Make your garden glow with these fresh, inspiring ideas
All gardener have that mean solar day when they look at their garden and want something new to get their blood pumping again . It does n’t count that your neighbors still “ ooh ” and “ aah ” over it ; for you , the spark is pass . If your garden has lost that certain something that used to make you sigh with wonder , it ’s time to dust off those old , overused notions and go in search of new inspiration . you could recover thought at your local garden center , at a nearby botanical garden , or even in a protagonist ’s garden . Whatever you do , do n’t give up . Get mad , get frustrated , and then get busy . begin your wheels turn with these combos from gardens near and far . Alter them to make them your own , or flat - out transcript them — no one will be the wiser .
Hostas aren’t the only shade lovers in town
Sure , hostas are made for the shade — but they are n’t the only option . The touchy , feathery texture of maidenhair fern and the fragrant white petals of western wood lily make a shade combo that wo n’t evanesce into the shadow . Plus , unlike colorful bloom that dull with long time , those of western wood lily have the unequalled timber of transitioning from white to rap as they mature .
1 . Maidenhair fern(Adiantumsp . , USDA Hardiness Zones 3–11 )
2 . Western trillium(Trillium ovatum , geographical zone 5–8 )
status : Partial to full shade ; fertile , moist , well - drained dirt
Designed by Norm Kalbfleisch and Neil Matteucci in Portland , Oregon • Photo by Joshua McCullough / www.phytophoto.com
Salad never looked so good
When it is n’t on your plate , loot makes a heavy foliage plant for jazz band in sunny quad . The pansy ’s vivacious efflorescence add color , while Mexican feather locoweed provides textural contrast and subtle movement on windy days . Lettuce may require shading in high temperature to prevent bolt .
1 . Mexican feathering grass(Stipa tenuissima , Zones 7–11 )
2 . ‘ Oakleaf ’ lettuce(Lactuca sativa‘Oakleaf ’ , one-year )
3 . ‘ Cimarron ’ lettuce(Lactuca sativa‘Cimarron ’ , annual )
4 . ‘ Lollo Rossa ’ lettuce(Lactuca sativa‘Lollo Rossa ’ , annual )
5 . Matrix ™ Deep Blue Blotch pansy(Viola × wittrockiana Matrix ™ Deep Blue Blotch , annual )
Conditions : Full sun to fond shade ; full-bodied , moist , well - run out territory
Designed by the staff at Blithewold Mansion , Gardens & Arboretum in Bristol , Rhode Island • Photo by Danielle Sherry
Complementary colors aren’t just for art projects
Red and green . Is it the holidays already ? No , but you do n’t have to redeem this color combo for December . Red and green are completing colors on the color bike . That ’s why this jazz group works so well . Whether you ’re a pro or just a beginner , creating jazz group based on your artistic creation - class colouration roulette wheel can be simple yet furnish beautiful results .
1.‘Oxford ’ tulip(Tulipa‘Oxford ’ , Zones 4–8 )
2 . ‘ Purple and Gold ’ euphorbia(Euphorbia characias ssp . wulfenii‘Purple and Gold ’ , Zones 7–10 )
3 . ‘ Queen of Sheba ’ tulip(Tulipa‘Queen of Sheba ’ , Zones 4–8 )
condition : Full Sunday ; moist , well - drained soil
design by Gina Price at Pettifers Garden in Banbury , Oxfordshire , England • Photo by Clive Nichols
Color makes the combo
Whether subtle or bold , colour play an crucial part in designing . The yellow highlights found in the otherwise dark blooms of ‘ Etain ’ violet make these flowers pop . Pair it with the golden bloom of lady ’s mantle and the yellow blade of golden millet grass and you have one outstanding show . Once the blooms of ‘ Etain ’ violet and bloody cranesbill slice , the prominent crimson dip foliage of crashing crane’s bill takes halfway stagecoach .
