Plants That Add Structure to Sunny Garden Beds

As I explained in my introduction to the plant list for shady garden beds, you want to design your garden so that it has a framework, or structure, that is visible year around. When you do this, your garden will look good all year, even in the dead of winter. Here are some plant choices for sunny exposures.

SHRUBS
Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy' - Crimson pygmy barberry

Size: up to 2' tall and wide

Comments: Deciduous; deep red leaves; mound-shaped; very tiny yellow flowers in spring; very thorny, can be used as a barrier plant; rarely needs pruning.

Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruiticosa' - True dwarf boxwood

Size: to 4-5' if left unclipped

Comments: Boxwood grows in sun or shade; it can be clipped into a hedge or allowed to grow naturally as a dense, round shrub.

Cistus spp. - Rockrose

Size: 2' - 6' tall and wide, depending on cultivar

Comments: Many cultivars to choose from in different sizes; all are very tolerant of bad soil, drought and salt spray; flower colors range from white to pink to purple; evergreen; use as a hedge or in small groupings.

Euonymous japonicus 'Microphyllus' - Box-leafed euonymous

Size: 1' -2' tall and wide

Comments: Very dark, green leaves; formal looking; needs no clipping; forms an attractive low hedge.

Hebe

Size: 2' - 6', depending on cultivar

Comments: Many cultivars to choose from. Leaves vary a great deal in size, color, and texture, from convex blue-grey to fleshy purple. Showy varieties like 'Amy' and 'Tricolor' aren't likely to survive prolonged cold or heavy frosts (believe me, I've lost several). But most all varieties will tolerate seaside conditions. Short flower spikes in summer are purple or white. 'Red Edge' lives up to its name in winter/early spring with attractive red margins on the leaves.

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' - Blue star juniper

Size: up to 12" tall x 2' wide

Comments: Blue foliage with star-like form; unlike any other juniper; good blue accent in the garden.

Nandina domestica - Heavenly bamboo

Size: 3' x 3' up to 8' tall, depending on variety

Comments: Not really a bamboo, but called that because of its leaf shape. All varieties are evergreen. Many to choose from. All do well in sun or shade, but color up best in sun. 'Compacta' is fast growing up to 6', column shaped, red new growth, clusters of white flowers followed by red berries. 'Gulf Stream' gets approximately 4' x 3', burgundy new growth in spring which ages to dark rich green by summer. 'Moon Bay' is slightly smaller, about 3' x 3', new foliage is bright red and/or yellow, like all Nandina, color changes with temperature making it interesting year around. There are many more varieties available. Some have lots of berries, some have none; shapes include: tall and slender and short and wide; some a ground covers. There is some form of Nandina for just about any place in a garden.

Pinus mugo 'Mugo' - Mugo pine

Size: 2' tall and wide and up

Comments: This is a dwarf version of a large mound-shaped pine. Provides year around texture and visual interest.

Viburnum davidii - David's viburnum

Size: to 3' tall and wide

Comments: Often used as a low-growing border. Has clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by iridescent blue berries.

Need more ideas? Get your copy of The Pacific Northwest Gardener's Book of Lists. 

PERENNIALS
Euphorbia spp.

Size: 18" to 5' tall

Comments: There are many plants in this group: E. wulfenii is stunning in late winter, standing 4 -5' tall with large clusters of chartreuse bracts atop its many stems. Look for smaller varieties, too; new ones are introduced often. Be careful working with these plants. Their white, milky sap will burn your skin. Wear long sleeves and gloves.

Herbs, such as Lavender, Rosemary and Sage

Size: 18" to 4' tall and wide, depending on type

Comments: All three of these are fragrant; all are drought tolerant; all have blue or purple flowers; all are evergreen, although the sage will lose some leaves in winter. Lavender makes a good low hedge with several varieties to choose from, including Spanish lavender which features a little topknot on top of each flower. Upright rosemary plants will quickly become small shrubs. 'Tuscan Blue' has a particularly vivid blue flower in late winter, early spring. There are several varieties of sage to choose from: purple sage makes a nice accent; pineapple sage has yellow-green leaves.

Ornamental grasses

Size: 18" to 5' tall

Comments: There are many grasses to choose from. Grasses in the Carex family are small, mound-shaped and come in several colors ranging from medium green leaves with creamy edges to bronze. The Miscanthus family includes many interesting cultivars from 4' to 8' tall, with different leaf colors and striping, all topped with feathery plumes in summer. Ornamental grasses can be beautiful and easy to maintain if you choose the right ones. They can be invasive and lots of work if you don't. So do some research before you plant. Consult The New Sunset Western Garden Book for detailed information.

