and the dense foliage is soft to touch.
- Care Tips: Blue Star Juniper is highly tolerant of different soils and conditions, thriving with minimal watering and only requiring occasional shaping.
