Garden Vignettes: Plants that Look Good Together

By Larry Rettig (LarryR)
August 26, 2009

Over the past decade, mail order nurseries have begun to offer advice on plant groupings that look particularly good together. They may offer a grouping as a single package for purchase or they may state in their plant descriptions that Plant A would look good paired with Plant B or with Plants B, C, and D. I have found this advice to be very helpful, even when I chose not to purchase the plants from the vendor who recommends a particular grouping. In later years, I began to experiment with my own combinations and would like to share some of them with you.

The photo at the right shows a vignette of White Lace Flower (Orlaya grandiflora) and a pink rose.  Orlaya (see also close-up photo at the end of this article) is an annual. It's sometimes confused with Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota), which is a biennial.  I prefer Orlaya, because it blooms the same year from seed and self-sows.  The flower head is also more striking, due to the contrast between the large white petals around the outer circumference and the more delicate interior.  The ferny foliage adds to its delicate appearance.  Orlaya is not too fussy about growing conditions, preferring sun to part shade in average garden soil. The shrub rose is of unknown origin, producing single and semi-double blooms.  Your favorite pink shrub rose would look just as good.  As with most roses, a location in morning sun with some shade in the afternoon is best.  I feed my roses with a timed-release fertilizer once in the spring.

A BAKER'S DOZEN OF MY FAVORITE VIGNETTES
Japanese Forest Grass 'Aureola' (Hakonechloa macra) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in. Spacing:  24-36 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year	Comments:  Note how the color of the Forest Grass is reflected in the growing tips of the coleus.  The reddish color is also a nice contrast with the pale yellows and greens of the grass.	Coleus 'Alabama Sunset' (Solenostemon scutellarioides) Category:  Annual Height:  12-18 in. Spacing:  9-12 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 10a to 11 Sun Exposure:  Sun to Full Shade Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs Read my article on Coleus HERE.
Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)  Category:  Perennial Height:  18-24 in. Spacing:  9-12 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 3a to USDA Zone 7b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Time:  Late Spring to Early Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous; Silver/Gray Water:  Average Water Needs; Drought-tolerant This plant is resistant to deer.	Comments:  In this combination, the bright yellow Marguerite Daisy plays off the light purple Larkspur.  The white Larkspur adds an interesting accent.	Annual Blue and White Larkspur (Consolida ambigua) Category:  Annual Height:  18-24 in. Spacing:  9-12 in. Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Colors:  Blue, White Bloom Time:  Late Spring/Early Summer Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs
Kolomikta Vine 'Arctic Beauty' (Actinidia kolomikta) Category:  Vine Height:  12-30 ft. Spacing:  8-10 ft. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 8b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Light Shade Bloom Color:  Purple Bloom Time:  Late Spring/Early Summer Foliage:  Grown for Foliage; Variegated White Water:  Average Water Needs Clematis 'Summer Snow' (Clematis fargesioides) Category:  Vine Height:  12-20 ft.  Spacing:  8-10 ft. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 3a to USDA Zone 9b Bloom Color:  White Bloom Shape:  Single Bloom Diameter:  Less than 2 in. Bloom Time:  Late Spring to Early Fall (continued in column at far right )	Comments:  This is a white garden in late spring.  Plants from the top: Kolomikta Vine (over arbor) and Summer Snow Clematis (top right), Giant Fleeceflower (large bushes on either side of arbor), Siberian Iris 'Gull's Wing' (either side to rear of grass clump), Variegated Miscanthus Grass, Diamond Frost Euphorbia (surrounding grass clump), Snow Crystal Alyssum (in front of Euphorbia, just above the stone border).  Monochrome vignettes need to be fairly large to have the desired visual impact. Click HERE to enlarge photo.	Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Water :  Average Water Needs Giant White Fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha) Category:  Perennial Height:  4-6 ft. Spacing:  4-6 ft. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White/Near White Bloom Time: Summer/Fall Foliage:  Deciduous Water:  Average Water Needs Siberian Iris 'Gull's Wing' (Iris siberica) Category:  Perennial Height:  12-18 in. Spacing:  12-18 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  Early Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs
Variegated Miscanthus Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) Category:  Perennial Height:  6-8 ft. Spacing:  36-48 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 9a Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Silver/Gray Bloom Time:  Late Summer/Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs This plant is resistant to deer.	Diamond Frost Euphorbia (Euphorbia) Category:  Annual/Tender Perennial Height:  6-12 in. Spacing:  9-12 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 10a to USDA Zone 10b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  Blooms Continually Foliage:  Herbaceous/Evergreen Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping	Sweet Alyssum 'Snow Crystal' (Lobularia maratima) Category:  Annual Height:  Under 6 in. Spacing:  6-9 in. Sun Exposure:  Full sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  All season Water: Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping This plant is fragrant and resistant to deer.
Bush Clover (Lespedeza thunbergii) Category:  Perennial Shrub Height:  36-48 in. Spacing:  6-8 ft. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Lavender Bloom Time: Late Summer to Mid Fall Foliage:  Deciduous Water:  Average Water Needs Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) Category:  Annual/Tender Perennial Height:  6-12 in. Spacing:  6-9 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 9a to USDA Zone 11 (continued in column at far right )	Comments:  Here is another monochromatic garden bed, this one in shades of lavender.  Plants, from the top, include Bush Clover, Periwinkle, and Sweet Alyssum Click HERE to enlarge photo. Read my article on Lespedeza HERE.	Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Pink/Lavender Bloom Time:  Early Summer to Fall; Blooms Continually Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping Sweet Alyssum 'Easter Bonnet Lavender' (Lobularia maratima) Category:  Annual Height:  Under 6 in. Spacing:  6-9 in. Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  All Season Water: Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping This plant is fragrant and resistant to deer.
Scented-Leaf Geranium 'Lady Plymouth' (Pelargonium) Category: Annual/Tender Perennial Height: 18-24 in. Spacing: 15-18 in. Hardiness: USDA Zone 9b to USDA Zone 11 Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color: Pale Pink Bloom Time: Blooms Repeatedly Foliage: Evergreen Variegated Aromatic Water: Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping Suitable for growing in containers, both indoors and outside	Comments:  This Scented-Leaf Geranium offers the perfect foil for a lovely coleus named 'Meandering Linda.'  Note that the darker color of each coleus leaf forms the image of a lobed leaf which is echoed by the geranium.  A hanging basket is the perfect home for these two companions.	Coleus 'Meandering Linda' (Solenostemon scutellarioides) Category: Annual/Tender Perennial Height: 12-24 in. Spacing: 9-12 in. Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a to USDA Zone 11 Sun Exposure: Sun to Full Shade Bloom Color: Light Blue Bloom Time: Mid Summer to Fall Foliage: Variegated Lavender/Burgundy Water: Average Water Needs Suitable for growing in containers, both indoors and outside
