a year of perennials

Spring

Super Impact for Spring

or most people, the new year begins on January 1, but for gardeners, the new

thats heavily shaded by deciduous trees in summer, as woodland wildowers are naturally adapted to strut their stuff before the trees leaf out and block the sun. Wherever you live, spring gardens tend to be primarily pastel plantings: pinks, blues, soft yellows, and pale purples, along with lots of white. These colors often look faded and tired in the strong light of summer, but in spring, they never fail to look fresh and cheerful. And because spring pastels rarely appear jarring no matter how you combine them, youre bound to have a gorgeous garden even if youve never planned a perennial garden before in your life.

year begins with the rst sign of spring and the start of the new growing season. Whether you spend your winters buried in snow or are simply stuck with endless dreary days looking at empty perennial beds, the rst blooms of the year are denitely something to celebrate.

Thinking Spring
Of course, cold-climate gardeners arent the only ones who enjoy a perennial planting of early bloomers. If you live where summers are too hot to make the outdoors enticing, a garden based on spring owers may be the best way of getting your gardening x before you retreat indoors to the air conditioner. Spring gardens are also perfect for any space

Extending the Season

In many climates, spring tends to come in one big bang: a few weeks of glorious color, then its back to shades of green for the rest of the growing season. If you like to wait for mild weather to stroll or sit in your garden, its ne to ll it with the classic mid- and late-spring lovelies, such as old-fashioned bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) and hybrid tulips. But if you enjoy seeking out the very rst owers of the year, make an effort to choose some extra-early bloomers as well, like hellebores (Helleborus), scillas, and snowdrops (Galanthus). By spreading out the bloom times, you can extend your spring display from just a few weeks to well over 2 months.

Brilliant yellow-greens combined with pinks and lavenders define spring for many gardeners.

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a year of perennials

Spring

Spring Fling
Want to try your hand at a spectacular spring perennial garden? This design links a small tree and a medium-sized shrub to create a half-sun and halfshade planting with plenty of beautiful blooms for the entire spring season, followed by attractive foliage for some summer and fall interest. If you already have trees and shrubs in your yard, its easy to modify this plan or create your own island bed design; besides adding undeniable beauty, linking individual plants into larger beds cuts down drastically on tedious trimming chores. Keep in mind that you dont have to install this kind of garden all at once. Instead, you could start planting the perennials closest to the shrubs, then gradually expand the beds until they meet.

A Fantastic

plant list
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Alchemilla mollis Anchusa azurea Aquilegia abellata var. pumila f. alba A. Magpie Armeria maritima Bloodstone Asarum europaeum Athyrium niponicum var. pictum Aurinia saxatilis Carex elata Aurea C. muskingumensis Oehme Cercis canadensis Forest Pansy Delphinium Blue Bird Dianthus barbatus Sooty D. Baths Pink Dicentra Snowakes D. spectabilis Goldheart Digitalis lutea Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae E. Jade Dragon E. polychroma

5 plants 3 plants 3 plants 3 plants 6 plants 8 plants 3 plants 3 plants 3 plants 3 plants 1 plant 3 plants 8 plants 3 plants 3 plants 1 plant 6 plants 3 plants 3 plants 3 plants

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Geranium macrorrhizum Spessart G. sanguineum Album Helleborus x hybridus Mrs. Betty Ranicar Heuchera Purple Petticoats x Heucherella Rosalie x H. Sunspot Hosta Guacamole H. Tokudama Flavocircinalis Iberis sempervirens Alexanders White Milium effusum Aureum Papaver orientale Pattys Plum Phlox divaricata London Grove Blue P. stolonifera Sherwood Purple Polygonatum odoratum Variegatum Pulmonaria Little Blue P. saccharata Pierres Pure Pink Smilacina racemosa Tiarella Cygnet T. Tiger Stripe Viburnum carlesii Compactum

3 plants 3 plants 3 plants 5 plants 3 plants 3 plants 1 plant 1 plant 3 plants 3 plants 1 plant 3 plants 3 plants 5 plants 3 plants 5 plants 3 plants 3 plants 3 plants 1 plant

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planting plan

n
32

canopy of tree
5 8 6 4 26 23 18 28 38 3 11 39 30 24 7 27 33 6 25 9 20 5 14 15 17 21 2 22 37 12 10 35 19 40 13 1 13 17 16 29

36

11'

34

31

26'

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a year of perennials

Spring

designers checklist
Get twice the beauty from the same space. Want to have your spring garden do double duty? Make it a spring-and-fall planting instead. This is a great way to get the most from your gardening space if you tend to be away often during the summer. And because some early bloomers leave ugly gaps as they go dormant after owering, tall and bushy fall bloomers are perfect for keeping the garden looking lush throughout the summer. Dont sell your spring garden short. Few early bloomers are more than 3 feet tall and many of them are signicantly shorter, so spring gardens tend to lack vertical interest. Shrubs and small trees can be a big help in giving your garden structure and a more comfortable scale and add seasonal beauty as well.

