Flower Shapes in the Mixed Border
My process for selecting specific plants for the mixed border frequently goes something like this: ‘
OMG look at this plant. I must have it!’
And into the cart it goes. Over time, I have learned that a bit of restraint goes a long way. As an easily distracted (and somewhat fickle) Gemini, this is when my favorite tool, Google Photos, will come to the rescue. Using the photo of the east bed above ~ which illustrates a bit of ‘loss of restraint’ ~ and additional images of this particular space, I can identify areas that are in need of simplification, a different bloom shape, or a stronger focal point.
Come springtime as plants are emerging and easily relocated, these photos will help me to decide what worked and what didn’t. I can then move plants whose attributes will be more useful elsewhere in the garden and replace them with something more complementary. For example, the following photos depict more restrained plant combinations with bloom color and shape sharing the job with foliage to balance out the cohesive plant design: I can refer to my thousands of images (carefully catalogued for quick retrieval) for a refresher on how specific plants and flower shapes work in combination. Here are some of my favorite combinations from my garden and from client gardens:
hover on images for description and click for a larger view
Google Photos is also my constant companion while shopping for plants, allowing me to quickly find the photos I took of the specific garden in need of plant material. The plants in my cart are then evaluated to determine if they qualify as ‘the right plant in the right place’ for the garden in question. For me that means they meet most of the following criteria:
sun/shade requirements are compatible
inflorescence, aka bloom shape (along with plant height) will help create rhythm and repetition, leading the eye through the garden bed (see allium notes below)
flower structure is also attractive to pollinators with easy access to pollen and nectar (i.e., single vs. double dahlias, echinacea, roses)
bloom color is complementary with companion plants or will serve as an accent throughout the garden, tying all the plantings together into a cohesive design (example: ‘Golden Queen’ trollius in image at top of this page)
foliage shape, color and texture will enhance companion plants (the gold blades of the Japanese forest grass above are the perfect pairing with the intense, fruity colors of the candelabra primula)
plant size/stature will create a strong focal point (this is where petite trees and native shrubs frequently come to the rescue)
see-through plants receive ‘extra credit’ and almost always make their way through checkout!
see-through plants create rhythm, whimsy & pollinator action
It’s no secret that I am obsessed with ‘see-through’ plants. Anything that is tall and wispy with minimal foliage steals my heart every time. These ‘light as air’ plants enable me to ‘plant with abundance’ and join many different species in the same garden zone, enhancing the layers of foliage, bloom and interest.
Shorter, foliage-heavy plants, like echinacea, provide the foundation, and the see-throughs rise up to create a second level of interest. Kind of like a double-decker bus! The first photo above is a favorite combination in my sunny mailbox garden bed. Not only are the three plants ‘see-through’, they each have a different flower shape. The candelabras of veronicastrum combine with the drumstick spikes of kniphofia and the flat umbels of Queen Anne’s Lace. It’s like a ‘double-trifecta’!
my favorite spheres ~ follow the bouncing ball
The best spheres for the garden? This one is easy! It’s allium, of course! These fall-planted bulbs announce the arrival of spring like no other. With dozens of allium types of different sphere sizes, colors and bloom times, allium are an important matrix plant for me. I weave them through my gardens, planting the bulbs in between perennials and shrubs where the dying foliage will be camouflaged. Pound for pound, allium are probably the greatest ‘value plant’ in the garden, returning year after year (as long as the ground is not overly wet through their dormant months). Contact me if you would like to join in the fun every fall when I buy hundreds of high quality allium bulbs at a discount.
my favorite spikes ~ lifting the eye higher
In spring and early summer, the deep purple spikes of salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ take the prize. This reblooming, sun-loving perennial is thinner and more svelte than other salvias with a deeper, richer purple bloom. Kniphofia, aka ‘Red Hot Poker’ also reblooms throughout the summer and doubles as a see-through plant. Persicaria ‘Firetail’ (also a see-through!) wins the prize for most spikes on a single plant. ‘Firetail’ is a pollinator powerhouse, blooming from mid-July into November, weather depending here in southern NH.
Spikes are the exclamation points and counter points to the balls, spheres and umbels. If you garden is ‘missing something’, it’s probably the verticality of spiky plants!
domes & umbels ~ the flying saucers & lacy doilies of the garden
Domes are best represented by achillea, or yarrow. My favorites are the pink ‘Pretty Belinda’ and the yellow ‘Moonshine’ and ‘Little Moonshine’. Creating masses of flat topped inflorescence, they lend a horizontal plane to the garden. Long blooming, and easy care, yarrow thrives in poor, dry soil. So, don’t baby it for the best results! For deadheading, don’t just snip off the top, but cut back spent stems all the way to the ground for summer long bloom.
Umbellifers are the new obsession in my garden! Easy to grow from seed, these enchanting annuals offer a flat landing pad for bees and butterflies, offering easy access to pollen and nectar. While not technically native to North America, many were ‘introduced’ by European settlers and over time have become host plants for our eastern swallowtail butterflies.
Umbellifer shapes create a misty, floating habit through the garden. I like to plant seeds or seedlings and weave them through perennials and grasses. As perennials fade, umbellifers shine, bringing an incredible airiness to the garden.