When we only prioritise plants we require over plants our landscape need , each season is satiate with a never - ending inclination of task : pruning , pinching , tearing , treating , ameliorate , and fertilizing , with footling time to sit and savor the garden you dig over . to boot , these plant life often offer minimal welfare back to our environment , outside of pretty blooms or merriment foliation to admire . Gardening becomes a task of wrangling and control condition rather than one of care and cooperation .
fortuitously , there are mess of workhorse flora that give you the best of both world : ornamental interest along with low-pitched - maintenance and eco - friendly characteristic . Our squad of regional expert have choose some gravid perennial , shrubs , grasses , and even a few standout Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that cater style in multiple seasons without endless fussing on your part . Explore this list of pretty , persevering powerhouses , and make the next gain to your garden a trouble - complimentary gem .
Pacific Northwest
Oregon sunshine
Name : Eriophyllum lanatumZones:4–9Size:1 to 2 foot grandiloquent and wideConditions : Full sun to partial shade ; well - drain soilNative range : Western North America
Also call vulgar wooly sunflower , this fantastic aboriginal perennial is widespread in the Pacific Northwest . Dancing above intricate silvern - hoary foliage , its abundant favorable - yellow blush are call by many aboriginal pollinator and butterflies from former spring to late summer . Oregon sunniness is also a larval host for several mintage of native butterfly and moths . It is excellent on slopes , careen gardens , and dry borders , or use it to append a splash of yellow to hayfield or parking strips . When planting , side - clothes with compost and keep plants watered for the first time of year to avail them get found ; no further care will be needed after that . This jolly deer - resistant beaut will flourish in almost any sunny placement with good drainage .
‘Native Warrior’ Pacific Coast iris
Name : Iris ×pacifica‘Native Warrior’Zones:7–10Size:10 to 14 in tall and 12 to 24 inches wideConditions : Full sun to fond refinement ; average to dry , well - drained soilNative reach : loanblend of species aboriginal to the Pacific Northwest
‘ Native Warrior ’ Pacific Coast flag blooms from late April to June and prosper on negligence . Clumps of grassy leaf provide a with child background for the arresting flowers , which are tinted with ruby - violet and raspberry . Bees and butterfly stroke are delighted by these efflorescence , and the evergreen leave give soft priming coat - stratum texture in all seasons . Its stocky habit makes it great for small garden , on banks and slopes , as an edging plant or ground cover , or mix with Grass and other perennial in a comfort hayfield matrix . ‘ Native Warrior ’ naturalizes attractively and willnot be bothered by deeror rabbit .
‘Blue Gem’ mountain plum pine
Name : Podocarpus lawrencei‘Blue Gem’Zones:7–9Size:2 to 4 feet tall and 8 to 12 substructure wideConditions : Full sun to fond tone ; well - drained soilNative range : Southwest Australia and Tasmania
This selection of an adaptable dwarf evergreen plant conifer hails from the highest elevations of Tasmania . It is dauntless enough to thrive in the Pacific Northwest , in accession to being long - lived and well-fixed to mature . ‘ Blue Gem ’ offer fine - textured , bright aristocratical - gullible foliage , with short yew - like leaves alternately spaced along the shoots . Low , curve branches and a dense mounding wont make it utilitarian in many garden situations , and it is particularly efficacious as a low hedging . Adapting readily to both sand and clay , it is drought tolerant after the first season . It thrives in hot Lord’s Day , developing a slightly more open habit in light tincture , and also has good deer , rabbit , slug , and snail resistance .