Plan for the future. Before you start designing a spring garden, give some thought to how it will look once the main show is over. If you can site it where you wont have to look at it for the rest of the year, your job is easy; go ahead and pick whatever appeals to you for a spectacular early display. Otherwise, be careful to choose perennials that have good summer foliage as well as pretty spring owers.

Dont keep your distance. With their pale colors and delicate forms, spring blooms are best when viewed up close. Whenever possible, then, site a spring garden where you can walk all the way around it: in an island bed, rather than in a border up against a wall or fence. A path through the garden is a plus. A bench is welcome too, because it lets you enjoy the beautiful forms and fragrances at close range.

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A SAMPLING OF

Beauties for Sun and Light Shade

Armeria maritima Bloodstone
(Bloodstone sea thrift)

Alchemilla mollis
(Ladys mantle)

Carex
(Sedges)

Mounds of scalloped, light green leaves send up airy sprays of tiny, yellow-green owers from late spring to midsummer; 12 to 18 inches tall and about as wide. Cut back plants by about half in midsummer for a ush of new foliage to enjoy for the rest of the growing season. Zones 39.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Tight, 4- to 6-inch-tall buns of slender, evergreen, grasslike leaves; clustered, deep reddish pink blooms atop 8-inch stems from late spring to early summer; spreads 6 to 12 inches across. Zones 48.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Another species or cultivar.

Alpine ladys mantle (A. alpina).

Asarum europaeum
(European wild ginger)

Evergreen, 3-inch-tall carpets of rounded, glossy, deep green leaves; rhizomes spread 1 foot or more; insignicant bellshaped, brownish blooms. Zones 48.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Easy grass relatives prized for foliage. C. elata Aurea (Bowles golden sedge) has upright or arching, bright yellow blades thinly edged with green in graceful clumps; 18 to 24 inches tall, 18 inches across. Zones 58. C. muskingumensis Oehme (Oehme palm sedge) produces upright stems that bear horizontal green leaves edged in gold; 2 feet tall and 18 inches across. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Yellow Tradescantia Sweet Kate

and blue fescue (Festuca glauca).

Hexastylis shuttleworthii.

Delphinium Blue Bird

(Blue Bird delphinium)

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

(Japanese painted fern)

Alchemilla mollis

Low-spreading mounds of silvery gray fronds on arching maroon stems look good from late spring to frost; about 18 inches tall and 2 feet across. Zones 49.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Three- to 4-foot stalks are clad in deeply lobed green leaves and bear spikes of white-centered blue owers in late spring or early summer; spread to about 2 feet. Best treated as a biennial. Zones 37.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Annual blue larkspur (Consolida

Any cultivar (Silver Falls,

ajacis), Italian alkanet (Anchusa azurea), or another 3- to 4-foot-tall delphinium cultivar.

Anchusa azurea
(Italian alkanet)

Ursulas Red) or upright hybrid Ghost.

Eighteen-inch-wide clumps of narrow, hairy green leaves on 3- to 5-foot stems topped with narrow, branching clusters of rich blue blooms in early summer. Tends to be short-lived. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Aurinia saxatilis
(Basket of gold)

Dianthus
(Dianthus, a.k.a. pinks)

Blue larkspur (Consolida ajacis).

Evergreen, mounded clumps of graygreen leaves; dense clusters of bright yellow blooms in late spring and early summer; 1 foot tall and wide. Zones 48.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Any basket of gold cultivar or

Aquilegia
(Columbines)

ladys mantle (Alchemilla mollis).