1 . Lady ’s mantle(Alchemilla mollis , Zones 4–7 )
2 . ‘ Etain ’ violet(Viola‘Etain ’ , Zones 4–8 )
3 . Golden millet grass(Milium effusum‘Aureum ’ , Zones 5–8 )
4 . Bloody cranesbill(Geranium sanguineum , Zones 3–8 )
Designed by Sharon Nyenhuis for a garden in Port Angeles , Washington • Photo by Danielle Sherry
Contrasting texture turns a good combo great
grain might take a backseat to color for some gardeners , but this jazz group shows what you could execute when both design element are put to work . undimmed yellow , nerveless blues , glowing greens , and hints of maroon and orange provide just enough diversity to draw your optic . But once your attention is caught , what you really acknowledge is the striking direct contrast in texture . Spiky blades of grass ; rounded , veinlike leaves ; and varying form of evergreen plant boughs play off one another to create an awesome display .
1 . Variegated moor grass(Molinia caerulea‘Variegata ’ , Zones 5–9 )
2 . ‘ Britt - Marie Crawford ’ bigleaf ligularia(Ligularia dentata‘Britt - Marie Crawford ’ , Zones 4–8 )
3 . Golden Japanese barberry(Berberis thunbergii*‘Aurea ’ , zone 5–8 )
4 . ‘ Skylands ’ Oriental spruce(Picea orientalis‘Skylands ’ , Zones 5–8 )
5 . ‘ Sundowner ’ New Zealand flax(Phormium‘Sundowner ’ , Zones 9–11 )
6 . ‘ Devon Cream ’ sawara cypress(Chamaecyparis pisifera‘Devon Cream ’ , zone 4–8 )
condition : Full Dominicus to partial subtlety ; median to moist , well - drain soil
Designed by Cassandra and Brian Barrett for their garden in Dexter , Oregon • Photo by Allan Mandell
Colorful foliage won’t leave you longing for flowers
This foliation - first combo passes the test for authentic color and logical performance . The vivacious regal tones of Persian shield are duplicate in the center hybrid of oxalis , while the glowing white highlights of ‘ Tsuboi ’ bamboo add emphasis to these rich colors . Beautiful as it is in the ground , this combo is best suited for containers in ardent climate where the bamboo can develop aggressively .
1 . Iranian shield(Strobilanthes dyerianus , Zones 9–11 )
2 . ‘ Iron Cross ’ oxalis(Oxalis tetraphylla‘Iron Cross ’ , Zones 8–9 )
3 . ‘ Tsuboi ’ bamboo(Pleioblastus shibuyanus‘Tsuboi ’ , Zones 7–11 )
Conditions : Partial spectre ; moist , well - enfeeble soil
design by Christian Primeau at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston , Massachusetts • Photo by Michelle Gervais
Light conditions aren’t always black and white
Sure , you ’re spooky when it comes to shade . You panic about how many hours of lightness you get , and you go the safe route : Full - shade areas get only full - shade plant , and fond - shadowiness areas get only fond - shade plants . But there are plenty of works out there that are perfectly flexible and can provide a stack more selection . Nipponese forest grass , for example , like shadiness but will tolerate sun . ‘ Gold Standard ’ hosta work well in a variety of shade status . ‘ Bright Eyes ’ phlox prefers sun but will still perform well in fond shade , though the blooms will be smaller . Put them all together in partial shadowiness , as in this jazz group , and it ’s a well-chosen , dazzling combination .
1 . ‘ Bright Eyes ’ phlox(Phlox paniculata‘Bright Eyes ’ , Zones 4–8 )
2 . Nipponese woods grass(Hakonechloa macra‘Albo - striata ’ , Zones 5–9 )
3.‘Gold Standard ’ hosta(Hosta‘Gold Standard ’ , Zones 3–9 )
weather : fond tad ; average , moist , well - drain soil
Designed by Deanne Fortnam for her garden in Nashua , New Hampshire • Photo by Michelle Gervais
Green and more green isn’t always boring
The natural , calming feel that you get from green plant does n’t have to be so unagitated that it ’s tiresome . Three green nicety lovers , each singular in grain and shape , can make quite an impact throughout the season . This jazz group also provides an extra biff in spring , when Chinese May apple and ‘ Hot Lips ’ epimedium create blush in shade of thick red and blistering pinko .