Silverleaf oak
Name : Quercus hypoleucoidesZones:7–10Size:18 to 35 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wideConditions : Full Sunday ; lean , well - drained soilNative range : Northern Mexico and southwesterly United States
aboriginal to very high - elevation terrain , this striking evergreen oak tree is a wonderful landscape painting pick for our evolving mood . It is fast growing , developing a uncoiled torso and a tall , rounded anatomy . In time it will contrive dense shade , so site it sagely . The minute leaves are coriaceous , burnished , and sage - super acid on top , with bedazzle silver on the undersides . Striking atomic number 79 ament seem in spring , and the leave ’ upper surface can turn maroon in cold temperature . Like other aboriginal oaks , it provides many ecosystem benefits . It is appreciated by razzing and repellent to pests and diseases . With multiple seasons of interest , silverleaf oak tree makes an exquisite garden specimen or street Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Regional expert : Adriana Berryis the owner and Pb fashion designer atPlant Passion Design in Portland , Oregon .
Southwest
Texas firecracker
Name : Anisacanthus quadrifidusvar.wrightiiZones:7–10Size:3 to 5 foot tall and 3 to 4 foot wideConditions : Full sun ; mean to dry , skimpy , well - debilitate soilNative compass : South cardinal Texas and adjacent northern Mexico
Also called hummingbird bush , this deciduous bush is the virtuoso of my summer garden . From June through October , the flora are cover with crimson - orange blooms filled withsweet nectar that hungry hummingbirdsand butterflies find irresistible . The plant life rarely require supplemental irrigation to keep the show going . This adaptable shrub tolerates heavy the Great Compromiser and will also thrive in miserable , rocky grunge . The woody stem will die back to the ground in colder division of the plant ’s range ; remove the honest-to-god root word in winter , and new growth will quickly replace them . In warm areas , cut plants back severely every few years to care the sizing . It ’s a perfect choice for contribute last color to sundry borders , rock ‘n’ roll gardens , or container .
Blackfoot daisy
Name : Melampodium leucanthumZones:5–11Size:10 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 20 inches wideConditions : Full sunlight ; lean , dry , well - enfeeble soilNative range : Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Few perennials flower for as long as blackfoot daisy does . With tolerable rainfall or a bit of supplementary wet , it will flower nonstop from spring through declivity . The one - inch bloodless blossoms with dearest - seraphic perfume cheerfully deal the plants throughout the season , attracting aboriginal bee and butterfly stroke . Songbirds oft feast on the come , while deer and cony leave the dispirited mound of grey - light-green evergreen leafage alone . find naturally on rocky slopes , this heat- and drought - tolerant aboriginal is perfect for rock gardens and xeric landscapes . Plant it on your most challenging stain , but do n’t overwater it .
Showy penstemon
Name : Penstemon cobaeaZones:4–8Size:16 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wideConditions : Full sun ; dry to medium , lean to median , well - drained soilNative cooking stove : South cardinal United States
The spectacular flowered video display of this native perennial capably realise it its rough-cut name . Each plant produces numerous inflorescence staunch from a basal stem canker of bright green leaves . bloom spindle are packed with rose - royal flower from mid to late spring , suck up in bumblebees and butterflies . Showy penstemon make a gorgeous improver to sunny borders , pollinator garden , and hayfield plantings . It will adapt to almost any soil that drain well , from sandy sites to limestone outcroppings and loamy plains . Avoid wet and ill drained soil and intemperate clay , which promote root rot . Plants are drought resistant once base but may move into quiescency if not irrigated during prolonged periods of ironical summer conditions .
‘Blue Paradise’ little bluestem
Name : Schizachyrium scoparium‘Blue Paradise’Zones:3–9Size:3 to 3½ feet tall and 2 pes wideConditions : Full Dominicus ; adaptable to most well - drained dirt typesNative mountain range : Eastern North America
A very upright selection of piddling bluestem , ‘ Blue Paradise ’ offers quite a little of rich texture and dramatic color . The leaf radiate silvery - blue throughout the summer calendar month and stands tall without flop . Flower stems and seed head emerge in early declination , accept on a wine - ruddy cast that adds astuteness and dramatic play to any planting . The nutritious seeds provide an excellent winter food source for songbirds . ‘ Blue Paradise ’ is also unbelievably versatile in the landscape painting . apply it as a focal degree in assorted border and cottage garden , or mass it in problem areas to control erosion . The plant are heat and drought tolerant once establish and can handle a wide range of develop term .
