a bright periwinkle door works well with a sage green and natural wood exterior. The vivid color makes the entryway stand out beneath the shade of an overhang. Rambling ‘Rozanne’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Rozanne’) and Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) bring the violet color into the front planting. The silver-gray leaves of the evergreen olive tree complement the purple door and sage green exterior.
Oak leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) With subtler blooms than their flouncy mophead cousins (H. macrophylla), oakleaf hydrangeas make beautiful foundation plants and additions to woodland gardens. The 8-inch-long clusters of blooms emerge in late spring as pale green buds, opening to show star-shaped white or pink flowers. Oakleaf hydrangeas are more drought-tolerant than other species and can thrive with moderately low water once roots are established. Most plants reach 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide, while dwarf varieties like ‘Munchkin’, which reaches 3 feet tall and wide, stay much smaller. Bloom season: Late spring to early summer, with blooms clinging to plants for months Origin: Native to the southeastern U.S. Water requirement: Moderate, lower once established Light requirement: Partial sun Mature size: 4 to 8 feet high and 10 to 12 feet wide, depending on variety
Cool down a courtyard. Purple-leaved foliage visually cools a gravel courtyard by more than just the shade it casts. In hot summer climates, use dark-leaved shade trees such as purple-leaved plums (Prunus cerasifera, zones 4 to 9), copper beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea, zones 4 to 7) and purple cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’, zones 8 to 10) to create shade for cool, inviting retreats.
Add light to shade gardens. Brightening deep shade is perhaps the single most useful application of chartreuse foliage. For maximum impact, group bright foliage plants in groups of three or five for bold splashes of color. Here, mounds of golden Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, zones 4 to 9) look like pools of sunlight on the floor of this shady woodland garden.
Uplight for evening drama. When chartreuse foliage is illuminated in the landscape, a tree can look as if it practically glows from within. Good candidates for chartreuse-leaved patio trees that would really shine are Japanese maples, as pictured here, and ‘Sutherland Gold’ elderberry (Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’, zones 3 to 8).
Chartreuse energizes a color palette of softer blues and gray-green. Here, the vibrant chartreuse color comes from the clusters of fused bracts around the blooms of Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii, zones 6 to 8). Like other Mediterranean natives, spurge grows best in well-draining soil and tolerates low to moderate water.
Planted to spill over the sides of a dark brown basket-weave container, lime-leaved golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, zones 3 to 9) offers a bright hit of color beneath fragrant flowering jasmine tobacco (Nicotiana alata, zones 10 to 11) and a brush cherry (Syzygium paniculatum, zones 9 to 11) topiary.
Green, purple, white and pale yellow is a classic color combination for perennial beds. Add a few hits of electric chartreuse — or an entire border — and the bed really comes alive. soft purple nemesia (Nemesia caerulea, zones 9 to 10) contrasts with luminous ‘Lime Marmalade’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’, zones 4 to 8).
Create the look of a Zen garden with dwarf native conifers. There are native species to suit every garden style. In this photo, three native evergreens — blue spruce (Picea pungens), dwarf bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) and creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) — are planted together for a formal, minimalist entry bed on either side of the front gate of a multifamily development. The gravel serves as water-saving mulch and cools soil surrounded by heat-retaining concrete.
Turn to native plants to brighten harsh spots where other plants sulk. Native plants often thrive where nonnatives don’t. In a parking strip, or “hell strip,” between sidewalk and street, a cottage garden of mostly native plants — including common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), twolobe larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), scarlet bugler penstemon (Penstemon barbatus), Rocky Mountain penstemon (P. strictus) and tall Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) — combine with Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale), ‘Moonshine’ yarrow (A. ‘Moonshine’) and other garden flowers to provide an abundance of seasonlong color as well as habitat for pollinators and hummingbirds.
a golden smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria cv.) nearly glows behind a low stone wall, complemented by its deep purple cousin. A Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) balances the plum-colored foliage to the left of the patio. In the foreground, variegated ‘Silver Swan’ euphorbia (Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’) forms a mound of silvery foliage among flower spikes of purple salvia.