1 . Chinese mayapple(Podophyllum delavayi , Zones 6–9 )
2.‘Hot Lips ’ epimedium(Epimedium‘Hot Lips ’ , Zones 5–9 )
3 . Lady fern(Athyrium filix - femina , Zones 4–9 )
circumstance : fond to full spectre ; fat , moist , well - drained soil
Designed by Linda Cochran in Bainbridge Island , Washington • Photo by Allan Mandell
A combo never fails with coleus at its center
flame nettle is one plant that was made for working in groups . The amazing reach of colour found in each leafage makes it round-eyed to find match candidates . Surrounded by plants with sullen green foliation , the vibrant chartreuse flecks found in
‘ Fishnet Stockings ’ coleus radiate even brighter paired with golden box Australian honeysuckle .
1 . ‘ Fishnet Stockings ’ coleus(Solenostemon scutellarioides‘Fishnet Stockings ’ , Zone 11 )
2 . Golden box honeysuckle(Lonicera nitida‘Baggesen ’s Gold ’ , Zones 6–9 )
3 . ‘ Matrona ’ sedum(Sedum telephium‘Matrona ’ , Zones 4–9 )
Conditions : Full sunshine ; medium , well - drained soil
Designed by Jerry Fritz at Linden Hill Gardens in Ottsville , Pennsylvania • Photo by Michelle Gervais
Orange is for gardeners that like it hot
Some gardeners fuck cool colors : soft pastels or calm blues , greens , and purples . Other gardeners like it hot . For gardener of this breed , you simply ca n’t go wrong with a mix of tropicals , annuals , and perennials in shades of deep Orange River that are almost hot enough to burn your green ovolo . A focal power point of Tropicanna ® canna start it off , while a few Citrus medica fleeceable foliage plants keep the flaming orange under control .
1 . ‘ Bonanza Flame ’ French marigold(Tagetes patula ‘ Bonanza Flame ’ , annual )
2 . Tropicanna ® canna(Canna indica‘Phasion ’ , Zones 8–11 )
3 . King Tut ® papyrus(Cyperus papyrusKing Tut ® , Zones 10–11 )
4 . Coleus(Solenostemon scutellarioidescv . , Zone 11 )
5 . fancy ® Emerald Lace sweet murphy vine(Ipomoea batatas‘NCORNSP–012EMLC ’ , Zones 10–11 )
experimental condition : Full Sunday ; middling , moist , well - drain soil
design by Harold Taylor at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square , Pennsylvania • Photo by Michelle Gervais
Sometimes a good garden combo calls for a stop sign
‘ Flamingo ’ New Zealand flax does for garden visitors what a hitch foretoken does for dealings . In this combo , the plant ’s bright color captures your attention from a aloofness . Approaching the plant , you get down to acknowledge the intricate particular that surround it : the blooms of the circle onion ; the multicolored , crinkly leaves of the bugleweed ; and the vibrant foliage of the ‘ Briggadoon ’ St. John ’s wort .