Sedum spectabile 

Size: up to 30" tall and wide

Comments: This is the upright form of a prolific group of plants; several attractive cultivars include 'Autumn Joy' and 'Brilliant.' New foliage begins to show above ground in winter, followed by flowers that resemble broccoli heads. These turn pink or reddish as spring progresses and become handsome dried flowers by fall. Newer introductions have purple foliage. 

Cherries Bloom at the University of Washington

In honor of the first day of spring, here's a video featuring the magnificent Yoshino cherry trees at the Seattle campus of the University of Washington. Enjoy!


The UW Continuing Education Department offers this history of the trees:
"30 Yoshino cherry trees are the hallmark of the University of Washington Quad. They were first planted on land that is now the approach to SR 520, but were relocated to campus during construction of the bridge. Estimated to live between 60 and 100 years, the trees are approximately 63-73 years old. In anticipation of replacing them, the UW Class of 1959 launched the Cherry Tree Project. Cuttings were grafted onto rootstock, and replacement trees are growing in a nursery in Mount Vernon, WA. Visit the original cherry blossoms in the Quad as they begin to bloom now through April. And keep learning. It's the Washington Way. http://www.keeplearning.uw.edu"

Plants That Add Structure to Shady Garden Beds

If you plan your garden beds so that they look good even in the winter months, you can be sure they will look good all year around. The way you do this is to include plants that are either evergreen or have something interesting to offer in the winter. Then arrange those plants like a sort of framework, what some people call "the bones of the garden," around which everything else - bulbs, annuals, herbaceous perennials - comes and goes throughout the year. Here are some choices for your shady area.

SHRUBS
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruiticosa' - True dwarf boxwood

Size: to 4-5' if left unclipped

Comments: Boxwood grows in sun or shade; it can be clipped into a hedge or allowed to grow naturally as a dense, round shrub

Camellia japonica or C. sasanqua - Camellias

Size: 6' - 12' tall and wide, depending on variety

Comments: C. japonica is the larger of the two, with glossy green leaves and white or pink flowers. It blooms in late winter into spring and can be trained into a small tree. C. sasanqua is smaller and finer textured. It blooms around Christmas and has a wider variety of flower colors. Good for espallier.

Corylopsis sp. - Winter hazel

Size: 4' - 15' depending on variety

Comments: Deciduous shrubs. C. glabrescens, called fragrant winter hazel, grows 8' - 15' tall and has yellow clusters of fragrant flowers in winter. C. paucifolia, buttercup winter hazel, is much smaller, 4' - 6', with yellow flowers. Both bloom before leafing out. 

Daphne odora 'Marginata' - Winter daphne

Size: to 4' tall and wide

Comments: Fussy daphnes are grown for their divine scent and handsome foliage. This one is no exception. Its fragrance will fill the garden in late winter and the variegated foliage will brighten the landscape year around. Evergreen.

Daphne X burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'

Size: 3' - 4' tall and wide

Comments: This daphne is semi-evergreen. It emits a wonderful scent from tiny white flowers in late spring and summer; leaves are edged in white.

Fatsia japonica - Japanese aralia

Size: 5' - 8' tall and wide

Comments: Tropical looking shrub, often sold as a house plant, with large, deeply cut leaves. Roundish clusters of white flowers are followed by black fruit. Bold accent plant.

Nandina domestica - Heavenly bamboo

Size: 3' x 3' up to 8' tall, depending on variety

Comments: Not really a bamboo, but called that because of its leaf shape. All varieties are evergreen. Many to choose from. All do well in sun or shade, but color up best in sun. 'Compacta' is fast growing up to 6', column shaped, red new growth, clusters of white flowers followed by red berries. 'Gulf Stream' gets approximately 4' x 3', burgundy new growth in spring which ages to dark rich green by summer. 'Moon Bay' is slightly smaller, about 3' x 3', new foliage is bright red and/or yellow, like all Nandina, color changes with temperature making it interesting year around. There are many more varieties available. Some have lots of berries, some have none; shapes include: tall and slender and short and wide; some a ground covers. There is some form of Nandina for just about any place in a garden. 