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) The aptly named beautyberry is an American native whose insignificant flowers produce amazing purple berries. While the berries are stunning in fall, especially after leaf drop, hungry birds will likely devour them by early winter. Group several shrubs together for maximum impact. Where it will grow: USDA zones 6 to 10 Water requirement: Medium to moist, well-drained soil Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata 'Afterglow') Often seen in indoor winter flower arrangements, the heavily berried branches of winterberry look stunning in the landscape as well. Large, dark and glossy green leaves turn yellow in fall before dropping, allowing the red berries to steal the show. Keep in mind that you must plant at least one male winterberry to produce the berries — one male will pollinate six to eight females. Ask your local nursery how to tell which is which. Where it will grow: USDA zones 3 to 9 Water requirement: Medium to wet soil Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 9 feet wide
Rock cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis var. perpusillus) Perfect for rock gardens, cotoneaster is a sprawling, low-growing shrub with glossy dark green leaves that turn burgundy red in fall. The bright, scarlet berries appear in midsummer and last through fall. Where it will grow: USDA zones 4 to 7 Water requirement: Medium moisture; well-drained soil Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 1 foot to 2½ feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide
Plant purple prairie clover in full sun. Be thoughtful when choosing the location, because its deep taproot makes it difficult to move. The plant adapts well to most soils, including clay. Although it's fairly drought tolerant once established, it will benefit from supplemental water during extended dry periods.
Purple prairie clover is the perfect addition to any wildflower or meadow planting. Use it in bold drifts with native grasses and wildflowers — companion plants with silvery foliage or yellow flowers make for a nice contrast. Consider using fringed sage (Artemisia frigida), blue gramma grass (Bucheloe dactyloides), Western blue spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) and wild four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflorus).
Botanical name: Dalea purpureum Common name: Purple prairie clover USDA zones: 3 to 9 (find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 18 to 30 inches tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Long blooming; attracts bees and butterflies; tolerates full sun, drought and heavy clay soils When to plant: Spring through fall Seasonal interest: Blooms in late spring through summer
Lungwort is one of the earliest perennials to appear in spring and one of the last to go dormant in fall. The large, elongated leaves are spotted with silver — this would be an attractive foliage plant even if it never bloomed. Clusters of tubular flowers are held high above the foliage in spring and offer an early treat to hummingbirds and bees. Each flower opens pink before fading to blue, creating a wonderful two-tone effect and giving rise to one of its fun common names: soldiers and sailors. Botanical name: Pulmonaria saccharata 'Mrs. Moon' USDA zones: 3 to 8 Water requirement: Low to average Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun Mature size: 1 foot tall and 16 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: Deer resistant; a hummingbird favorite; tolerant of damp soils Seasonal interest: Spring through fall When to plant: Spring or fall
Botanical name: Anemone patens (syn. Pulsatilla patens) Common name: Pasque flower Origin: Native to the central and northern U.S. plains from Wisconsin, south to Nebraska and west, all the way up and down the Rocky Mountains USDA zones: 4 to 9 (find your zone) Water requirement: Dry to very dry soil Light requirement: Full sun to 50 percent shade Mature size: Slowly spreading clump to about 1 foot wide and tall Benefits: Early bloomer, offers insect nectar and pollen for early risers Seasonal interest: Good two-week bloom period, then puffy seed heads for added show When to plant: Spring to fall
partially obscured stacked stone sculpture yet also wants to linger on this delightful meandering path. The color palette focuses on shades of purple provided by 'Beni Otake' Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake') and 'Velvet Cloak' smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak'). Chartreuse foliage highly contrasts 'Mellow Yellow' spirea (Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon'), 'Golden Spirit' smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit') and Bowles' golden sedge (Carex elata 'Aurea'), taking center stage. Rhododendrons add rich magenta accents, while black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') adds deeper black notes. Key plants and colors are repeated on alternate sides of the pathway, luring you deeper and deeper into the dappled glade.
