Behr
07.08.2024 - 16:03 / finegardening.com
Achillea millefolium
Zones: 3–9
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun; adaptable to a wide range of soil types
Native range: Temperate North America, Europe, and Asia
Don’t let the word “common” make you discount this aromatic native herb. Common yarrow is a valuable plant in wildflower meadows and naturalistic garden designs. I love its fernlike foliage that tufts close to the ground in early spring. It blooms for an extended period during summer heat and can get up to 3 feet tall if left to grow naturally. Common yarrow can also be mowed a few times through the season to create a tightly knit, lawn-like ground cover. It prefers full sun and tolerates drought, but plants will be more lush with supplemental irrigation. The aromatic foliage and flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, and butterflies gather on the flat-topped white flower clusters.
Aruncus dioicus
Zones: 4–8
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, rich, well-drained soil
Native range: Temperate North America, Europe, and Asia
It’s easy to spot the shaggy, white inflorescences of this herbaceous perennial during early summer walks in damp woodlands, where its recognizable plumes of flowers rise above over-the-top compound foliage. This shrubby plant requires consistently moist soil, making it a good choice for rain gardens and stream-bank restoration. It’s also perfect for woodland beds under high-branching evergreen trees, or for wetland gardens in partial shade. Plant it in groups of three or more alongside thickets of western sword fern (Polystichum munitum, Zones 5–9) and Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana, Zones 4–9).
Physocarpus capitatus
Zones: 5–10
Size: 6 to 12 feet tall and
Hey GPODers!
Native plants, as the name indicates, grow naturally in an area or region. There is a growing shift among many people away from a manicured garden with non-local species in support of more natural areas, and especially, for embracing native plants.
When tapped to design a series of planters for our2024 Idea House in the Kiawah River community on Johns Island, South Carolina, plant pro Steph Green of Contained Creations in Richmond, Virginia, knew exactly what the waterfront property needed. “We wanted to create the most beautiful and biggest statement container gardens, but they needed to be durable and last a long time with minimal upkeep,” says Green. “That’s why picking evergreens or really tough perennials from the Southern Living Plant Collection was kind of the launching point for each individual design.”
If you’re a fan of the quintessential indoor-outdoor Western lifestyle that comes along with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass, a warm wash of natural light, breezeways that maximize airflow, and surrounding serene landscape, you can thank famed architect Cliff May. Regarded as the founding father of the iconic California ranch house, May’s work has been repeatedly published in Sunset since the 1930s. What made his work stand out at the time was how he designed homes not so much based on architecture but on the way people wanted to live in them. Making the most of the Western climate, his goal was to provide a closer relationship with nature through garden courtyards and blur the line between how we use interior and exterior spaces. May in turn created private sanctuaries where families could relax and enjoy a lifestyle of informal outdoor living. He invented the way most people want to live in the West, and his influence is felt throughout the region some 90 years later.
Want to make your home a bit brattier? We’re not talking toddler tantrums and teen angst—there’s a new trend taking over social media, courtesy of singer-songwriter Charli XCX.
“Impossibly unaffordable” are two words that Californians are probably less than thrilled to hear. In a recent report from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Frontier Centre of Public Policy (FCPP) in Canada, that’s exactly how four California metros are described. The 2024 edition of Demographia International Housing Affordability shows San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego listed among the top 10 least affordable housing markets—not just in the United States, but worldwide.
Feeling stuck in a rut? We have selected the best plants with warm tones for your window boxes, they are not only perfect for fall but all growing season. These plants will instantly boost your mood and breathe life into the gloomiest bits of your home. Deck up your patio, balcony, porch, or even living room with these sunny plants!
Taking summer cuttings is easy to do and can be done with so many plants. Early summer is a great time to give it a go as the plants are actively growing, so your cuttings will root easily. If you’re growing tender plants, taking cuttings is also a good way to make sure you have extra plants in case of a harsh winter.