Pieris japonica - Lily of the valley shrub

Size: 3' to 8', depending on variety

Comments: Many cultivars to choose from; purchase plants in bloom to be sure of flower color, which ranges from white to deep rose; plants are evergreen, with large clusters of bell-shaped flowers in spring.

Rhododendrons

Size: 18" - 10' depending on variety

Comments: Huge selection to choose from! Look for unusual leaves or flower color to add interest; consider planting specimens of different varieties to stagger bloom time from very early February to late May/June.

Sarcococca - Vanilla plant

Size: 18" to 5' tall

Comments: S. hookeriana humilis gets only about 18" tall; S. ruscifolia reaches 4' 6' tall and 3' - 7' wide; both have tiny, white, intensely fragrant blooms in winter. They account for much of the wonderful fragrance you enjoy at the Witt Winter Garden in Seattle in late January and February. 

Skimmia japonica

Size: eventually 4' - 5' tall and wide

Comments: Evergreen. There's a male and female form - the female produces red berries. Tiny, white, lightly fragrant flowers bloom in spring; slow growing, mound shaped plant. All skimmia get mites sooner or later. They won't kill the plant and there's nothing really effective you can do to get rid of them. They create an interesting "stippled" effect on the leaves, which is so common that most people think it is normal.

Need more ideas? Get your copy of The Pacific Northwest Gardener's Book of Lists. 

PERENNIALS
Acorus gramineus - Japanese sweet flag

Size 6" - 12" 

Comments: Yellow grass-like leaves arranged in a fan shape; brightens shady areas; prefers wet conditions

Carex morrowii 'Aureomarginata'

Size: 10' tall - 24" wide

Comments: Attractive evergreen ornamental grass; medium green blades with creamy margin; good accent; brightens up dark spots in the garden

Hellebores

Size: up to 24"

Comments: Several varieties to choose from: Christmas rose, Lenten rose, Corsican hellebore, stinking hellebore, etc. All have cup-shaped flowers, ranging from white, to chartreuse, to pink and deep, nearly black purples; leaves vary in shape and color from light to very dark green.

Pachysandra terminalis

Size: up to 12" tall, spreads slowly via underground rhizomes 

Comments: Woody, shade-loving ground cover. Small white flowers in short spikes in late winter, early spring. Attractive all year. Variegated form is also available. 

Shrubs of Substance

Sometimes there is a large, empty area in a garden that needs something substantial to fill it up. For one reason or another, a tree would be out of place. Perennials and ground covers would be too small to provide the required visual oomph. What is needed is one really big shrub to fill the space and bring some interesting form, flower or fragrance into the garden. Here are some possible choices.

Abelia grandiflora - Glossy abelia

Size: 8' tall x 5'+ wide

Comments: 'Edward Goucher' is a smaller variety, about 5' tall; evergreen; profuse lilac blooms late summer through early fall; arching habit. Do not shear this plant, allow it plenty of room to spread.

Arbutus unedo 'Compacta' - Compact strawberry tree

Size: 8' tall x 8' wide

Comments: Related to our native madrone tree; peeling, reddish bark; evergreen; clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers in spring; red fruit in fall resembling strawberries

Berberis buxifolia - Magellan barberry

Size: 6' tall x 6' wide

Comments: Evergreen; upright; orange flowers, purple berries

Camellia japonica - Camellia

Size: 10'+ tall and wide

Comments: Prefers some shade, although often grown in full sun; blooms in late winter; glossy green leaves; evergreen; can eventually be trained into a small tree

Ceanothus impressus - Santa Barbara ceanothus

Size: 7-10' tall x 10-15' wide

Comments: Dense, dark evergreen foliage; dark blue flower clusters; 'Julia Phelps' on of the best cultivars with very dark blue flowers; profuse bloom in spring

Choisya ternata - Mexican orange

Size: 6-8' tall and wide

Comments: Evergreen; clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring smell like orange blossoms; dense shrub

Cotoneaster lacteus (parneyi)

Size: 8' tall x 10' wide

Comments: Evergreen; tiny white flowers; heavy display of red berries; makes a good hedge or espallier

Escallonia spp.

