Forget about traditional foundation plantings. Why not dress up the front of your house with a carefree mixture of trees, shrubs and perennials? This design is appropriate for Zones 5 to 7, in a sunny or partly shaded location. For good fertility and moisture retention, amend the soil with organic material such as compost or rotted leaves. For early spring color, underplant with groups of bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus and squills; to add summer color, interplant with annuals such as petunias, verbena, heliotrope and globe amaranth.
Key to Plan
1. Purple-leaf sand cherry (Prunus x cistena) 1 plant; 7 to 10 feet tall; deciduous; strong reddish purple foliage all season; small, fragrant, very pale pink flowers in mid-spring; its purplish black berries that follow are attractive to birds.
2. Rhododendron yakusimanum 3 plants planted singly; 3 feet tall and 3 feet across; evergreen foliage, with woolly tan reverse; rosy flower buds open to pink in late spring; a very tough, slow-growing plant.
3. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) 1 plant; 4 to 5 feet tall and as wide; bold deciduous foliage, with intense reddish fall color; large panicles of white flowers in midsummer; retains winter interest with exfoliating bark.
4. Variegated Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica 'Variegata') 1 plant; 10 feet tall; 5-foot spread; slender sprays of greenish winter buds open to white lily-of-the-valley flowers in spring; evergreen leaves rimmed in white; neat, upright habit.
5. Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra 'Compacta') 2 plants planted singly; 4 to 5 feet tall; 4-foot spread; small evergreen leaves; tiny white flowers in early summer; if pollinated, black berries follow; compact rounded habit.
6. Butterfly blue scabiosa (Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue') 3 plants planted 1 foot apart; 12 to 15 inches tall; 12 inches across; slender stems bear 1-inch heads of soft lavender blue flowers above cushions of foliage; long-blooming from spring to frost.
7. Butterfly bush(Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple') 1 plant; 5 feet tall; 4 feet across; silvery deciduous leaves; panicles of purple flowers from midsummer till frost; very attractive to butterflies; blooms on new wood, so prune hard in spring.
8. Columbine (Aquilegia hybrids) 7 plants planted 15 inches apart; 2 to 3 feet tall; 18 inches across; dainty long-spurred flowers in pastel shades of pink, yellow, mauve, lavender and white; blue-green foliage; remove foliage marred by leaf miner damage.
9. Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) 3 groups of 3 plants, each planted 15 inches apart; 2 to 3 feet tall; 18 inches across; dangling pink-and-white heart-shaped flowers along the stem; attractive, slightly bluish leaves die back when the weather gets hot.
Garden plans courtesy of Country Living Gardener.
Illustration by Michelle Buchard