Regional expert : Kim Toscanois a plantsman , entomologist , garden designer , writer , and garden illustrator . She is also a Southwest regional reporter at FineGardening.com .
Mountain West
‘Kudos Mandarin’ agastache
Name : Agastache‘Kudos Mandarin’Zones:5–10Size:16 to 20 column inch tall and 16 to 18 inch wideConditions : Full sun ; well - drained soilNative range : Hybrid
Agastaches beckon hummingbirds from dawn till dusk , devote these plants their common name , hummingbird mint . This is especially true for ‘ Kudos Mandarin ’ . Drought and heat kind , deer resistive , and mildew resistant , this industrial plant is a blessing not just for hummingbirds but pollinator of many sort for month on last . The fluffy , rich orange flowers pop out of Battle of Magenta - majestic calyces , adding a vivacious zing to the garden , with foliage that leans toward olive green and has a warm fennel and licorice scent . I care to pair it with a short ornamental grass like ‘ Little Bunny ’ spring locoweed ( Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘ Little Bunny ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . Requiring very well - drained dirt , ‘ Kudos Mandarin ’ is also a dainty size for a container .
‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry
Name : Amelanchier×grandiflora‘Autumn Brilliance’Zones:3–9Size:15 to 25 human foot improbable and wideConditions : Full sunlight to partial shade ; well - drained soilNative range : cross of North American species
A smallish tree , ‘ Autumn Brilliance ’ serviceberry usually pinch out at around 20 feet marvelous . Fragrant white flower start attracting wildlife from the moment they bloom in May or June , look on lift . bee love the blossoms , and birds clump to the berries that follow . This cultivar improves on its native parent specie ’ fruit yield . The berries are edible for humans , but just go ahead and essay to get enough for a pie — the birds will gravel you to it . In fall , the leafage leafs out in a party dress of red-hot pink , red , and Orange River leaves . Consider constitute a single - trunk specimen if blank is a consideration ; if you ’re looking to instal a hedge or concealment , a wider , multistem industrial plant is a good option .
‘Matrona’ sedum
Name : Hylotelephium telephium‘Matrona’Zones:3–9Size:2 to 2½ feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wideConditions : Full sun ; lean , well - debilitate soilNative range : Eastern Europe , China , and Japan
This sedum is bad as nails and richer in color than the more rough-cut Autumn Joy ( H. telephium ‘ Herbstfreude ’ , Zones 3–9 ) . ‘ Matrona ’ has thick grey - green leaves and dark stalk , topped off with clump of pale pinkish flowers that resemble broccoli heads . I like to institute it in groupings of funny numbers and add more than one such grouping if I have the space . ‘ Matrona ’ sedum pairs well with dingy grama grass ( Bouteloua gracilis , Zones 3–10 ) and salvias ( Salvia spp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) . While thissedumis drouth tolerant once established , be indisputable to provide ample auxiliary water every workweek or so during scorching periods in the first year you implant it .
Fernbush
Name : Chamaebatiaria millefoliumZones:4–9Size:5 to 8 foot tall and wideConditions : Full Lord’s Day ; well - drain soilNative mountain range : Western United States
Fernbush , or desert fresh , is a smart as a whip plant for Mountain West garden . This beautiful mounded bush begin blooming as early as June with loads of small white flowers that have five petals and forked ring of white-livered stamens . They draw native bee and butterfly in teemingness . Below , the bark is a rich cinnamon color . When touched , the delicately curve fern - same leaves give off a pleasant aroma . In warmer regions , this shrub will hold its leafage in wintertime . Fernbush is very drouth liberal but will perform better and flower longer with an occasional deep lachrymation . It need little to no pruning , but can take some aristocratical shaping .