Variegated Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Category:  Perennial Shrub Height:  36-48 in. Spacing:  24-36 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 8b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  Late Summer/Early Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous; Variegated Water:  Average Water Needs This plant is sterile but speads via underground runners.	Comments:  This vignette combines Poppy Mallow and Variegated Knotweed.  Poppy Mallow is a wonderful native vine that clambers through perennials and up into shrubs, never overpowering them and providing color when other perennials have spent their blooms.	Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe leiocarpa) Category:  Perennial Vine Height:  18-36 in. Spacing:  18-24 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 8b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Magenta/Fuchsia Bloom Time:  Spring to Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping This plant self-sows.
Orienpet Lily 'Silk Road' (Lilium) Category:  Perennial Height:  4-6 ft. Spacing:  12-15 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Fuchsia (Red-Purple) White/Near White Bloom Time:  Early Summer Flower Shape:  Trumpet Bloom Size:  6" to 12" Water:  Average Water Needs Flowers are fragrant.	Comments:  Here an especially lovely and fragrant Orienpet Lily called Silk Road towers over a pot of Purple Fountain Grass.	Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) Category:  Annual/Tender Perennial Height:  36-48 in. Spacing:  15-18 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 9a to USDA Zone 11 Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Purple/Dark Purple/Maroon Bloom Time:  Early Summer to Fall Foliage:  Grown for Foliage Herbaceous Burgundy Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping
Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe leiocarpa) Category:  Perennial Vine Height:  18-36 in. Spacing:  18-24 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 8b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Magenta/Fuchsia Bloom Time:  Spring to Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping This plant self-sows.	Comments:  Here is Poppy Mallow Vine once more, this time paired with yellow Anthemis, a particularly striking combination.	Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria) Category:  Perennial Height:  18-24 in. Spacing:  9-12 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 3a to USDA Zone 7b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Time:  Late Spring to Early Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous; Silver/Gray Water:  Average Water Needs; Drought-tolerant This plant is resistant to deer.
Spotted Bellflower 'Elizabeth' (Campanula punctata) Category: Perennial Height: 12-18 in. Spacing: 18-24 in. Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color: Rose/Mauve Bloom Time: Late Spring to Mid Summer Foliage: Herbaceous Water: Average Water Needs This plant spreads via underground runners.	Comments:  The contrasting leaf shapes and textures of the Ostrich Plume Fern and Campanula Elizabeth provide a pleasing backdrop for the burgundy-spotted bells.	Ostrich Plume Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) Category: Perennial Height: 36-48 in. Spacing: 24-36 in. Hardiness: USDA Zone 2a to USDA Zone 10b Sun Exposure: Partial to Full Shade Foliage: Deciduous Water: Requires consistently moist soil This plant spreads via underground runners.
Heliopsis 'Loraine Sunshine' (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in. Spacing:  15-18 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 3a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Color:  Bright gold Bloom Time:  Mid Summer to Fall Foliage:  Variegated/Veined Water:  Average Water Needs   Geranium 'Rozanne' (Geranium) Category:  Perennial Height:  18-24 in. Spacing:  15-18 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 8b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Lavender Blue Bloom Time:  Summer to Early Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs	Comments:  This vignette combines the golden color of Loraine Sunshine Heliopsis with the lavender blue of Geranium Rozanne and the white sprinkles of our native Flowering Spurge (much longer blooming than Baby's Breath).  Leaves provide considerable interest as well:  the ferny texture of Golden Tansy and the unique white leaves with green veining (see inset) of Loraine Sunshine.	Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in. Spacing:  18-24 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 7b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  Early Summer to Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping   Golden Tansy 'Isla Gold' (Tanacetum vulgare) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in. Spacing:  24-36 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 3a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Bright Yellow Bloom Time:  Summer Foliage:  Herbaceous; Yellow; Aromatic Water:  Average Water Needs
Perennial Foxglove (Digitalis lutea) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in. Spacing:  9-12 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 9b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Light Yellow/Bright Yellow Bloom Time:  Late Spring/Summer Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs	Comments:  This vignette pairs perennial Foxglove with the relatively new and popular Angelonia.  The colors follow the general scheme of many beds in our gardens:  yellow/gold and pink/lavender/purple.	Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) Category:  Annual/Tender Perennial Height:  12-18 in. Spacing:  12-15 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 9a to USDA Zone 11 Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Purple Bloom Time:  Late Spring to Frost Blooms Continually Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs
Oriental Lily 'Stargazer' (Lilium) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in.  Spacing:  9-12 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 10b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Color:  Pink/Dark Pink/White Bloom Time:  Mid Summer Foliage:  Herbaceous Water: Average Water Needs Flowers are fragrant. Gloriosa Daisy 'Prairie Sun' (Rudbeckia hirta) Category:  Annual Height:  18-24in. Spacing:  12-15 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 5a to USDA Zone 10b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  Bright Yellow/Gold/Light Green Bloom Time:  Mid Summer to Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping	Comments:  This vignette reflects the yellow/gold and pink/lavender color scheme in our gardens as well.  The Gloriosa Daisy provides both a yellow and a gold while the Oriental Lily delivers shades of pink with a white picotee edge.  The Coreopsis (partially obscured) continues the pink theme.  The white Shasta Daisy adds interest and reflects the white picotee of the lily.	Shasta Daisy 'Aglaya' (Leucanthemum x superbum) Category:  Perennial Height:  24-36 in. Spacing:  18-24 in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 10b Sun Exposure:  Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color:  White Bloom Time:  Mid Summer to Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Drought-tolerant; Suitable for Xeriscaping This plant is resistant to deer. Coreopsis 'American Dream' (Coreopsis rosea) Category:  Perennial Height:  8-12in. Spacing:  12-15in. Hardiness:  USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 8b Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Color:  Pink Bloom Time:  Summer to Fall Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Requires Consistently Moist Soil
Comments:  This larger spring vignette plays a bed of red Flanders Poppies against a sea of green grass, daffodil foliage, and hydrangea bushes. Flanders Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)Category:  Annual Height:  12-18 in. Spacing:  12-15 in. Sun Exposure:  Full Sun Bloom Color:  Red Bloom Time:  Spring/Early Summer Foliage:  Herbaceous Water:  Average Water Needs
White Lace Flower
Questions? Comments?  Please scroll down to the form below.  I enjoy hearing from my readers! Sources for the plants in this article include your local nursery/garden center or "big box" store.  You can also find online sources by entering a plant name into the DG PlantScout search engine.  Click HERE for an example.

