Some Noteworthy Perennial Combinations

Many of the most striking gardens contain plants that look more different than similar. You can create contrast by pairing up or combining plants that have different textures, colors, shapes, forms...any design element. Flower forms and heights offer more opportunities for contrast. Below is a small sampling of some common plant "marriages" that are successful. But don't stop here - come up with your own. The possibilities are endless.

• Gayfeather (Liatris),daylilies (Hemerocallis)and lilies.
• Coleus, hosta and spotted nettle (Lamium).
• Iris and hosta.
• Coreopsis, sedum and lythrum.
• Artemesia, coreopsis and veronica.
• Liatris, veronica and fern-leaf yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
• Yarrow (Achillea),coralbells (Heuchera),and speedwell (Veronica).
• Daylily (Hemerocallis), lilies and coneflower (Echinacea).
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia),yucca and fountaingrass (Pennisetum).
• Coralbells (Heuchera)and bellflower (Campanula).
• Castor bean, canna and fountaingrass.
• Columbine (Aquilegia),lungwort (Pulmonaria),and hosta.
• Yarrow (Achillea)and purple coneflower (Echinacea).
• Violet Sage (Salvia nemerosa)and coreopsis 'moonbeam'.
• Cornflower (Centaurea)and lamb's ears (Stachys).
• 'Silver Mound' artemesia (Artemesia schmidtiana)and 'palace purple' coralbells.
• Globe thistle (Echinops)and asters.
• Sea holly (Eryngium),sedum and russian sage (Perovskia).
• Butterfly weed (Asclepias)and speedwell (Veronica).
• Russian sage (Perovskia)and loosetrife (Lythrum).
• Astilbe and hostas.
• Bee Balm (Monarda)and speedwell (Veronica).
• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea),black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia),and sea holly (Eryngium).
  
  

Spring 1998
University of Illinois Booksale | Zoysiagrass! Can You Believe the Ads? | Crabgrass Control | Choosing Home Lawn Care Services | Selecting a Tree Service or Arborist | All America Selections 1998 | All Tomato Varieties Certainly Not the Same | Some Noteworthy Perennial Combinations | Bug Bites | Lawn Care Calendar | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Healthy Eating: Butter vs. Margarine | Health Update: Vitamin & Mineral Supplements | Food Safety: Eggs | Health & Household Update | Did You Know?

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