If we gardeners are good at anything, it is dreaming about plants and what they can add to our landscapes. That’s why we at Fine Gardening have put together this collection of plants that are sure to catch your eye for their appearance, their performance, or both.
If you see something you like, and we are sure you will, look it up. You are bound to find a mail order source, if not a nursery near you, that sells the plant you want. But make sure you have the right place for it. Beyond sun/shade/soil considerations and appropriate UDSA Hardiness Zones, be sure to check out what kind of winters and summers it can withstand. Can it handle a wet winter, or does it need it dry? Does it even get cold enough for the plant to go dormant? Are your summers too hot or not hot enough? Can the plant handle your summer’s dry or moist air? These are all good things to know before you add to your garden something you fell in love with in a photo.
If you get frustrated because a plant that caught your eye doesn’t suit your site, fear not: there is still hope. A little sleuthing on your part will turn up different cultivars or species of your desired plant that might be what you need. Still not finding something? Try to zero in on what it was about the plant that piqued your interest. Was it huge leaves? Surprising variegation? Eye-popping blooms? Seek those qualities out in plants that do suit your conditions. You might not find the first plant that caught your eye, but you are sure to find something to fall in love with. There are always more plants at the nursery.
Enjoy scrolling through these options, but be aware: this gallery might just have you planning a whole new garden.
‘Arizona Apricot’ blanket flower (Gaillardia ‘Arizona Apricot’, Zones 4–10)‘Bright Edge’ yucca (Yucca filamentosa ‘Bright Edge’, Zones 4–9)‘Whirlwind’ Japanese anemone (Anemone × hybrida ‘Whirlwind’, Zones 5–8)Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum, Zones 5–8)Yellow trillium (Trillium luteum, Zones 4–8)Shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia, Zones 4–8)‘Bluebird’ smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve ‘Bluebird’, Zones 4–8)‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’, Zones 4–8)Maryland senna (Senna marilandica, Zones 4–9)Father Hugo rose (Rosa hugonis, Zones 5–9)‘Gelbbunt’ Korean fir (Abies koreana ‘Gelbbunt’, Zones 5–8)Spiny bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosus, Zones 5–9)Paperbark maple (Acer griseum, Zones 4–8)Variegated sweet flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Variegatus’, Zones 5–8)Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zones 3–8)Pheasant’s eye (Adonis vernalis, Zones 3–7)Acapulco® Salmon and Pink hyssop (Agastache ‘Salmon and Pink’, Zones 5–9)‘Akebono’ red paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Akebono’, Zones 7–9 )Star of Persia (Allium christophii, Zones 4–8)Golden variegated foxtail grass (Alopecurus pratensis ‘Aureovariegatus’, Zones 3–9)‘Storm Cloud’ bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’, Zones 3–9)Monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana, Zones 7–10)Lowscape Mound™ black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘UCONNAM165’, Zones 4–8)‘Valerie Finnis’ artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Valerie Finnis’ Zones 5–10)Rose milkweed (Asclepias incarnata, Zones 3–8)‘Red Butterflies’ milkweed (Asclepias curassavica ‘Red Butterflies’, Zones 8–11)‘Apple Court’ painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Apple Court’, Zones 5–8)‘Pink Lemonade’ baptisia (Baptisia ‘Pink Lemonade’, Zones 4–9)‘Screaming Yellow’ baptisia (Baptisia ‘Screaming Yellow’, Zones 4–9)‘Red Flash’ caladium (Caladium ‘Red Flash’, Zones 8–11)Purple Pearls® beautyberry (Callicarpa ‘NCCX1’, Zones 5–8)Sunshine Blue® bluebeard (Caryopteris incana ‘Jason’, Zones 7–9)‘Snow’ false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Snow’, Zones 5–8)‘Ruby Spice’ summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’, Zones 4–8)Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina, Zones 2–6)‘Gold Cup’ kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa ‘Gold Cup’, Zones 5–9)‘Twinkle Toes’ Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Twinkle Toes’, Zones 5–9)Northern dragonhead (Dracocephalum ruyschiana, Zones 3–7)Siebold’s wood fern (Dryopteris sieboldii, Zones 6–9)Double Scoop™ Mandarin coneflower (Echinacea ‘Balscandin’, Zones 4–9)‘Showy Lantern’ enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’, Zones 6–8)Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium, Zones 3–8)Bowman’s root (Porteranthus trifoliatus syn. Gillenia trifoliata, Zones 4–8)Purple witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis ‘Purpurea’, Zones 4–8)Heirloom tomatoes‘Storm Shelter’ daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Storm Shelter’, Zones 3–9)‘Island Breeze’ hosta (Hosta ‘Island Breeze’, Zones 3–9)Magical® Fire panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bokraplume’, Zones 5–9)Gatsby Moon® oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Brother Edward’, Zones 5–9)Coral bark maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’, Zones 5–8)Berry Heavy® winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Spravy’, Zones 3–9)Variegated dalmatian iris (Iris pallida ‘Variegata’, Zones 4–9)Reticulated iris (Iris reticulata ‘Clairette’, foreground, and ‘Harmony’, center, Zones 5–9)‘Minuet’ mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’, Zones 5–8)‘Britt Marie Crawford’ ligularia (Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’, Zones 4–8)Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum, Zones 5–8)‘Baggesen’s Gold’ boxleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’, Zones 5–9)‘Lois’ magnolia (Magnolia ‘Lois’, Zones 4–8)‘Spectrum’ magnolia (Magnolia ‘Spectrum, Zones 6–9)‘Mint Chocolate Chip’ manfreda (Manfreda undulata ‘Mint Chocolate Chip’, Zones 7–10)Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica, Zones 3–8)‘Gold Rush’ dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’, Zones 4–8)‘Skyracer’ purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Skyracer’, Zones 5–8)Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata, Zones 3–8)Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima, Zones 7–10)‘Love Affair’ Itoh peony (Paeonia ‘Love Affair’, Zones 3–8)‘Sword Dance’ peony (Paeonia lactifolia ‘Sword Dance’, Zones 3–8)‘Shenandoah’ switch grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, Zones 5–9)‘Haley’s Blue’ Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Haley’s Blue’, Zones 2–8)Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana, Zones 4–8)Orchid primrose (Primula vialii, Zones 5–8)‘Twinkle Toes’ lungwort (Pulmonaria ‘Twinkle Toes’, Zones 4–9)Variegated English oak (Quercus robur ‘Variegata’, Zones 5–8)Tiger Eyes® sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’, Zones 4–8)‘Elegans’ rodgersia (Rodgersia pinnata ‘Elegans’, Zones 5–7)
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