Fix Your Yard's Problems with These Ground Cover Flowers + Plants

Ornamental grasses are versatile plants that can significantly enhance garden design by adding texture, motion, light, and sound. Rick Darke, an expert on ornamental grasses and author of "The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses," advocates for integrating these plants throughout the garden rather than isolating them. He suggests that grasses act as cohesive elements, blending diverse plants into a harmonious landscape. Unlike flower-centric borders, incorporating grasses introduces a dynamic quality, making the garden feel more unified and less like a collection of disparate elements. Western designers are adopting innovative methods to integrate grasses into garden schemes. For instance, Lew Whitney from Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, California, uses grasses alongside shrubs in foundation plantings. These designs prioritize foliage over flowers, creating visually engaging, low-maintenance displays. Examples include pairing vertical grasses like blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) and pheasant’s tail (Stipa arundinacea) with dense, rounded shrubs such as apple green Pittosporum crassifolium ‘Compactum’. Additional texture and color come from plants like ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis). While colorful varieties like burgundy fountain grasses and bronze carexes are popular, some designers, such as Laguna Beach landscape architect Jana Ruzicka, prefer unvariegated greens like maiden grass and sheep fescue (Festuca ovina) for a calmer aesthetic, especially in gardens near natural wilderness. Ornamental grasses serve multiple functions in garden design. For container gardening, they make excellent companions for annuals, perennials, herbs, succulents, and broad-leafed plants. They can also stand alone in striking containers, complementing the pot rather than competing with it. Blue lyme grass (Elymus arenarius ‘Glaucus’) in a weathered copper pot or eulalia grass (Miscanthus sinensis) mimicking the shape of an urn are examples. As ground covers, small tuft grasses like carex and festuca pair well with various plants. Ruzicka uses green Carex texensis with woodland plants, while Susanne Jett creates meadows with blue fescue, yarrow, and snow-in-summer, or Mediterranean-inspired mixes with fescue and succulents. For natural appearance, these grasses should be planted in clusters. Tall grasses, such as eulalia grass, serve as effective hedges and screens, providing boundaries and privacy while catching light and moving gracefully. Other suitable options include Calamagrostis acutifolia ‘Stricta’ and Molinia caerulea. Medium-stature grasses (3 to 6 feet) and low clumping grasses with tall flower spikes complement perennials and flowering shrubs. Recommended combinations include blue oat grass with yellow Mexican tulip poppy or true blue Salvia patens, feather reed grass with Russian sage or rudbeckia, Mexican feather grass with Santa Barbara daisy or lavender, and Oriental fountain grass with ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum or pink shrub roses. Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) can be paired with asters or smoke tree. Caring for ornamental grasses is relatively simple. Most established grasses require weekly irrigation or less, and fertilization is generally unnecessary. They are also largely resistant to pests and diseases. Annual pruning in late winter or early spring, cutting them back to a few inches above the base when new growth appears, helps maintain their appearance. Division is required when clumps become too large or develop bare centers. While many nurseries carry local varieties, mail-order sources like Forestfarm, Digging Dog Nursery, Heronswood Nursery, and Plants of the Southwest offer a wider selection. Rick Darke’s "The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses" provides further detailed information. It is important to be aware of the invasive potential of certain grasses. Due to their prolific seed production and wind dispersal, some species can pose a threat to fragile wilderness areas. Gardeners are advised to choose native grasses or consult local extension offices to identify potentially invasive ornamental grasses in their region. Specifically, Arundo donax (giant reed) should be avoided in California and the Southwest, Cortaderia jubata (jubata grass) and C. selloana (pampas grass) in coastal California, and Pennisetum setaceum (green fountain grass) in Southern California and the Southwest. #OrnamentalGrasses #GardenDesign #Landscaping #PlantCombinations #ContainerGardening #GroundCovers #HedgesAndScreens #GardenCare #InvasiveSpecies

Ornamental grasses offer a visually appealing and relatively low-maintenance option for enhancing the fall landscape. Their foliage often undergoes a color transformation as days shorten and temperatures cool, with seed heads developing from summer to early fall and also changing in hue. When incorporating these grasses into a landscape design, planting them in groups is recommended. The appropriate number of plants depends on the landscape's size and the grasses' mature dimensions. Low-weeping varieties like muhly grass are effective when mass-planted to create expansive, colorful drifts. Larger varieties can serve as individual accent plants, introducing a different texture or color, or they can be integrated into perennial beds to vary the textural elements. Taller grasses can be utilized to form screens or backdrops, while smaller types are suitable for borders. Additionally, many