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Low-Maintenance Perennials: Plants, beds, & design
Ellen A. Vincent Environmental Landscape Specialist Clemson University
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A PERENNIAL plant:
Lives for two or more years May be herbaceous (non-woody stems)
or woody Herbaceous perennial examples:
Achillea, Coreopsis, Echinacea, Liatris, Phlox
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Herbaceous perennial plants:
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Woody perennial plants:
Maintain a persistent stem above ground during cold weather
May or may not lose leaves in cold weather Examples: Lavandula, Perovskia,
Rosmarinus
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Woody perennial plants:
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Low-maintenance perennials
Do not need staking under normal conditions Are winter cold hardy and summer heat tolerant Are resistant to recurring insect and disease
infestations Do not need to be divided for at least three
years Possess attractive foliage during entire growing
season
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Low-maintenance perennials
Are specific to place and environment Prefer well-drained, moderately fertile soil Require ample moisture Prefer a pH of 5.5-7.0 Need to be divided every 3 years (in many
cases)
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Amsonia hubrechtii
Arkansas amsonia Full sun/part shade 36” high x 48” w Sky blue blooms in late
spring Bright yellow foliage in
fall Zones 3-9
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Amsonia tabernaemontana
Blue star Full sun/part shade 24-36” h x 18” w Periwinkle blue blooms
in late spring Zones 3-9
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Anemone hupehensis var. japonica
Japanese anemone Full sun/part shade 4-5’ h x 2’ w Pale pink semi-double
blooms in late summer through early autumn
Attractive seed pods Zones 3-9
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Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’
Japanese painted fern Part shade 8-12” h x 15-18” w Lance shaped silver gray
green leaves with maroon midribs
‘Ursula’s Red’ bred in SC Zones 5-8
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Asarum canadense
Canadian wild ginger Part to full shade 6” h x 6” w Heart shaped leaves Brown bell shaped
flowers hidden by foliage in spring
Zones 2-8
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Astilbe x arendsii
Hybrid astilbe Part to full shade 18”-4’ h x 24” w Fern like foliage Cultivars range from
pink, to red, white, to lavender purple
Zones 4-8
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Baptisia australis
False indigo blue Sun to part shade 5’ h x 2’ w Fern like foliage Tiny deep blue blooms in early
summer Deep blue to black seed pods Zones 3-9
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Caryopteris x clandonensis
Blue beard Sun to part shade 3’ h x 5’ w Flowers on current years
growth (woody) Small but abundant blue to
purple blooms in late summer to early autumn
‘Dark Knight’ has deep blue blooms
Zones 6-9
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Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’
Threadleaf coreopsis Sun 18” h x 18” w Pale yellow blooms
from summer through early fall
Fine textured foliage Zones 4-9
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Cuphea hyssopifolia
Mexican heather Sun to partial shade 12-24” h x 8-32” w Tiny pink to purple to
white flowers from summer into autumn
Woody stems Zones 8-10
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Delosperma cooperi
Purple hardy ice plant Sun 4-8” h x 24” w Daisy-like glossy purple
flowers in mid to late summer
Woody stems Zones 6-10
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Echinacea purpurea
Purple coneflower Sun 4’ h x 18” w Rosy-purple flowers in
midsummer to autumn Zones 3-9
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Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’
Bronze fennel Sun 6’ h x 18” w Bronze purple foliage is
finely cut and feathery on tips
Zones 4-9
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Gaura lindheimeri
White gaura Sun 5’ h x 3’ w Pink buds open to white
blooms late spring to early autumn
Slender stems and leaves “Siskiyou Pink” cultivar Zones 5-9
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Hedychium coccineum
Red ginger lily Sun or partial shade 10’ h x 3’ w Deep red, pink, orange, or
white blooms in up to 10” long racemes in late summer to autumn
Long lance shaped leaves Zones 8-10
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Hedychium coronarium
White ginger lily Sun or partial shade 10’ h x 3’ w Fragrant white blooms in up to 8”
long racemes in mid to late summer
Long lance shaped leaves Zones 9-10
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Helianthus angustifolius
Swamp sunflower Sun or partial shade 5-7’ h x 4’ w Daisy-like flower heads up to
3” across in late summer early autumn
Rough hairy stems and narrow lance shaped leaves to 8”
Zones 6-9
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Helleborus orientalis