These classic late-spring, and earlysummer perennials feature nodding blooms accented with spurred petals over clumps of three-lobed, blue-green leaves. A. abellata var. pumila f. alba (dwarf white fan columbine) is about 8 inches tall and wide with white owers. Zones 49. Magpie (a.k.a. William Guinness) has deep-purple-and-white blooms; about 2 feet tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Clustered owers rise above basal clumps of narrow green or blue-green leaves. Baths Pink produces 6- to 8-inch-tall clumps of blue-green leaves, with fragrant, soft pink owers on 1-foot stems from mid- to late-spring to midsummer. About 1 foot wide. D. barbatus Sooty (Sooty sweet William) is a biennial or short-lived perennial with red-tinged leaves and deep maroon blooms in late spring to early summer; 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 foot across. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

For Baths Pink, another simi-

lar-sized species or cultivar, such as cheddar pink (D. gratianopolitanus); for Sooty, Dunnets Dark Crimson or Euphorbia dulcis Chameleon.

Another columbine with white

or purple owers.

Aquilegia Magpie

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a year of perennials

Spring

Dicentra
(Bleeding hearts)

These traditional spring favorites produce pink or white heart-shaped blooms. D. spectabilis Goldheart (Goldheart bleeding heart) has bright yellow spring foliage and arching, 3-foot stems with dangling pink hearts in mid- to late spring; clumps are 2 feet across. Cut back the stems lightly in early to midsummer to encourage new growth. Zones 48. Snowakes is a hybrid that grows in mounds 10 inches tall and wide, with nely cut green foliage and white owers from mid-spring through much of the summer. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

E. amygdaloides var. robbiae (Robbs wood spurge) forms 1-foot-tall, spreading carpets of evergreen, deep green foliage accented with clusters of chartreuse owers from mid-spring to early summer; height in bloom to 2 feet, spread to 18 inches or more. Zones 69.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

x Heucherella
(Heucherella, a.k.a. foamy bells)

Any other hardy euphorbias.

Geranium
(Hardy geraniums)

Heuchera-like mounds of lobed leaves are accented with 18-inch ower spikes in late spring; foliage clumps are 8- to 12-inches tall and 12- to 18-inches across. Rosalie has green leaves and pink owers. Sunspot has bright yellow foliage with a red star in the center of each leaf, and deep pink owers. Zones 59.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

For Rosalie, any other

For Goldheart, the common

green-leaved D. spectabilis; for Snowakes, try Langtrees or D. eximia Snowdrift.

Digitalis lutea
(Yellow foxglove)

Spikes of small, tubular, pale yellow blooms rise over glossy, deep green leaves on 2- to 3-foot stems in late spring and early summer; spread to about 1 foot. Zones 39.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

These mound-forming perennials come in a variety of sizes, leaf shapes, and bloom colors. G. macrorrhizum Spessart (Spessart bigroot geranium) forms spreading carpets of aromatic, deeply lobed, light green leaves, with deep pink owers from midor late spring well into summer; height to 18 inches and spread to 2 feet. G. sanguineum Album (white bloody cranesbill) has starry, deep green leaves and white owers in late spring and early summer. Zones 48.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

heucherella; for Sunspot, try Amber Waves heuchera or Beedhams White lamium (Lamium maculatum Beedhams White).

Hosta
(Hostas)

For Spessart, try Bevans Vari-

ety or Ingwersens Variety; for white bloody cranesbill, G. clarkei Kashmir White.

D. grandiora.

Helleborus x hybridus Mrs. Betty Ranicar Euphorbia

(Spurges) (Mrs. Betty Ranicar Lenten rose)

These classic, no-fuss perennials are grown primarily for their foliage, which comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to t any shady garden. Guacamole has chartreuse, edged with green leaves and fragrant, near white owers on 30-inch stems in late summer. Tokudama Flavocircinalis has large blue leaves irregularly edged with gold, plus pale lavender owers atop 2-foot stems in early to midsummer. The foliage clumps of both are 18 inches tall and 4 feet wide. Zones 39.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Any other hostas in the same

These early bloomers come in a wide range of sizes. When broken, their leaves and stems exude a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin, so wear gloves when working around them. Jade Dragon is a hybrid that forms dense, shrubby, evergreen clumps of bluegreen foliage topped with reddish new foliage, plus large chartreuse bloom clusters from mid- or late spring into summer; height and spread to about 30 inches. Zones 69. E. polychroma (cushion spurge) forms 12- to 18-inch-tall rounded mounds of medium green leaves topped with bright greenish yellow, owerlike structures from mid-spring to early summer; spread is 18 to 24 inches. Zones 49.

