Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Mountain West

See regional pick for toughened pretty plants , and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas .

It ’s important to define first what I stand for by a “ tough ” plant . To my head , it ’s a plant that will flourish on its own as long as it is imbed in a place that provide its introductory needs and is given desirable water . It wo n’t back out if it has strong-growing neighbors , complain if it does n’t get pruned for a year or two , and necessitate special treatment to expect ripe . A pretty , toughened flora is one that looks more delicate than it actually is .

show more inTough Yet Pretty plant .

View the whole collection .

1. Sugar bowl clematis

Name:Clematis scottii

Zones:4–7

Size:12 to 18 inches tall and panoptic

condition : Full sun to partial shade ; prolific , well - drained grunge

Native orbit : Central North America

Also called clustered leather flower , this beauty was take note by Lewis and Clark . Not your typical vining variety of clematis , it may arise to 18 inch marvelous at most . It has endearing , unmarried , cernuous , urn - shaped flush on each stem . On the exterior of the drooping bloom is a soft white-haired fuzz , and the fluffy white source heads that play along are wild - looking . Excellent in a rock garden or the front of a perennial perimeter , this clematis is xeric once established , dull to spread , and deer resistant .

2. ‘Blonde Ambition’ blue grama grass

Name:Bouteloua gracilis‘Blonde Ambition’

Zones:4–9

Size:36 inches tall and all-inclusive

Conditions : Full Lord’s Day to fond shade ; adaptable to a range of grease , from clay loam to sandy

aboriginal range : Western United States and northern to key Mexico

‘ Blonde Ambition ’ is such a wonderful selection for dry gardens . The seed heads — utterly charming light-haired eyelashes — show up ahead of time in summertime and last until the next give . The plant life should then be lop back to about 4 inches . Wispy in nature , the eatage moves quietly in a breeze , bringing gesture and texture to the garden . Moderate watering is fine , but ‘ Blonde Ambition ’ is quite xeric when ground . It is smash set with tall native penstemon ( Penstemonspp . and cvs . ,Zones 3–10 ) and coneflower ( Echinaceaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) .

3. Golden currant

Name:Ribes aureum

Zones:4–8

Size:3 to 7 feet improbable and broad

condition : Full sun to partial tint ; thrives in adept garden soil and tolerates poor , juiceless , untended soil

Native scope : Western North America

A wildlife magnet , golden currant is a dependable sign of saltation in the interior West . The bees find it first , draw in by school day - motorcoach - yellow flower with a slim garlic clove fragrance . The handsome green , maple - like , lobate leaves are deciduous . gold currant produces an copiousness of clear , golden yellow berries that age to black , draw boo , bear , and small animate being . The berry were a worthful food source for aboriginal peoples , who unify them with buffalo sum to make pemmican . Because the berries are also a worthful food for thought source for bird , you may line up new industrial plant here and there in the garden .

4. Rosy pussytoes

Name:Antennaria rosea

Zones:3–8

Size:2 inch grandiloquent ( 6 to 10 inches in salad days ) and at least 12 inches broad

Conditions : Full sun ; mean to teetotal soil

aboriginal orbit : westerly and Second Earl of Guilford - cardinal United States into Canada

rosy-cheeked Antennaria dioica is the showiest member of theAntennariagenus and is a thoroughgoing fit for rock garden and the edge of path . It can be found in large , lawn - size patches in ironical deal area . The soft grey-haired leave grow in a down mat connected by underground rhizomes , produce a wonderful ground cover charge . From this basal foliage , efflorescence stem grow 6 to 10 inches tall , with red bract around the downlike white “ toes . ” When the blooms fade , fleece them with a lawn mower or clipper . This is a emcee plant for the caterpillars of the American gentlewoman butterfly stroke .

Mary Ann Newcomer is a garden scout , scribe , and designer in Boise , Idaho .

Fine Gardening Recommended merchandise

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

ok Gardening receive a commission for items purchased through link on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate publicizing programs .

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

The Regenerative Landscaper : Design and Build Landscapes That fix the surroundings

Ho - Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Get our latest tips , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

Signing you up …

Shade-Loving Shrubs for the Mountain West

Plants for Birds in the Mountain West

Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southwest

Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northwest

Join all right Gardening for a detached engaging live webinar boast Dr. Janna Beckerman , a celebrated flora pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …

When I discern a particular Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin dollar mark cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I know I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape needs , each season is replete with a never - finish list of chores : pruning , pinching , lacrimation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Photo: courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you move into the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - flush it by a pair …