Regional expert : Mary Ann Newcomeris a lifelong nurseryman based in Boise , Idaho , and the source ofRocky Mountain Gardener ’s Handbook .
Midwest
Prelude™ Blue short-stalked catmint
Name : Nepeta subsessilis‘Balneplud’Zones:4–9Size:28 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 30 inches wideConditions : Full sun to fond shade ; well - drained soilNative range : Japan
I ’ve long been a devotee of Nepeta , a genus that offer an copiousness of colouring with trivial bother and is of no involvement to most deer and rabbits . But I was ready for something a bit different than the mutual catmint ( Nepeta × faassenii , Zones 3–8 ) that we all know and love . Enter unawares - stalked catnip , with larger semi - tubular flowers that bloom along stiff stems . preliminary ™ Blue is close to a lawful wild blue yonder and bring about long - last flower from late spring to fall on sizable plants that seldom fall flat . A cutback after flower encourage young blooms . While some growers may list this plant as only taking full sunshine , it can palm some light shade . Like other catmints , it may be attractive to guy .
‘Polished Brass’ boneset
Name : Eupatorium‘Polished Brass’Zones:3–8Size:4 feet magniloquent and wideConditions : Full sun to partial spook ; average to moist soilNative range of a function : loanblend of North American species
If I were to give an award for the plant that appeal the most monarch butterfly butterfly stroke in my garden , this Eupatorium perfoliatum would win by a landslip . For a few days in late summer when crowned head are migrating , I watch clouds of them bounce around between the flowers of this plant . This deer- and rabbit - resistant perennial is a hybrid of ‘ Milk River and Cookies ’ American agueweed ( E. perfoliatum ‘ Milk and Cookies ’ , Zones 3–8 ) and late thoroughwort ( E. serotinum , Zones 3–10 ) . It rocket up to 4 feet grandiloquent with showy brownish - red leaves followed by white prime . ‘ Polished Brass ’ require for small other than a cutback of spent stem in decline or spring , which means there ’s sight of time to savour the monarch show .
‘Little Red Fox’ little bluestem
Name : Schizachyrium scoparium‘Little Red Fox’Zones:4–10Size:2 feet tall and 1 to 1½ feet wideConditions : Full Lord’s Day ; well - debilitate soilNative stove : primal and easterly North America
Little Andropogon gerardii is have a bit right now , with several taller and blue - foliaged varieties being introduced of late , but ‘ piddling Red Fox ’ departs from the crowd in both stature and coloring material . Coming in at only around 2 foot magniloquent with a vase - shaped wont , this perennial is more appropriate for areas nearer to the front of the border or even for utilisation in container plantings . It emerges in spring with grayish - green foliation that heighten to red by June 21 . Purple and silvern tones then go forth as the time of year gain ground . ‘ Little Red Fox ’ is at its best aggroup in drifts , where its stiff stem turn will continue to append interest throughout winter .
‘Orange Field’ mountain fleece
Name : Bistorta amplexicaulis‘Orange Field ’ ( syn . Persicaria amplexicaulis‘Orange Field’)Zones:4–9Size:3 foot tall and wideConditions : Full sun to partial shade ; moist to wet soilNative range : The Himalayas
Few works are at domicile in both tightly contend flower edge and realistic bungalow gardens , but this well - behaved perennial works in multiple situations . ‘ Orange Field ’ heap fleece chop-chop bulks up to a prissy - sized chunk that produce an teemingness of 5 - column inch - prospicient coral - pink bloom , which roll above signal fleeceable leaf . In plus to their color and interesting shape , the blooms are valuable as cut flowers and make an fantabulous increase to bouquets , where they have a long vase life . Although it prefers moist or even pixilated soil , ‘ Orange Field ’ adjust well to other conditions . While it usually goes untasted by cervid , the leafage can have some damage from Japanese beetles .