Lenten rose Full to partial shade 18” h x 18” w Nodding saucer shaped white
flowers often stained green and pale pink, in midwinter to midspring
Basal leathery leaves evergreen Zones 4-9
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Hemerocallis hybrids
Daylily Full sun 6-48” h x 12-36” w Wide color range of
blooms; ‘Hyperion’ & ‘Happy Returns’ are yellow
Basal leathery leaves evergreen
Zones 3-10
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Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’
Siberian iris Full sun to partial shade 36” h x 24-36” w Deep purple beardless
flowers in early summer Leaves are narrow and
grass-like Zones 3-9
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Kniphofia uvaria
Common torch lily Full sun to partial shade 4’ h x 4’ w Red buds open to
orange and fade to yellow in summer
Zones 3-9
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Lavandula stoechas
French lavender Full sun 24” h x 24” w Spikes of fragrant deep
purple blooms topped by purple bracts in late spring to summer
Subspecies pedunculata Spanish lavender, bears flowers well above foliage
Fragrant silver green foliage Zones 8-9
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Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’
Spike gayfeather Full sun 24” h x 24” w Pinkish purple flower
spikes in mid-late summer into autumn
‘Kobold’ does not need staking
Zones 3-9
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Muhlenbergia capillaris
Pink muhly grass Full sun 4’ h x 3’ w Airy pink blooms in late
summer Narrow grass leaves Zones 6-10
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Perovskia atriplicifolia
Russian sage Full sun 4’ h x 4’ w Lavender blue blooms
from summer into fall Silver green fragrant
foliage Zones 3-9
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Phlox paniculata ‘David’
Garden phlox Full sun. partial shade 4’ h x 2-3’ w White fragrant blooms
in summer ‘David’ is resistant to
powdery mildew Zones 3-8
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Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’
Fragrant Solomon’s seal Partial to full shade 3’ h x 2’ w Pendent white blooms
along stems in late spring or early summer
Arching stems with white margined leaves
Zones 4-8
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Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary Full sun 4’ h x 4’ w Whorls of tiny blue
blooms from midspring into summer and again in autumn
Fragrant evergreen leaves on woody stems
Zones 8-10
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Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’
Black-eyed-Susan Full sun 36” h x 18” w Daisy-like yellow flowers
with a mahogany disk from summer into autumn
Fragrant evergreen leaves on woody stems
Zones 4-9
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Salvia greggii
Autumn sage Full sun 12-20” h x 12-20” w Pairs of red to purple,
pink, yellow, or violet flowers from late summer into autumn
Woody evergreen Zones 7-9
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Salvia uliginosa
Bog sage Full sun and moist soil Up to 6’ h x 13” w Blue flowers in late
summer to mid autumn Zones 8-10
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Santolina rosmarinifolia (virens)
Lavender cotton Full sun Up to 24” h x 24” w Yellow button-like
blooms in mid to late summer
Zones 6-9
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Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ and ‘Pink Mist’
Scabious Full sun Up to 24” h x 30” w Pincushion like blooms
appear during summer and winter
Zones 5-8
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Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
Goldenrod Full sun 24-36” h x 24-36” w Yellow blooms in late
summer and autumn Zones 4-8
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Trial plant Oenothera drumondii
Beach evening primrose Full sun low, spreading stems Yellow single blooms Long season blooming Secondary dune colonizer; spreads by seed;
does not displace native plants; withstands limited salt spray
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Trial plant Nierembergia gracilis ‘Starry Eyes’
Starry eyes nierembergia Full sun 10” -24” h x w Light lavender/blue blooms face
upwards Mounding habit Zones 7-9 Native to Argentine desert, Yucca
do selection
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Trial plant Heliatropium amplexicaule
Creeping heliotrope Full sun, drought tolerant 6” h x 3-5’ w Free flowering pale blue flowers Attracts butterflies Zones 7-9 Native to South America
2/22/08 44 http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/heliotropium_amplexicaule.htm
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Trial plant Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulee’
Threadleaf coreopsis crème brulee Full sun Golden yellow blooms along stalk 20” h x 35” w Zones 4-9 USPP #16096; reputed to be an
improved C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’
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Trial plant Eragrostis elliotii
Blue love grass Full sun 18’ h x 36” w Blue-silver foliage Zones 8-11 Native to southeastern U.S.