Size: 5+ tall and wide depending on cultivar

Comments: E. 'Fradesii' gets 5-6' tall, evergreen with profuse rose pink bloom; E. 'Balfouri' gets up to 10' tall and wide with pink-tinged white flowers; E. 'Apple Blossom' 5' x 5', with white blossoms resembling apple blossoms

Osmanthus burkwoodii (also called Osmarea burkwoodii)

Size: 6' tall x 6' wide

Comments: Slow growing; evergreen; small fragrant white flowers in spring; useful as a hedge; full sun/part shade

Osmanthus delavay

Size: 4-6' tall x 6-8' wide

Comments: Evergreen; slow growing; graceful, arching branches; white, small fragrant flowers in spring

Pyracantha coccinea - Firethorn

Size: 8-10' tall and wide

Comments: Evergreen; can be trained along walls; valued for heavy clusters of red-orange berries that persists well into fall until birds eat them all; as name implies, plants are thorny

Raphiolepis indica 'Majestic Beauty' - India hawthorne

Size: to 10' tall and wide

Comments: Fragrant light pink flowers; can be shaped into small tree; evergreen; likes full sun

Viburnum plicatum tomentosum 'Mariesii' - Marie's doublefile viburnum

Size: 6-8' tall x 8-10' wide

Comments: Deciduous; layer branching pattern; large, white flowers line the tops of all the branches in spring; very showy and graceful; small red fruit starts red and turns black with age; good fall color

Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet' or 'Pink Dawn'

Size: to 12' tall and wide

Comments: Likes full sun; evergreen; blooms fall into spring with clusters of tiny pink, slightly fragrant flowers; metallic blue fruit lasts until early summer

For more information on these shrubs and much, much more, get a copy of  The New Sunset Western Garden Book. This is the latest edition of this classic garden guide, released in February, 2012.

Rhododendrons That Don't Get Over 4 Feet Tall

The Rhododendron is the state flower of Washington. Hundreds of varieties thrive in our climate and their prolific blooms are a big part of the reason why spring is such a spectacular season in this region. Still, I've had lots of clients who don't like them. Mostly, their experience of rhodies is that they get huge, turn into big green uninteresting blobs, and block views from windows.

But that doesn't have to be the case. Here's a list of compact Rhododendrons that won't outgrow their welcome.

'Bow Bells' -- 3' -- deep pink buds, light pink flowers
'Cilpinense' -- 3' -- blush pink flower touched with deeper pink; blooms early
'Daphnoides' -- 4' -- unusual foliage, glossy green rolled leaves; purple flowers
'Dora Amateis' -- 3' -- white flower; fragrant
'Impeditum' -- 2' -- purple flower; gray green foliage
'Kimbeth' -- 3' -- deep pink buds through winter open to rosy, red-pink blooms
'Mardi Gras' -- 30" -- pink, blushed white flowers
'Molly Ann' -- 2' -- rose-pink flowers
'Mrs. Furnival' -- 4' -- light pink with striking blotch in center of flower
'Novo Brave' -- 3' --bright pink with a red blotch in center
'Patty Bee' -- 18" -- clear yellow flowers
'PJM' -- 4' -- tolerates cold, heat and sun; blooms early; bright lavender pink flower
'Ramapo' -- 2' -- pinkish-violet flower
'Rosamundi' -- 4' -- light pink flower, blooms very early in the year
'Sapphire' -- 30" -- light blue flowers; fragrant
'Scarlet Wonder' -- 2' -- glossy green leaves; brilliant red bloom, award winner
'Snow Lady' -- 30" -- white flowers resemble fallen snow; early bloomer
'Unique' -- 4' -- bright pink buds open to buttery yellow bloom

R. yakushimanum (also called "yaks") -- several cultivars, including 'Yaku Angel,' 'Mist Maiden,' and 'Ken Janeck' -- 1' - 4' depending on the cultivar; very hardy; pink buds open to pink-turning-white, bell-shaped flowers; resistant to root weevil

For more information on rhododendrons, I recommend Greer's Guidebook to Available Rhododendrons, by Harold Greer. I've used my copy so much, it is literally falling apart. It's held together now with scotch tape. This book is considered by many to be "the bible" on rhododendrons with descriptions and ratings of hundreds of cultivars.  He includes color photos of many flowers, as well.

MORE Good Deciduous Trees for Small Urban Gardens

In case you missed my earlier post listing 10 Good Deciduous Trees for Small Urban Gardens, you can access it here. Now here are 10 MORE good choices.

11. Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Pendula' - Copper weeping beech

Size: 10' tall x 10' wide

Comments: Purple leaves; splendid accent plant; good in containers

12. Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo

Size: 40+' tall x 20' wide

Comments: Very slow growing; unique leaf shape; deep gold fall color

13. Hamamelis mollis - Chinese witch hazel

Size: 10-15' tall and wide

Comments: Great small tree/shrub for year around interest; yellow to orange spidery flowers appear before leaves in winter, some varieties are fragrant; attractive leaf and branching patterns; great fall color ranging from yellow to red-orange.