Waterfalls of soft yellow Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') placed strategically along either side of the walkway become trail markers in this Asian-inspired garden, leading us from one to another. Layers of foliage in shades of green, accented with a deep burgundy 'Crimson Queen' Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen') are the key features in this design. The repetition of the finely textured mounding grasses ties into this foliage-focused theme while creating pools of light that naturally draw the eye.
hardy geranium (geranium 'Rozanne') in perennial garden it just keeps blooming and spreading. It's low growing and great for bordering in the front of the planting bed.
A modern landscape isn't complete without ornamental grasses. They provide so much movement and texture. This is a switch grass called 'Heavy Metal' (Panicum virgatum, zones 2 to 10).
'Frikart's Aster' (A. x frikartii 'Monch', zones 5 to 10) will keep pumping electric-purple daisy-like blooms all season if you remove the old blooms. Asters have been a garden constant for like ever.
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', zones 5 to 9). My favorite is the variegated variety. I planted mine under a Japanese maple, and the contrast was genius and it has so much movement.
One of the best shade perennials by far is the hosta. This beautiful tri-color variety is called 'Hans' (zones 3 to 7). While you might think hostas are a bit ho-hum, I promise you this ain't your mama's hosta.
With beautiful foliage, plentiful blooms and a beautiful purple hue, it's hard not to love Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis, zones 3 to 9). Try it in yellow too.
Saucer magnolia. Best known of the deciduous magnolias, this is a dependable medium-size tree with a substantial branch structure that looks good all year, even when leafless. Look for a variety with an ultimate size that fits into your garden and a flower you like. 'Alba Superba' has purplish buds that open pure white. 'Black Tulip' lives up to its name. Botanical name: Magnolia soulangeana Common names: Saucer magnolia, tulip tree USDA zones: 5 to 9 (find your zone) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade Mature size: 15 to 30 feet, depending on variety
Add to ideabook by Jay Sifford Garden Design Use plants with large foliage or structure to change your sense of scale. This garden works for our discussion on several levels. First, this stacked-stone wall with a seat is embedded into a hill in a front yard, effectively creating a fort. It brings the viewer closer to eye level with the plants, reducing his or her own perceived scale or size in relationship to the plants. Now onto the plants. Who wouldn't feel a sense of awe sitting in the midst of these large-foliaged plants? The dinner-plate-size leaves of 'Spotty Dotty' Chinese mayapple, the enormous chartreuse leaves of 'Sum and Substance' hosta and the glossy Acanthus mollis foliage, all woven together with the nearly black heucheras, add a dose of fairy tale wonder that even the most logical among us would feel. Other plants that might work include gunnera, Rheum, ostrich fern and Farfugium.
Botanical name: Chilopsis linearis Common name: Desert willow Origin: Native to the American Southwest USDA climate zones: 6 to 9 (find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 25 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant once established, but does best if watered two or three times a month during the summer; attracts bees and hummingbirds Seasonal interest: Fragrant pink orchid-shaped flowers appear spring through summer When to plant: Spring, summer or fall
'Art's Seedless' doesn't produce seedpods, improving the winter appearance of this desert willow variety. 'Bubba' produces dark pink flowers, grows larger then most varieties (30 feet tall and wide) and has fewer seedpods. 'Lucretia Hamilton' has burgundy flowers and is slightly smaller than other varieties, reaching 20 feet tall and wide. 'Timeless Beauty' is covered with bicolor flowers of lavender and burgundy. It does not produce seedpods, is hardy to zone 7 and grows slightly smaller (15 to 20 feet tall and wide). 'Warren Jones' has light pink flowers, and its foliage is retained longer into winter. It is slightly less cold hardy (zone 8).
How to use it. You'd be hard pressed to find ways not to use deer grass in the garden. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, but is fine with some shade and seasonal flooding. Mass deer grass with other flowering natives, especially pollinator attractors, for a soft and meadowy wildlife sanctuary. You'll want to leave plenty of room, at least a few feet between plants, to appreciate deer grass' soft, mounding form once it fills in.