ornamental grasses thrive in containers, particularly when combined with trailing flowering annuals. Their diverse textures and colors, coupled with their ability to sway with the breeze, imbue a garden with character and motion. Some grasses exhibit a stiff, upright growth habit, while others display a soft, weeping form. Newer varieties are often selected for their attractive, colorful flowers. Before choosing a grass for a landscape, it is essential to determine its mature size and whether it is deciduous or evergreen. Deciduous grasses typically die back in winter, changing colors before becoming straw-colored. In some areas, these deciduous varieties may be paired with evergreen plants to ensure continuous color throughout the winter months. It is also important to match the grass to the specific site conditions, considering its moisture requirements, and to confirm that the selected variety is not invasive, either by reseeding or spreading via runners. Ornamental grasses are categorized into clumpers and spreaders. Clumping grasses expand in size annually by forming new divisions but remain contained within their original area. Spreading grasses, conversely, propagate through underground rhizomes, extending in various directions. These spreading types are often employed as ground covers and are highly effective in stabilizing soil to prevent erosion. Pruning is a primary maintenance task for ornamental grasses. Deciduous grasses that turn straw-colored or brown in winter should be cut back to 4 to 6 inches in height just before spring growth begins, which helps prevent their centers from dying out. Evergreen grasses, however, require minimal pruning, mainly for the removal of brown leaves. Notable varieties include Pennisetum, with Fountain grass (_Pennisetum alopecuroides_) being a popular deciduous clumping grass known for its foxtail flowers and golden-yellow fall foliage, though some varieties reseed vigorously. The Hameln cultivar is recommended for its non-reseeding characteristic. Miscanthus, or Maiden grass, is another favored group, encompassing over 20 species and 50 cultivars. Japanese silver grass (_Miscanthus sinensis_) is a perennial clumping grass ideal for backgrounds, hedges, or screens, identified by a silver stripe down the center of its leaves. Cultivars range in height from 3 to 12 feet. Adagio is a rust-resistant cultivar suitable for the local area, reaching 4 to 5 feet with narrow silver-gray leaves, pink summer flowers that whiten with age, and yellow fall color. Other Miscanthus varieties include Cosmopolitan, Graziella, Morning Light, and Gold Bar, each offering unique characteristics in terms of height, foliage color, and bloom. Muhly grass (_Muhlenbergia capillaris_), a native grass, is admired for its blue-green to gray-green, threadlike leaves forming a compact mound. It blooms with a dense cloud of pink to purple flowers from October through November, best showcased when planted en masse. This tough plant thrives in hot, dry, sandy soils and is drought-tolerant once established, requiring full sun to light shade. Florida gamagrass (_Trisacum floridanum_) is another native evergreen clumping grass, maturing at 2 to 3 feet with a matching spread. While not known for showy flowers, it is valued for its salt and drought tolerance. Switch grass (_Panicum virgatum_), native to the southern United States, tolerates sun to partial shade and both dry and moist soils, growing 4 to 7 feet tall and displaying yellow fall color. Popular cultivars include Heavy Metal, Dallas Blues, Cloud Nine, and Shenandoah, each offering distinct foliage and seed head characteristics. Switch grasses are also salt-tolerant, making them suitable for coastal environments. Beach panic grass (_Panicum amarum_), another native, can reach 7 feet, prefers full sun, and is highly salt-tolerant, growing well in sand and aiding in dune stabilization. Availability may vary, with some unusual varieties found online. #OrnamentalGrasses #GardenDesign #FallLandscape #DroughtTolerantPlants #NativePlants #PlantCare #LandscapeArchitecture #GardenMaintenance

This article highlights 18 plant species renowned for their striking foliage, offering gardeners a diverse palette of shapes, textures, and colors to enhance outdoor spaces. The selection emphasizes plants that provide visual interest beyond traditional blooms, catering to various light conditions and garden aesthetics. Each plant profile includes its common and botanical names, USDA hardiness zones, preferred light exposure, and mature size, along with specific characteristics and care tips. Caladiums, also known as elephant ears, feature large, arrowhead-shaped leaves in vibrant combinations of green, red, pink, and white. They thrive in partial shade, offering season-long color, and can be grown as annuals in cooler climates or brought indoors for winter. Cannas contribute a tropical flair with their large, banana-like leaves, which come in green, red, or striped varieties. These plants flourish in full sun and prefer ample water, making them suitable for water gardens or containers. Artemisia, despite its insignificant flowers, boasts airy, silvery-gray foliage that complements both pastel and rich-toned blooms. It brightens partially shaded areas and can be sheared to encourage new growth. Coleus, a Victorian-era bedding plant, now includes sun-loving varieties in a spectrum of colors. Pinching these plants promotes bushier growth and fuller, more colorful leaves. Coral bells, traditionally known for their ruffled green leaves and pink bell-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds, now