Regional expert : Erin L. Schanenis a womb-to-tomb gardener who chronicles her journeying throughThe Impatient Gardenerblog and YouTube television channel . She lives and gardens in southeasterly Wisconsin .
Southeast
Paraplu Pink Ink®Rose of Sharon
Name : Hibiscus‘Minsywhi07’Zones : 5–9Size:5 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wideConditions : Full sun to partial subtlety ; average to dry out , well - drain soilNative range : loanblend of specie aboriginal to Asia
Rose of Sharon has stood the test of time for its reliable flower and ability to fly high with nigh no care . First introduced to the United States in the former 1500s , it fell out of favor for some time but is presently enjoying a resurgence of popularity due to exciting new cultivars like Paraplu Pink Ink ® . The beautiful 3- to 5 - column inch flowers feature cherry - pink markings beam from the center on white petal . Its bloom point begin in former June and , under mean garden conditions , will continue nonstop well into September . Pollinators are attracted to the flowers ’ ambrosia , and the large flower petal put up easy landing spots . Seldom get to by cervid , it is very drought - liberal once plant . Watch out for undesirable reseeding .
‘Vintage Gold’ false cypress
Name : Chamaecyparis pisifera‘Vintage Gold’Zones:4–8Size:10 to 20 feet marvelous and 5 to 8 feet wideConditions : Full sun to partial shade ; fair soilNative range : Japan
‘ Vintage Gold ’ has long been a favorite coniferous tree of mine for its vivid atomic number 79 twelvemonth - round color . It take a handsome pyramid with soft , refined , netlike branch that are excellent as thinned greenery . It does not burn in the heat of summertime and only darkens somewhat during the cold parts of winter . It makes an attractive specimen , sodding for anchoring the niche of a home , and is an effective component in a assorted privacy screen . It is drouth - tolerant once prove and not favour by deer . casual pruning will encourage a full , denser plant . Be aware that ‘ Vintage Gold ’ get much bigger than its plant tag or literature might bespeak . In my experience , it can grow up to 10 foot tall in its first 5 to 7 days .
‘Ham and Eggs’ lantana
Name : Lantana camara‘Ham and Eggs’Zones:7–11Size:2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wideConditions : Full sunshine ; well - debilitate soilNative grasp : Central and South America
Over the years , I have only come up two lantana cultivar to be dependably hardy in my Zone 7 home garden and at the University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson : ‘ Miss Huff ’ and ‘ Ham and Eggs ’ . Of the two , ‘ Ham and Eggs ’ is my favourite for its flower color and slightly small sizing . The pinkish - and - yellow blooms start in late outpouring and continue right up until our first Robert Lee Frost . Because the unfertile flowers do not set up seed , the plants can put more of their vitality into bring forth abundant , readily usable nectar that attracts bees , butterflies , and hummingbirds . After frost , stems can be cut back closely to the solid ground , and as long as the plants are properly sited in full sunlight and well - drained grunge , Modern shoots will emerge in late spring once the undercoat warms .
Teddy Bear®Southern magnolia
Name : Magnolia grandiflora‘Southern Charm’Zones:7–9Size:15 to 30 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wideConditions : Full sun to partial tint ; average to pie-eyed soilNative range : Southern United States
Teddy Bear ® is one of my favourite cultivars of our native Southern magnolia . The glazed , saturnine gullible , intermediate - sized leaf are coated on the back side with racy reddish - dark-brown indumentum ( plant hairs ) that look and feel as easy as a well - sleep together teddy bear . The tree is densely ramous and compact in habit , adding classic southerly charm to any landscape painting , no matter the sizing . After only three to four year , the tree will begin raise 6- to 8 - column inch - encompassing fragrant blanched prime in late spring to early summertime . Once give , it is drought - patient of , low - maintenance , and an excellent source for emasculated greenery .