A stand of scarlet Lucifer crocosmia is an unforgettable sight in any summer garden. Arching stems of brilliant red flowers seem to explode from the swordlike foliage in summer, while hummingbirds vie for the best position like fighter pilots. Botanical name: Crocosmia 'Lucifer' Common names: Lucifer montbretia, Lucifer crocosmia Benefits: Attracts hummingbirds Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA climate zones 5 to 9) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full to partial sun Mature size: 4 feet tall and wide Seasonal interest: Summer When to plant: Plant bulbs in spring; plants can also be planted in spring or fall.
Could this be done from the water that runs off the A/C units? created this fountain from bored green granite and river rock, with underground circulating water that a sprinkler systems freshens once a day. "Luna loves it, and it's just her size,"
Between pavers. This is probably the most common usage of ground covers, and rightly so, as it is extremely effective. Whether it is an informal approach with irregular stone slabs or a modern high-contrast aesthetic with modular pavers, ground covers fill in the spaces between stonework and create a surface that is visually appealing and functional. When selecting a ground cover for your paving project, make sure to choose a specimen that can handle foot traffic. One of my favorites is brass buttons (Leptinella squalida, USDA zones 4 to 10). As can be seen in this instance, Leptinella is a vigorous grower and forms a dense carpet of tiny fern-like foliage that is evergreen in temperate climates.
Around trees. Many trees have a unique form to their trunk and branches — a feature that should be emphasized. Instead of planting shrubs and perennials around the base of a feature tree, try incorporating a carpet of ground cover that will allow the root form to be appreciated. Mosses like Irish moss (Sagina subulata, zones 4 to 8) also form interesting mounds that bloom with tiny flowers in midsummer.
In acidic soil. Planting around the base of large conifers is often challenging because of the acidic, depleted soil and low-light conditions. Most ground covers will not do very well in this situation, but there are often significant spaces between shrubs and perennials that will benefit from ground cover. One plant that is up to the challenge is bugle weed (Ajuga reptens, zones 3 to 10), a rapidly spreading evergreen ground cover that creates a tight mat of foliage with flower spires in the early spring. It is worth noting that Ajuga can be somewhat invasive and should be sited only in locations where it can be contained.
Baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii, zones 9 to 11) is a versatile ground cover that's well suited to this situation, since it flourishes with very little soil present and grows over hardscape features with little or no assistance. Brick walls take on a completely different appearance when they are blanketed in baby’s tears, and it is possible to create the impression that they have been there for centuries.
Golden Creeping Jenny ground-cover: Easily identified by its fluorescent green foliage, golden creeping Jenny will grow in sunny spots as well as in the shade. Its small ruffled leaves will turn a bright yellow when planted in full sun. Shade-dwelling specimens will become a lime green. Profuse, bright yellow flowers appear in early summer.
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' Common names: Golden creeping Jenny, moneywort, golden pennywort USDA zones: 3-9 Water requirement: Medium to regular Sun requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 2"-4” tall x 2’ spread or more Tolerances: Limited foot traffic, rocky, shallow and wet soils Note: Vigorous grower — can be invasive in some regions. Cut back as needed.
How to use it. Golden creeping Jenny is a natural ground cover choice where it can be left to run wild: a backyard bank, along a path, or even near a stream. Because golden creeping Jenny prefers moist soil, this is also a great plant to use in a rain garden.
Sparsely planting creeping Jenny along a path allows its spreading strands to elegantly cascade over rocks and walls, or simply trail along the ground.
homeowners have two large dogs, so Coffman included a synthetic lawn. The artificial grass even has an antimicrobial treatment for quick cleanup.
poppy mallow looks beautiful winding through the rock garden, blanketing sunny slopes, draping over retaining walls or scrambling between taller perennials and shrubs. Plant it with contrasting foliage textures: fine, grass-like or small. Blue and gray leaves also provide a nice contrast, as shown here, where poppy mallow joins dwarf rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp, zones 4 to 9) and Blue Spruce sedum (Sedum pinifolium 'Blue Spruce', zones 3 to 11). The strong flower color calls for strong playmates. Think white whirling butterflies (Gaura lindheimeri, zones 5 to 10), yellow pineleaf penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow', zones 4 to 9) and blue sage (Salvia spp).
