Plants and the natural world have long been at the heart of Liz Earle Beauty. It’s why the brand cherishes its Isle of Wight home so much. With around half of the island designated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, it’s a haven of peace and tranquillity. Of course, everybody should be able to enjoy their own little slice of paradise – no matter where they are – and your garden is the perfect place to start.
From low maintenance meadowsweet to perfumed roses, here are some of Liz Earle Beauty’s most prized varieties and how you can introduce them to your own outdoor space...
Thanks to its wonderful toning properties, eucalyptus is found in Liz Earle Beauty’s popular Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser and Gentle Face Exfoliator, but its heady scent and decorative foliage also make it perfect for your outside space. The good news is, it’s relatively easy to maintain, although it will grow best in milder areas of the country – in sheltered, sunny spots protected from cold winds. To ensure it reaches its full flourishing potential, you should plant it in reasonably fertile, well-drained soil (without additional organic matter or fertiliser) in spring or early summer and keep it watered during dry spells for the first growing season. If you’re growing it as a shrub, hard prune the whole plant in early spring.
These plants look best as specimens, singly in a lawn or border or as screen planting in a line or group. If you’ve chosen a large variety, just make sure there’s enough room for it to grow to full size comfortably.
Loved for its ability to soothe skin, this charming perennial is central to many Liz Earle Beauty products, including its Skin Repair™ Moisturisers, Instant Brightening Eye Cream and Orange Flower Hand Repair. Echinacea is also a magnificent addition to just about any garden. Not only is it pretty to look at, but it’s easy to grow and attracts bees and butterflies, too.
Flowering in late summer, it combines well with other late perennials and looks particularly fetching amidst prairie-style plantings. While fairly robust, coneflowers such as these need full sun and should be planted in soil that drains easily. You’ll find it in a range of striking colours, from vibrant pinks and oranges to more simple whites and yellows.
Liz Earle Beauty has harnessed meadowsweet’s magic in its Balancing Gel Mask, but this native wildflower is also a treat planted in your garden: scented, edible, easy to grow – it really is a gift that will keep giving. It will reward you with a succession of frothy white flower plumes, apple-green leaves and a fresh almondy scent, plus, it needs little to no maintenance throughout the year if planted right.
Simply find a spot in full sun with rich, moist soil. In the wild, you’ll often notice meadowsweet in damp soils alongside canals and rivers, as well as water meadows, so it’s a great choice for usually problematic sites that are prone to waterlogging. It’ll also thrive in a regular garden border, and even patio pots, if you keep up with the watering. As it dies down in the autumn, chop the growth down to about 20cm above ground level to keep it neat.
Roses are a staple in many British gardens and are some of the most beautiful and versatile plants around. In Liz Earle Beauty’s Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser Rose & Lavender Relaxing Edition, Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic Rose & Lavender, and range of Botanical Essence™ Eau de Parfum you’ll find the petals of Damask roses, though all types work well in gardens.
Most roses need sun and heavy soils to thrive, but some will grow well in partial shade and poorer soils. Whichever variety you choose, you’ll want to water it regularly so the soil stays moist but not waterlogged, plus you’ll need to mulch it annually with organic matter. You may also want to use rose feed to promote flowering in summer. Bare-root roses should be planted between November and March, while container-grown varieties can be planted at any time of year.