Mid-Atlantic
American ipecac
Name : Gillenia stipulataZones:4–8Size:2 to 3 feet grandiloquent and 1 to 3 feet wideConditions : Full sun to partial shade ; average , well - drained soilNative range : Eastern United States
Easy - tutelage , refined American ipecac sparkles with an teemingness of dainty white blossoms and red - blushed calyces in early summertime . Once the flowers fetch up , the clumps of slender reddish stems and lacy brilliant light-green parting make a endearing , fine - textured bed filler through summer . It shines again in fall when the foliage turns , ordinarily to a plenteous tint of red , but oranges and yellows are also possible . aboriginal to region of easterly North America , this repeated spring up fantastic in woodlands but can also conform to sunlight , as long as the soil is n’t too dry . American ipecac is excellent for softening the edge of a track , plant around shrubs , and pairing with bold - leave perennial , such ashostas(Hostaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) .
Swamp milkweed
Name : AsclepiasincarnataZones:3–9Size:3 to 4 fundament tall and 2 to 3 feet wideConditions : Full sun ; average to moist soilNative range : United States and easterly Canada
Swamp milkweed is an unfortunate name for this beautiful and honest perennial . It thrives in moist — even soaked — soil but can adjust just fine to garden that are n’t clearly ironical , and it certainly is n’t underweight . In mid to late summer , its well - behaved clump of inflexible , upright stems and slender leave of absence are topped with dense clump of fragrant bloom , typically in shades of pink . swampland milkweed makes a sodding cooperator for other sun - sleep with perennials and grasses that peak around the same time , such as Culver ’s root ( Veronicastrum virginicum , Zones 3–8 ) and prairie dropseed ( Sporobolus heterolepis , Zones 3–9 ) . This native flora is a boon for insects — the foliage feeds sovereign butterfly larvae , and the blooms supply a bounty of ambrosia for many butterflies and bees .
Summersweet
Name : Clethra alnifoliaZones:3–9Size:3 to 8 understructure tall and 4 to 6 feet wideConditions : Full sun to fond shade ; fair to moist soilNative range : Coastal easterly North America
spare - flowering and fragrant , summersweet is a delight in the late summertime garden . Its slender , brushlike spikes of ashen flowers draw the eye , as well as bees and butterfly . The show continue into crepuscle , when the leaf turns yellowed and interesting come heads stick around for winter interest . This difficulty - gratuitous deciduous shrub can adapt to sun or shade ; the more sunshine it gets , the more wet it needs . Enjoy it as an intimate hedge or viewing flora by itself or combined with other multiseason shrubs like genus Viburnum ( Viburnumspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–9 ) . Summersweet can spread out via suckers , but they are promiscuous to take out if desired . I have never had to cut back my works for it to perform well , but if ask , summersweet can be bring down back in spring , as it flowers on new maturation .
Frostweed
Name : Verbesina virginicaZones:5–9Size:3 to 6 invertebrate foot marvelous and 2 to 3 feet wideConditions : Full sun to fond shade ; average , well - drained soilNative range : Southeastern United States
If you desire to bring the beauty of so - foretell hoarfrost flower to your garden , frostweed is one of your right wager . This fab phenomenon appears when freezing temperature provide the ripe conditions for curling ribbons of ice to emerge from the groundwork of the stems . However , you do n’t have to waitress until frosty weather arrives to enjoy this promiscuous - fear , eastern - native perennial . Its sheer leaf and constellate whitened salad days provide a unspoiled show and a welcome source of food for a broad variety of good insects from late summer well into fall . snip off the seed fountainhead in fall to preclude ego - sowing if you wish , but do n’t cut the independent stems to the ground until springtime . Frostweed support a good bit of shade and can take ironic soil once establish .
Regional expert : Nancy J. Ondrasells uncommon seminal fluid athayefield.com . She gardens in Bucks County , Pennsylvania , and is the source of more than 15 books , includingThe Perennial Gardener ’s Design Primer .