Callirhoe involucrata Common names: Poppy mallow, prairie winecup, buffalo rose Origin: Native to the High Plains region of the United States, from Wyoming to Texas Where it will grow: Hardy to -30 degrees (USDA climate zones 4 to 9; find your zone) Elevation range: Up to 7,500 feet Water requirement: Low to moderate Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: Poppy mallow tolerates sun, heat and drought; its vibrant flowers are a nectar source for native bees and butterflies — including the gray hairstreak. Seasonal interest: Flowers early summer to fall; foliage may be evergreen in mild climates When to plant: Spring to fall
Don't judge junipers harshly. If you've experienced only the tam juniper — the king of overplanting a generation or two ago — you've probably never trusted junipers. The infamous tam grew much taller and larger than its advertised role as a low ground cover, and succumbed to diseases. But keep an open mind about the many good junipers now available. They have handsome forest-style looks, are easy to grow and are relatively pest free. Shore juniper is just one favorite, and a newer form, Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific', is blue-green, hugs the ground and spreads well in dry places. 'Blue Star' juniper, shown, looks like a bonsai as it forms a mound; the bluish foliage particularly complements purplish or red plants. It makes a fine ground cover or accent plant, and looks great in a natural setting with rocks.
REALLY like this setting. Live oaks, hammock, ground cover Hedge in back is: Fatsia japonica is the most distinctive of all evergreens with large palmate leaves. The lobed leaves can reach 16 inches across and provide contrast in the shade garden. It can be grown in mass plantings on larger sites or as a specimen in smaller gardens. Grow it with ferns for contrast and it is excellent when mixed with large plantings of Rhododendrons to relieve the monotony of dark, medium evergreen foliage. Drumstick-like flowers are otherworldly in appearance but add to the distinctiveness of this shrub. Plant with the usual woodland perennials like hellebores, hostas, solomn's seal and the like. Foliage is excellent in flower arrangements and lasts for weeks when cut. Plant Type: shrub Foliage Type: evergreen Plant Height: 6 ft. Plant Width/Spread: 6 ft. Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 to 10 Flower Color: cream Sun/Light Exposure: open to deep shade Water Requirements: regular summer watering for full, lush growth
good looking walkway
Lilyturf (Liriope 'Evergreen Giant') Lilyturf is common in gardens across the world because it gives the eye a place to rest on — much like turf grasses — but without the maintenance. It needs to be trimmed only twice a year, once in late winter before the first flush of new growth, and again in fall to remove the stalks of spent purple blooms and ripening berries. It's not the end of the world if you fail to prune it at all, though, and it will continue to form an even denser deep green mass with each passing year.
If you need height and structure, let me introduce you to the drought-tolerant shrub arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum, zones 3 to 8). It's covered in white blooms in May; late summer brings a flush of blue berries birds adore; and the fall color is bright red, yellow or orange, depending on the cultivar. It also is a host plant for several caterpillar species. It thrives in dry to medium clay in full to partial sun, getting to about 6 feet tall and wide after eight years, and it will reach a bit taller after that.
Add to ideabook by Missouri Botanical Garden Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea simulata, zones 5 to 8) is one of the earliest-blooming coneflower species — if you don't have several of the species, you're missing a great diversity of blooms over a much longer time than what just E. purpurea can give you. What makes E. simulata unique is the very bright yellow pollen. This coneflower likes dry to medium clay soil and full to partial sun; it gets 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide.
Tall blazing star (Liatris aspera, zones 3 to 8) is a late-summer to early-fall bloomer that's about 1 foot wide and 3 to 4 feet tall. It grows in dry to medium clay soil and full sun, and it's a carefree perennial that brings in butterflies just like its monarch-attracting cousin Liatris ligulistylis, zones 3 to 6.
Irish moss (Sagina subulata, zones 4 to 8) and Scotch moss (Sagina subulata 'Aurea'), along with Club moss (Selaginella kraussiana, zones 6 to 10), are not mosses at all. Selaginella is actually more closely related to ferns than to true moss.