14. Liquidamber styraciflua - American sweet gum

Size: to 25'

Comments: Fabulous fall color: red, yellow, purple; attractive bark

15. Oxydendron arboreum - Sourwood

Size: 15-20" tall x 20' wide

Comments: Pyramidal form; vivid fall color; creamy fragrant, bell-shaped flowers; seed capsules in fall

16. Parrotia persica - Persian ironwood

Size: 15-35' tall 

Comments: attractive year around, especially with fall color that changes from golden yellow, to orange to scarlet

17. Stewartia monadelpha - Tall stewartia

Size: to 25' tall

Comments: Brilliant red fall color; rich, brown, scaly bark becoming cinnamon-colored in age; graceful tree

18. Stewartia pseudocamellia - Japanese stewartia

Size: 30+' tall

Comments: Pyramidal form; slow growing; orange-red to purplse fall color; creamy white flowers in summer resemble those of cmellias; showy, peeling bark with shades of tan, green, grey, rust, terra cotta and cream.

19. Styrax japonica - Japanese snowbell tree

Size: up to 30' tall

Comments: Strong horizontal branching patterns; small, white, slightly fragrant snow-drop flowers line the undersides of branches in spring; clear yellow fall color

20. Styrax obassia - Fragrant snowbell

Size: 20-20' tall

Comments: Oval-round shape; white flowers same as above, but more fragrant; blooms somewhat later in the season; yellow fall color. 

For more information on these trees and much, much more, consult The New Sunset Western Garden Book. This is the newest edition of this classic garden guide, released in February, 2012.

10 Good Deciduous Trees for Small Urban Gardens

Here is a list of deciduous trees that fit nicely into small gardens. Each has characteristics that offer visual interest at different times during the year.

1. Acer circinatum - Vine maple

Size: 15' tall x 20' wide

Comments: Vine maple is a Northwest native tree that grows in the shade of our forest trees, like Douglas fir and Western red cedar. It gets its name from the fact that it grows parallel to the ground, like a vine, in native settings. In sunny, urban gardens it grows upright with a somewhat columnar shape. Good fall color.

2. Acer grisseum - Paperbark maple

Size: up to 25' tall

Comments: Beautiful, peeling, reddish bark is attractive year around; bright red fall color.

3. Acer palmatum - Japanese maple

Size: varies - up to 20'

Comments: There are many trees in this group, some with red foliage, some with green. Some have lacy, deeply-cut leaves. There are upright varieties and weeping ones. All have graceful form. All do best if they have a break from all-day sun. Beautiful fall color; depending on the variety it ranges from clear yellow to fiery scarlet.

4. Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' - Bloodgood Japanese maple

Size: up to 15' tall

Comments: Graceful tree; foliage holds its red color longer through the summer than many other varieties.

5. Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' - Coralbark maple

Size: up to 20'

Comments: Bright red twigs and branches make for beautiful tree even without leaves; bright yellow fall color. 

6. Cercidiphyllum japonicum - Katsura tree

Size: up to 30' tall

Comments: Heart-shaped leaves emerge with purplish cast, becoming blue-green in summer and bright yellow in fall; graceful branching pattern

7. Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' - Forest pansy redbud

Size: up to 25' tall

Comments: Purple heart-shaped foliage; small pink flowers in spring

8. Cornus kousa - Kousa dogwood

Size: 20' tall x 20' wide

Comments: Resistant to anthracnose; creamy white bracts in late spring - early summer; red fruit in fall; yellow or scarlet fall color

9. Cotinus coggygria - Smoke tree

Size: 12' - 15' tall and wide

Comments: Green, gold and purple forms, with purple being most popular; 'Royal purple' holds color well through summer; dramatic clusters of tiny flowers in summer give the appearance of "smoke;" takes coppicing; drought tolerant

10. Davidia involucrata - Dove tree

Size: 35+' tall and 15+' wide

Comments: Wonderful specimen for the larger urban garden. Spring blooms look like white doves or handkerchiefs; vivid green leaves; best as a stand-alone tree.

For more information on these trees and much, much more, consult The New Sunset Western Garden Book. This is the newest edition of this classic garden guide, released in February, 2012.