come in varieties with purple, bronze, and patterned foliage. They perform best in partial shade but can tolerate sun with sufficient moisture, forming tidy clumps ideal for borders or containers. Hostas, available in shades of green, gold, and blue, often with variegated leaves, prefer partial shade where their lighter hues reflect subtle light. While some varieties have attractive flowers, most are grown for their delightful leaves, with flower stalks often removed to prioritize foliage growth. Ornamental grasses add texture, movement, and sound to gardens, with many varieties like blood grass, porcupine grass, and zebra grass valued for their distinctive leaf stalks. Persian shield showcases almost iridescent leaves, glowing in partial shade, and can be grown as an annual, houseplant, or evergreen sub-shrub in warm climates. Rex begonias are tropical plants prized for their thick, elaborately patterned foliage that can be swirled, spotted, spiraled, ruffled, or winged. They are often grown in containers or as houseplants due to their preference for controlled soil and growing conditions. New Zealand flax provides dramatic garden accents with varieties ranging from compact to over 7 feet tall, available in diverse colors including green, yellow, white, pink, and red. They are valued primarily for their blade-shaped leaves, though they also produce attractive red or yellow blooms. Sweet potato vines, with their rich colors and deeply lobed leaves, are popular for annual containers and groundcovers, offering varieties like 'Margarita' with chartreuse leaves and 'Sweetheart' with burgundy heart-shaped foliage. Plectranthus is a bushy plant with thick, slightly fuzzy leaves, often with variegated white edges. Pinching encourages fullness, and newer varieties like 'Mona Lavender' feature tall lavender flower stalks. Japanese painted ferns, with their lacy fronds, stand out with silvery leaves that catch sunlight in shaded nooks, and cultivars like 'Pictum' have reddish-purple stems, enhancing their appeal. Lamb's ear features soft, fuzzy, gray leaves, providing a velvety texture and a subdued color that acts as a foil for bolder plants. Newer cultivars like 'Helen von Stein' are sterile, eliminating the need for deadheading. Amaranthus tricolor displays audacious foliage in sunbursts of yellows and orange, with some cultivars exhibiting even bolder patterns. These annuals are easy to grow from seed. Dusty miller is a drought-tolerant annual with soft, powdery gray foliage, serving as an excellent filler in gardens and containers, providing a subtle contrast to vibrant colors. Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) add instant drama with their imposing size and tropical appearance, growing quickly from tubers that can be overwintered. Lungwort, though its stunning spring flowers are short-lived, offers persistent silver or white-splattered leaves that form lovely carpets in partially shaded areas. #FoliagePlants #GardenDesign #ShadePlants #SunPlants #Perennials #Annuals #HomeGardening #PlantCare #TropicalPlants

This article provides extensive guidance on selecting and arranging plants that thrive in shaded conditions for container gardens. It highlights a variety of plants suitable for different shade levels and offers specific design ideas for creating attractive and functional displays. The introduction emphasizes that while some containers benefit from full sun, many plants flourish in shaded environments, providing color and movement to planters. Key shade-loving flowers and foliage mentioned include impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vines, violas, petunias, pansies, hostas, astilbes, and trilliums. The article also encourages considering vertical space for hanging baskets. Several specific plant combinations and container ideas are detailed. For instance, 'Red Giant' mustard and purple pansies are suggested for brightening a covered entryway. A sophisticated foliage combination features elephant's ear, rex begonia, nephthytis, and blue star fern, noted for their textural leaves in simple white containers. Vertical gardens are explored using metal planters filled with shrimp plant, 'Aquamarine' pilea, variegated Pteris fern, selaginella, sword fern, arrowhead vine, asparagus fern, 'Triostar' stromanthe, and 'Neon' pothos, ideal for brightening patio walls and tolerating late-summer heat with regular watering. Caladiums, impatiens, and creeping fig are recommended with a cast-iron plant for illuminating shady porch corners, allowing the neutral planter to highlight the plant combination. Other suggestions include a vibrant container with coleus, verbena, fan flower, Joseph's coat, calibrachoa, and petunias, all sharing similar shade and water requirements. Bold violas, particularly 'Penny Red with Blotch,' are presented as compact and cheerful options for adding color to shadowed areas. An elevated planter featuring 'Celebration' and 'Florida Sweetheart' caladiums and white wishbone flower with creeping Jenny is noted for its ease of maintenance. Verdant coleus, maroon Joseph's coat, and yellow creeping Jenny are proposed for partial sun and shade. Lenten roses (hellebores) are excellent for shady containers, complemented by yellow Acorus, lime green euphorbias, purple violas, and variegated ivy. The article also covers golden pansies and violas, along with 'Ogon' golden sweet flags, for cohesive fall container styles. Late-summer coleus ('Rustic Orange'), Compact 'Hot Coral' SunPatiens, and 'Yellow Moon' wishbone flower are suggested for versatile containers thriving in a mix of sun and partial shade. For window boxes, 'Aaron' white caladium, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera, 'White Nancy' spotted dead nettle, holly fern, ivy, and light pink periwinkle create a classic look. 