Zoysia (Zoysia spp, zones 6 to 9). This warm-season perennial grass can have either coarse or fine texture, and is adapted to a wide range of soils. In southern climates it performs fairly well in semishaded areas, but the farther north you go, it'll need more sun. It's an extremely drought-tolerant grass, and although it will turn straw colored during severe drought conditions, it will respond very favorably to subsequent irrigation. This grass has excellent wear tolerance, making it perfect for lawns, golf courses and play areas.
This front garden captures the essence and repetition of the allée but in an updated way that is within the realm of possibility for many. The designer has employed the concept of asymmetrical balance; one garden bed is larger than the other but is weighted to look equal. The stone pillar mimics the lamppost, bringing continuity to the space. Notice how the caladiums (Caladium sp, zones 9 to 10) are more prominent in the smaller bed on the right. Acting as a fulcrum, they balance the beds, making them visually pleasing. A carpet of ground cover in the foreground of each bed brings that additional dose of soothing continuity
rhythm alternating between both sides of the hardscape. Notice how both the boulders and the landscape lighting balance this stairway from side to side, pulling the eye up to the top in a pleasing way. Having a cute dog as a focal point never hurt, either. The restrained use of boulders can be an effective tool in achieving continuity from one side of the hardscape to the other. Just be sure not to overdo it.
Integrate plants directly into the hardscape. Here the designer has both embraced and softened the hardscape by introducing a ground cover directly into the joints of the sidewalk. Notice how the appropriate use of this unexpected technique pulls the eye toward the house and creates an oasis in the midst of the walkway. Creeping and wooly thyme (Thymus cvs, zones 4 to 9) are especially suited for this purpose.
inter- and spring-flowering Hellebores not only have deeply cut, dark green leaves that fit nicely into a green planting palette, but some varieties show green coloring in their maturing flowers. Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose, has white flowers that start off as the palest of lime greens before maturing to a clean white. The variety 'Christmas Carol' is one of the best for producing this immature green inflorescence. The Hellebore with the most convincing green flowers is H. foetidus, the Stinking Hellebore, which has tall spires of lime-green flowers held above spiky, deep green foliage.
Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a perfect herbaceous perennial to use in a green garden. It produces clumps of hairy, light green leaves that charmingly, as shown, hold drops of water after rain. Its flowers are an acid green and fit beautifully with any green theme. (Beware: It seeds freely.)
love it!
great meadow
Hesperaloe parviflora Common names: Red yucca, red hesperaloe Origin: Native to Texas and northern Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zone 5; find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun to filtered shade Mature size: 3 to 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall (5 feet tall when in flower) Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant once established, but looks best with deep watering twice a month spring through fall; attracts hummingbirds Seasonal interest: Flowers in spring and off and on throughout the summer When to plant: Fall or spring
istinguishing traits. Despite its common name, red yucca is not a yucca at all. The leaves of this succulent mimic the appearance of an ornamental grass. Coral flowers with a yellow center appear on tall stalks beginning in spring and lasting through early summer. In cooler climates flowering can extend throughout the entire summer.
Purple Sage (Salvia spp) The salvia genus offers a wide range of plants that feature those enviable purple fall blooms.
Fall Aster (Symphotrichum oblongifolium) Asters are time-honored plants in the fall garden, and with their profusion of purple daisy-like blooms, it's easy to see why. They are deer resistant and are attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. They also are a great companion plant for ornamental grasses and other flowering perennials, such as rudbeckia. USDA zones: 4a to 9b Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall Bloom time: Late summer to fall Planting tips: Plant in spring or fall, and pinch back growth regularly throughout the summer to encourage a tight-growing form. Cut back after the first killing freeze and mulch lightly over the winter.
Spacing is key. The stars of this scene are undoubtedly the Japanese maples. From the burnt orange Iijima Sunago (Acer palmatum 'Iijima Sunago') to the golden yellow Hogyoku (Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku') and the Pacific Northwest native vine maple (Acer circinatum) closest to the house, each tree is given its own space to not only show off its individual structure but to keep each color distinct. The backdrop of native trees adds depth without interfering visually with the seasonal display.
clear lavender-blue bloom spikes of Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) mix with abundantly flowering white bigleaf hydrangeas and evergreen boxwood (Buxus sp.). The planting trio forms a peaceful garden scene.
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