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Low-Maintenance perennials in the landscape
Require intensive planning, design, selection, and installation
Are selected for foliage color and texture as well as bloom
Reduce pesticide usage Reduce maintenance
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Types of Perennial Gardens
Perennial Island Bed: – Freestanding garden that is
viewed from all sides. Usually kidney shaped and often raised to promote drainage
Perennial Border: – May be double or single. Has a
backdrop of a wall or woody shrubs. Generally viewed from one side only
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5 Principles of Design
Simplicity Focalization Balance Scale Rhythm & Line/Effect on Senses
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Simplicity
Achieved through repetition of plant material and construction material – Color – Texture – Shape – Line – Size
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Focalization
Focal Point: – Immediately draws the eye – Belong is the center of the bed – Small gardens need only one
focal point – Large gardens may parade
several focal points throughout the central area
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Balance
Symmetrical – Both sides are identical
Asymmetrical – Each side contains
plants that resemble each other in terms of texture, height or color, but plants are not identical
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Scale
The relative proportion of plants to each other and to objects in the landscape
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Rhythm & Line/Effect on Senses
How the eye moves through the landscape How the landscape effects all the senses
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Sissinghurst white garden
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Customer Interview
Discover clients’ preferences – Ask client to show you pictures of gardens/
landscapes they like – Bring your own collection of pictures/photos in
case they don’t have any – Ask questions about the picture to discover
exactly what they like or dislike – Don’t assume the client likes the same things you
do
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Proper Plant Selection/Arrangement
Choose low-maintenance species/cultivars Group plants in bed by growth rates to
facilitate division process Plant groups of each species/cultivar rather
than spotting plants here and there Arrange plants so certain areas of the bed
are in bloom at same time Plan for year round appeal Add annuals/bulbs/shrubs for added interest
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Benefits of Vegetative Mulch
Reduces weed seed germination Retains soil moisture Adds organic matter as it decomposes Keeps soil temperatures relatively constant Keeps foliage clean May be aesthetically pleasing
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Mulch Note:
Recommend 3-4” deep for maximum effectiveness
Insist that mulch does not touch the stem of the plant
Seabrook Island, SC
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Design Note:
Place taller plants toward the back of the perennial border and throughout the center of the island bed
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Design Note:
Place plants according to their mature size or their 3 year size
Many perennials will be spaced 18” apart
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Design Note:
Place plants in triangle formations to maximize flowering and foliage effect
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Design Note:
When creating a hot color vibrant border, surround the bold colors with white or silver to avoid a harsh gaudy look
Fred McGourtey’s island display bed, Conn.
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Environmental Landscape Note:
Place plants with similar water requirements together in the bed
See Xeriscape: Landscape Water Conservation in the Southeast
Clemson publication EC 672 Drought tolerant plants still require moisture
during establishment
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Design Note:
Place plants with spiky or distinctive flowers and foliage toward the center of the bed as they are focal points.
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Design Note:
Place round, open shaped blooms and foliage plants at the edges and front of the garden as they blend well with other plants and allow the eye to gently leave the garden
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Design Note:
For a soothing effect use dark colors sparingly and soft colors in abundance
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Design Note:
Mass plants in odd numbers whenever possible
Hosta glen--SC Botanical Garden
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Design Note:
Note sun exposure, soil preferences, water requirements, cold and heat tolerance of plants before selecting
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Perennial literature
Color Schemes for the Flower Garden by Gertrude Jekyll
Herbaceous Perennial Plants by Allan Armitage Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants by
Steven Still Miracle-Gro Guide to Growing Beautiful
Flowers, editor Denny Schrock, chapter author Ellen Strother (Vincent)
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Contact information
Ellen A. Vincent Environmental Landscape Specialist Horticulture Dept. Box 340319 Clemson, SC 29634-0319 864.656.1342 803.243.8888 (cell) [email protected]