Northeast
‘Superba’ Himalayan fleece flower
Name : Bistorta affinis‘Superba ’ ( syn . Persicaria affinis‘Superba’)Zones:4–9Size:8 to 12 inches magniloquent and 12 to 24 inches wideConditions : Full sunshine to fond shadowiness ; median to moist , well - drained soilNative range : The Himalayas
This endearing little repeated is one tough customer . Mother Nature has contrive just about everything at my patch of ‘ Superba ’ Himalayan fleece heyday over the years , including scorching sun , drought , subzero temperatures with no snow masking , and periodic deluge , and it has sailed through with nary a complaint . I first engraft this perennial in the nineties as a terra firma cover in crumbly ground with no regular irrigation . Within a couple of years , it had filled in , and the original industrial plant persist some 30 years later . In midsummer , stringy stems terminate in pale pink flush . As the bloom of youth slice , the calyces deepen to a striking red , throw a lovely multicolored effect . In fall , the leaves take on coppery - redness hue and stay deep into wintertime .
Stinking hellebore
Name : Helleborus foetidusZones:5–9Size:1 to 2½ fundament magniloquent and 1 to 2 metrical foot wideConditions : Partial to full nicety ; racy , well - drained soilNative range : Europe , Turkey , and Morocco
In the depths of wintertime , when snow address wanes , this evergreen perennial provides visual relief for those thirstily awaiting the arrival of spring . nod flowering halt ascent above snowdrifts , dancing atop deep - green leathery leaves . This foliage , with its sharply pointed lobes , is so dark that it appear almost black against the snow , giving rise to a fun common name : bearsfoot . The foliage are also unpleasantly pungent when squeeze , giving it a instinctive resistance to depredation by cervid and rabbits . Stinking hellebore ’s blooms appear like pale lanterns , each subtend by piano green bracts . add this stalwart with organic soil that has a impersonal pH , and it will quickly form a goodish clump and ego - sow happily . A true workhorse , it flourish in even less than idealistic conditions .
‘Pocahontas’ penstemon
Name : Penstemon digitalis‘Pocahontas’Zones:4–9Size:3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wideConditions : Full sun to fond shade ; average to dry , well - run out soilNative range : Eastern North America
With deep - over-embellished leaves that emerge in bound and coppery seedpods that thump through the C in winter , ‘ Matoaka ’ genus Penstemon provides an attractive presence year - rotund . While the straight species ’ clean white flowers look lovely on roadside and area in springtime , this cultivar brag lavender - pink flush , which are beautifully cancel by the full-bodied over-embellished leafage beneath . Blooming is most fecund when the industrial plant is grown in full sun with fair to middling wet . In these condition , ‘ Rebecca Rolfe ’ penstemon will reach at least 4 feet improbable . This plant exhibits singular resilience to both drought and periodic heavy period of rain . It ’s also resistant to cervid and hare damage , useful as a cut flower , and attractive to bee , hummingbirds , and butterflies .
Silvery creeping willow
Name : Salix repensvar.argenteaZones:3–6Size:1½ to 3 feet magniloquent and 3 to 6 base wideConditions : Full sun to fond shade ; medium to moist , well - run out soilNative mountain range : Europe and western and cardinal Asia
What do I admire most about this shrubby willow ? Is it the lovely diminutive leaves that move with the summer breeze ? Is it the way of life the foliage coloration combine so attractively with skirt plants , cooling hot colors and complementing softer hues ? Or is it the slender rosy stems that look so bright against wintertime snow ? Yes , yes , and yes ! develop a mere 3 foot tall , this hardworking multistemmed shrub can be used as a ground cover , an edging plant life , or a single specimen . It also looks upright trailing over a rock ‘n’ roll bulwark . It is able to withstand drought , flooding , full sun , and dappled shade , all while being untempting to pests , both the mammal and worm variety . Coppice it to the priming coat if desired in early springiness .
Regional expert : Joann Vieirais the director of public garden and horticulture atThe Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts .
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