Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Northwest

1. ‘All Gold’ Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra‘All Gold’

Zones:5–8

Size:12 to 15 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Conditions : Partial nuance ; fertile , well - drained soil

Native range : Eastern Asia

Shockingly smart as a whip and well - behave , this ornamental grass glows in the garden . In April the kingcup chicken blades emerge and quickly spring a plush thump by May . As the clump matures , it broaden to graceful mounds that move with the fragile snap . The golden yellow color will hold through the growing season with some morning sun . If there is more shade it will yield to chartreuse . This is an splendid plant to soften bluff foliage and merge with cool colors such as blues and purple , or hot colors such as Red and orangeness . Water this grass regularly during extended dry periods , and protect it from the reflective heat of intense late good afternoon sun .

2. ‘Arneson Gem’ Deciduous Azalea

Rhododendron‘Arneson Gem’

Size:4 to 5 foot marvellous and 3 to 4 feet wide in 10 years

Conditions : Full sunlight to light shade ; moist , well - drained soil

aboriginal range : Interspecific loan-blend of Asian species

This compact deciduous azalea pack a brawny floral puncher in belated April to former May . As the parting start to unfurl , the prominent flower bud begin to spread , revealing a cluster of deep reddish buds that later on open to fiery aureate orange flowers that provide a blazing of color in the garden . Once this azalea is land up blooming , glowering green foliage that ’s resistant to powdery mold remains until the autumn , when it is supervene upon with lovely decline color . ‘ Arneson Gem ’ is great to habituate as an accent mark with coolheaded colors or to tot up punch to yellow- and orange - bloom plants .

3. ‘Liberty’ Hosta

Hosta‘Liberty’

Zones:3–9

Size:20 to 24 inches improbable and up to 36 inches wide

Conditions : Partial shade ; well - drained grease , with regular watering during dry periods

aboriginal range of a function : China , Japan , Korea

‘ indecorum ’ is a sport of one of my favorite hostas , ‘ Sagae ’ , and it improves upon an already astral plant . Large , bluff leaves emerge in April and mature into a beautiful stately clump in May . The leaf has a wide , golden yellow edge surrounding a shiny , blue - unripe center and is slightly wind . As the foliage matures , it becomes thick and wakeless in core and resistant to munching from slugs and snail . The robust leaf is a perfect contrast with fine foliation and combines well with brilliant people of color . Watch for slugs and snail on young growth .

4. ‘Merritt’s Beauty’ Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla‘Merritt’s Beauty’

Zones:6–9

Size:4 to 5 infantry tall and 5 to 6 feet broad in 10 eld

atmospheric condition : Morning sunlight with scant good afternoon shade to open shade ; well - drained soil , with regular watering during dry periods

Native chain of mountains : Japan

This classic hydrangea does everything a hydrangea should . Opening in May , it picks up when most rhododendrons and azaleas are just finishing their blush . When grown in our typically acidulous Northwest dirt , its great , rounded flush head assailable to a brilliant deep patrician or sultry purple brushed with intense blue . As the blooms fade , they turn shades of green and burgundy , with hints of turquoise providing interest throughout the growing season . In alkaline soils , the flush will be a saturated rose red . The bold mystifying green leaves are the perfect hydrofoil for the flowers , and they flux well with variegated leafage and okay textures .

— Richie Steffen is the executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle .

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Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Northeast

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‘All Gold’ Japanese Forest Grass

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