'Sorbet Plum Velvet' and 'Sorbet Icy Blue' violas are combined for a velvety infusion of color in shady areas, while hens and chicks succulents offer a low-maintenance option for partial shade. Further recommendations include coleus, wire vine, euphorbia, lysimachia, and petunias for diverse leaf shapes and colors, thriving in morning sun but needing protection from afternoon sun. Dwarf Alberta spruces, pansies, violas, kales, and English ivy are presented for autumn window boxes. 'Pandora's Box' violas and variegated English ivy are combined with a central evergreen for stylish planters. 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum' petunias, autumn-hued coleus, 'Diamond Frost' euphorbias, geraniums, and angelonias create a rambling and colorful display. Shade-loving bromeliads, yellow creeping Jenny, crotons, and pitcher plants provide a tropical feel. Pink geraniums, angelonias, and petunias with sweet potato vine and pennisetum offer a pink paradise on front porches, with a note that petunias may not thrive in full shade. A cacophony of caladiums in various shades like 'Pink Symphony,' 'Iceberg,' 'Miss Muffet,' and 'Candyland' are ideal for vibrant, shade-thriving groupings. 'Strawberry Sundae' twinspurs and 'Penny Lavender Shades' violas create a graceful, watercolor-inspired design. Pots of 'June Bride,' 'Pink Gem,' and 'Aaron' caladiums add color to steps. Multilevel impatiens, ferns, ivy, and caladiums are suggested for structured arrangements, with impatiens flowering from late spring to fall in full or dappled shade. Two-tiered violas ('Sorbet Plum Velvet' and 'Sorbet Icy Blue') are presented for porch or kitchen tabletops. Terrariums with ferns, fittonia, pothos, and philodendron species are suitable for low sunlight. Hanging planters feature yellow and orange violas and pansies for a warm color palette. Violas and parsley in galvanized tubs create a two-tiered effect for partial shade. Hanging begonias, impatiens, spider plants, ferns, and ivy thrive in shady climates. Ornamental cabbage, Mexican bush sage, purple asters, 'Purple Prince' alternanthera, and lamb's ears provide late-summer to fall drama. Groupings of blue hydrangeas, elephant ears, and trailing pothos make a grand statement in partial shade. Finally, palms and bromeliads with gold-variegated acuba and trailing ivy add flair to covered spaces, while sago palms and boxwoods offer stately, low-maintenance options for front doors and pathways respectively. #ShadePlants #ContainerGardening #GardenDesign #OutdoorPlants #FoliagePlants #FloweringPlants #PlantCombinations #HomeGarden #PatioDecor

Robin Tanner, a landscape architect based in New Orleans, is known for his work across the city, particularly in the New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park. His designs are characterized by their artistic approach, viewing the landscape as a cohesive whole rather than individual components. Paul Soniat, the director of the gardens, highlights Tanner's ability to create engaging designs that are appreciated as an art form. Tanner is recognized as an expert in Japanese garden design, having contributed to the New Orleans Japanese Garden. His other notable projects include the Helis Foundation Enrique Alférez Sculpture Garden and, more recently, The Chapel of the Rain, a gift from The Garden Study Club of New Orleans. Beyond these public projects, he has also completed numerous residential and commercial landscaping endeavors throughout the city. He considers his work to be landscape architecture, emphasizing that he utilizes plant materials to construct a complete piece of art, distinguishing his approach from mere decoration. Tanner expresses a passion for maintaining existing beautiful landscapes and transforming other spaces. His work draws significant influence from two prominent figures in garden design: Mirei Shigemori, a key figure in 20th-century Japanese landscape architecture, and Lancelot “Capability” Brown, a leading English garden designer known for his natural and seemingly unplanned landscapes. Currently, Tanner is involved in a project for the Tasmania-based Museum of Old and New Art in the 9th Ward, which is developing a community center focused on fashion, music, culinary arts, and gardening. He describes this as a fascinating and interesting project. He envisions a future dream project that would incorporate a cave, conceptualizing it as a Japanese stroll garden with interconnected pathways that reveal new garden scenes at each turn. Alternatively, he imagines it as a labyrinth culminating in a bench within the cave, where instead of finding a divine presence, one would connect with the earth and discover its inherent mysteries. Tanner offers three key pieces of advice for garden design. First, it is crucial to determine the intended use of the space; for areas designated for sitting and relaxation, planting a shade tree is recommended. Second, the organization of the space should be carefully considered, allowing the design to naturally manifest itself through the layout. Third, it is essential to select plant materials that are suitable for the local environment and climate, paying close attention to the appropriate sunlight requirements for each plant. #LandscapeArchitecture #JapaneseGarden #NewOrleansGardens #RobinTanner #GardenDesignTips #PublicGardens #ArtisticLandscapes #Horticulture