1 . Circle onion(Allium senescensssp.glaucum , Zones 4–10 )
2 . ‘ Briggadoon ’ St. John ’s wort(Hypericum calycinum‘Briggadoon ’ , Zones 5–9 )
3 . ‘ Flamingo ’ New Zealand flax(Phormium‘Flamingo ’ , Zones 9–11 )
4 . ‘ Catlin ’s Giant ’ bugleweed(Ajuga reptens*‘Catlin ’s Giant ’ , Zones 3–9 )
term : Full Lord’s Day to fond shade ; medium , moist , well - drained soil
design by Nancy Ondra at Linden Hill Gardens in Ottsville , Pennsylvania • Photo by Michelle Gervais
Plants from the wild create natural elegance
If “ nifty and tidy ” does n’t describe your horticulture expressive style , you ’ll have sex the casual , tussled feeling of this combo . Goldenrod and grass give the illusion of a colourful windswept meadow . splash of pinkish and red add an ornamental look to the chemical group . Put it all together and you ’re will with the appearance of natural , fuss - free elegance .
1 . ‘ Leraft ’ goldenrod(Solidago‘Leraft ’ , Zones 4–8 )
2 . Korean feather reed grass(Calamagrostis brachytricha , Zones 4–9 )
3 . ‘ Xenox ’ sedum(Sedum‘Xenox ’ , Zones 3–9 )
4 . ‘ Paul ’s Glory ’ hosta(Hosta ‘ Paul ’s Glory ’ , Zones 3–9 )
5 . Mountain fleeceflower(Persicaria amplexicaulis‘Atrosanguinea ’ , Zones 3–8 )
condition : Full sunshine to fond spook ; average , well - drain grunge
Designed by Lynden B. Miller at The New York Botanical Garden in Bronx , New York • Photo by Stephanie Fagan
Some combos get better once flowers fade
If you call back bloom are what it ’s all about , this jazz group will make you think again . The beige seed school principal of ornamental onion against the new pink - green bud of the genus Pieris gives this jazz group an understated beauty after the blooms have faded . Hints of color in the leaf of the persicaria and the white variegation of dwarf whitestripe bamboo provide some additional yet pernicious highlight to the group .
1 . Ornamental onion(Allium schubertii , Zones 4–10 )
2 . ‘ Valley Valentine ’ pieris(Pieris japonica ‘ Valley Valentine ’ , Zones 6–8 )
3 . ‘ Lance Corporal ’ persicaria(Persicaria virginiana ‘ Lance Corporal ’ , Zones 5–9 )
4 . Dwarf whitestripe bamboo(Pleioblastus variegatus , Zones 6–11 )
Designed by Mindy Arbo for her garden in Winchester , Massachusetts • Photo by Michelle Gervais
Contrast is the key
When you desire something to stand up out , expend contrast . This combo ’s mixture of light and dark foliage create a dramatic exhibit . Best of all , this leafage will last throughout the season . Cigar plant life adds a little oomph with its smart spattering of flaming flowers .
1 . ‘ Concorde ’ Nipponese barberry(Berberis thunbergii*‘Concorde ’ , Zones 5–8 )
2 . ‘ Polemonium caeruleum ’ geranium(Pelargonium‘Charity ’ , Zones 10–11 )
3 . Cigar plant(Cuphea ignea , Zones 10–11 )
4 . ‘ Countess Helen von Stein ’ lamb ’ ears(Stachys byzantina‘Countess Helen von Stein ’ , Zones 4–8 )
Designed by Barbara Weirich for her garden in Benton Harbor , Michigan • Photo by Danielle Sherry
Find balance to create a pleasing combo
Gardening is sometimes like play : You try different plant life and combinations , hop to hit the jackpot . Unlike gambling , however , you do n’t always with with three cherries – or Funka – in a row . The key to designing a great garden combo is striking a balance wheel between similar and unlike plant choice . If your selections are too dim-witted , you ’ll terminate up in snoozeville ; if you strive for too much uniqueness , you ’ll create a helter-skelter mess . You want to fall somewhere in the centre . It ’s your choice how simple or unequaled to make you industrial plant combination . Keep in judgment , though , that the farther you go in one guidance , the more likely it is that you ’ll overlook the crisscross and end up with either a boring scene bone disorderly one . Keep these musical theme in mind when plan your jazz group , but do n’t tip the scales too far in any particular direction :
Brandi Spade is an associate editor .
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