Perfect Plant Combinations for the Mountain West

Seasonal plant combinations for windy, drought-prone areas of the garden

There is no gross garden plant , unless one is talk about plastic . All chlorophyll - loaded garden dialect have both good and bad visual and ethnical attributes . Understanding the weaknesses of your garden ’s industrial plant textile presents an opportunity for you to practice one industrial plant to complement another while hide optic imperfect points .

In my home meadow , for example , I lie with that while ‘ Blue Hill ’ meadow sage ( Salvia× sylvestris‘Blue Hill ’ , Zones 4–9 ) may bloom for month , my favored orange tree oriental poppies ( Papaverorientale , Zones 3–7 ) will rapture themselves into a crispy mess of ragged brown leafage by mid - July . So I implant the poppies between a pigeonholing of the sage and a cluster of tender - time of year Gunter Grass ( exposure above ) . This way the grass will complement the still - flower hayfield salvia as the poppy blossom slows down but will also , as it turn out skyward with aspirations of its own , help to hide the poppies ’ spent leaf . Read on to find a few other winning industrial plant combinations suitable for gardener in the Rocky Mountain region .

Winter hardy iris and rose play well

I ’ve grown quite adoring of the optical interplay between a band of yellow - variegated iris ( Iris pallida‘Aureovariegata ’ , Zones 4–9 ) and a dark and temperamental red - leafage pink wine ( Rosa glauca , Zones 2–8 ) in my plate garden . Exceedingly downhearted stimulation , I irrigate this pairing during dry spells , remove spent iris bloom stalks in June , and cut down the rose back sporadically to keep its sizing manageable . ( In a rich Lucius DuBignon Clay like mine ruby - leaf rosiness can develop to the size of a prominent bush . ) Not only does this allow the rose to act as a focal point and dark accent to the otherwise green turning point of my cubic yard , but the vertical , two - strengthen sword lily make for a salient demarcation that really serves to conceal the twiggy peg this shrubby rose is prone to . And both plant are evenhandedly winter fearless .

Artemisia and penstemon sparkle with a pop of yellow

Just as drouth tolerant , though much more petite in sizing ( 2 feet or less ) , fringed sage ( Artemisiafrigida , Zones 3–10 ) make a great bird for our aboriginal Rocky Mountain genus Penstemon ( Penstemonstrictus , Zones 4–9 ) . Both apprise ironic , lean soil and bloom in synchronization . The alright - textured silver salvia hides the penstemon ’s underwhelming farewell and is a great hydrofoil in colouration . I ’ve included these two plants in several of my hayfield designs , interspersing Missouri even primrose ( Oenothera macrocarpa , Zones 3–7 ) between them , where its large , electric yellow blooms shine through the fluent daze and really make the penstemon ’s imperial capitulum pop .

Liatris and rattlesnake master work well in windy areas

For lower elevations with foresightful growing season , consider Rocky Mountain liatris ( Liatrisligulistylis , Zones 3–8 ) as a band or cluster behind a group of rattler professional ( Eryngiumyuccifolium , Zones 3–8 ) . These tall ( 3 to 5 feet gamy ) and narrow hayfield denizens not only will aid to take hold each other up but will complement one another in floral kind and colour ; the liatris have magenta spikes , while rattler master produces ashen spheres . add together a marvellous warm - season grass to this combination , such as golden prairie grass ( Sorghastrumnutans , Zones 4–9 ) , to blend it into another design and to add even more support for windy areas .

Camas adds early season color

In fine - textured part of the garden , such as grass - predominate portions ( including buffalograss lawns ) or cheery area with seasonal doldrums , deal the comprehension of bulbs , corms , and Tuber . ( A catchall terminal figure for these isgeophytes . ) In moderate wet and wetter areas needing spring colour , I ’ve had salutary success with camas ( Camassiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) . A large stand of camas remains among the only flora with early - time of year interest in one of my native - centric blueprint , bridge over the garden from green - up to the first other - season perennials .

Foxtail lily brings pizzazz to drier areas of the garden

Foxtail lily ( Eremurusspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–8 ) is appropriate for drying agent spaces in the garden . Just remember that when work with geophytes , moreismore . If you think 15 bulbs will do the occupation , regard 150 alternatively . They are cheap in majority if purchased online and only take well in routine much tumid than what one may first expect . If planted into warm - season grasses , the slower - moving smoke will serve to help cover up the fading geophyte foliage as the time of year moves forward .

Focus on contrast and build on strengths

In my view , the dear plant pairings not only share cultural penchant but sport very unlike industrial plant or floral forms . It ’s no misunderstanding that I ’ve establish a spikelike genus Penstemon with a round - flowered evening primrose ; it ’s because the line in flower shape works just like the dividing line in flower color to help each plant life in the pairing look its best . Managing to include both direct contrast in flush color and shape heightens the impingement of the design with no added management on behalf of the nurseryman . Adding a contrast foliar grain can do the same . Since just a few effective flora combinations can enhance an entire garden excogitation by providing thoughtful stress and bridge over wearisome menses , wield to nail the concepts of visual contrast and cultural compatibility will quickly elevate your home designs without the pauperism to pass the whole yard .

Bryan Fischer exist and garden at the crossing of the Great Plains and the Rockies . He is a plantsman and the curator of works collection for a local botanical garden .

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