Evergreen clumps of leathery, deep green leaves arise directly from the ground, with double white owers atop separate stems in early spring; height and spread to 18 inches. Zones 59.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

color and height range.

Iberis sempervirens Alexanders White

(Alexanders White perennial candytuft)

Any other Lenten rose or

Christmas rose (H. niger).

Heuchera Purple Petticoats

(Purple Petticoats heuchera)

Shrubby, 8-inch-tall mounds of narrow, dark green leaves are smothered in clusters of white owers throughout spring; spread is 12 to 18 inches. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

The straight species (I. semper-

Mounded, 1-foot-tall clumps of dark purple leaves have rufed edges. Airy clusters of small pinkish white owers blossom atop 18-inch stems in late spring and early summer; spread is 12 to 18 inches. Zones 49.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

virens) or another cultivar.

Milium effusum Aureum

(Golden wood millet, a.k.a. Bowles golden grass)

Any other purple-hued

heuchera.

Tufts of narrow, upright or arching leaves are bright yellow in spring, fading to yellowish green in summer. Loose clusters of tiny, yellow, non-showy owers in late

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spring and early summer; height is 12 to 18 inches, spread to 1 foot. Zones 58.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Stephanie Says
SPRING-FLOWERING PERENNIALS LOOK GREAT when theyre in their glory,

Tradescantia Sweet Kate or

golden Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra Aureola).

but once theyre past bloom, many of them are, lets face it, quite unattractive. In addition, some early bloomers go dormant (die back

Papaver orientale Pattys Plum

(Pattys Plum Oriental poppy)

to the ground) after owering. Its no wonder that a perennial garden based on early bloomers is nothing to look at by midsummer. One way to get around this is to keep a few extra annuals on hand to pop in for some summer interest.

Huge cupped owers with crinkled, pinkish purple petals and a black center bloom atop 30-inch stems in late spring and early summer; the 2-foot-tall and -wide clumps of toothed leaves die back to the ground by midsummer. Zones 49.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

The Show Goes On

Its smart to set out these llers before the early bloomers have died back completely; otherwise, you risk making bulb kebabs by spearing them with your digging fork or slicing the buried crowns in half with your spade. Another option is to pair summer-dormant perennials and bulbs with plants that will spread out or op over into the empty space, such as daylilies and hostas.

Another purple, pink, or white

Oriental poppy.

Phlox
(Phlox)

Early-owering phlox are a must-have for the spring garden.

P. divaricata London Grove Blue

Polygonatum odoratum Variegatum

(Variegated Solomons seal)

Smilacina racemosa
(False Solomons seal)

(London Grove Blue woodland phlox) has mid- to late-spring clusters of fragrant, light blue owers atop 1-foot stems clad in narrow green leaves; foliage height is 6 to 8 inches and spread is to 18 inches. Zones 48.
P. stolonifera Sherwood Purple

Arching maroon stems clad in creamedged green leaves look good from spring to frost. Small, green-tipped white owers dangle below the stems in late spring; height to 2 feet, with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. Zones 48.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Clumps of upright or arching, 30-inch stems are clad in lance-shaped green leaves and topped with plumes of creamy white owers from mid- to late spring, followed by red berries in summer. Zones 49.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

(Sherwood Purple creeping phlox) bears blue-purple owers atop 6-inch stems in mid- to late spring, over 3-inch-tall carpets of deep green leaves; spread to 1 foot. Zones 28.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Variegated fairy bells (Disporum

A white-owered astilbe, such

sessile Variegatum).

as Deutschland.

Pulmonaria
(Pulmonarias)

Tiarella
(Foamowers)

Other cultivars of these

species.

Hairy green or silver-spotted leaves in showy clumps are 10 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches across, typically with clusters of pink buds and blue blooms atop 1-foot stems in early to mid-spring. Little Blue has narrow leaves with silvery white spots. P. saccharata Pierres Pure Pink is noteworthy for its salmon-pink buds and blooms. Zones 38.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Any cultivar.

These top-notch shade perennials feature foliage in a wide range of shapes, often with maroon or deep purple markings, plus brushy bloom spikes to 1 foot tall through spring. Cygnet has deeply lobed, dark green leaves with near-black centers; Tiger Stripe has broad, light green leaves with purplish veins. Both have pinkish white owers and form spreading clumps 6 inches tall and (eventually) 2 feet wide. Zones 49.
A LT E R N AT I V E S :

Any cultivar.

Phlox stolonifera Sherwood Purple

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