© Larry Rettig 2009

About Larry Rettig   An enthusiastic gardener for over 50 years, my first plant was a potted Ponderosa Lemon tree ordered from a comic book ad at age 15. I still have it, and it’s still bearing lemons! My wife and I garden on 3/4 of an acre, both flowers and vegetables. Although our garden is private, it's listed with the Smithsonian Institution as a national heritage garden and is on the National Register of Historic Places. We garden organically and no-till. Our vegetable garden contains a seed bank of vegetables brought to this country from Germany in the mid-1800s. For more info: http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/m/LarryR/. Photos that appear in my articles without credit are my own.

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Discussion about this article:

Subject Topic Starter Replies Views Last Post Larry's vignettes oldgardengal 2 9 Oct 6, 2009 10:42 PM White Lace Flower Saphira 1 5 Sep 6, 2009 2:33 PM very nice article- great pics too! cheerpeople 1 4 Sep 3, 2009 11:23 AM best plans go south birder17 1 7 Sep 3, 2009 11:19 AM Combinations Adlyn 1 16 Sep 3, 2009 11:15 AM Combinations that cn take the heat of 9b gardnerofsmw 1 19 Aug 31, 2009 6:16 PM Plant combinations Robbielynne 1 8 Aug 31, 2009 5:53 PM Vignette cathylovesroses 1 7 Aug 31, 2009 5:46 PM Beautiful Vignettes! Petalpants 1 10 Aug 31, 2009 5:24 PM Orlaya daphnep 3 45 Aug 31, 2009 5:15 PM Wonderful! kniphofia 1 17 Aug 27, 2009 12:53 PM Vignettes happgarden 1 12 Aug 27, 2009 12:45 PM Great presentation! KJ_in_AZ_mntns 1 12 Aug 27, 2009 12:37 PM Beautiful! seray53 1 7 Aug 27, 2009 12:31 PM Your articles.... Sharran 3 32 Aug 27, 2009 12:26 PM

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