Susan Calhoun’s garden in Poulsbo, Washington started out as an ugly patch of lawn that stretched along a property line. It was close to the shoreline and extremely close to a neighboring house. She craved privacy and four-season appeal but didn’t want to install a heavy line of shrubs or trees and create a claustrophobic “garden room.” Always having been a big fan of ornamental grasses and their undeniable texture, Susan decided to build a double border with grasses as the backbone. To that foundation, she added colorful plants that shine in different seasons, ensuring that this garden always looks good. Susan insists that designing this type of magical garden was easy; it just took the right planning and plants. The following are some of the main areas of this enchanting space, and the perennials, grasses, trees, and shrubs that help it shine.

See more:

Get Four-Season Interest Using Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape

The Best Ornamental Grasses for Every Season

How to Divide Large Overgrown Ornamental Grasses

Let’s Argue About Plants Podcast Episode 147: Great Native Grasses

1. ‘Butterfly Blue’ pincushion flower (Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’, Zones 3-9)
2. Autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis, Zones 5-9)
3. ‘Daybreak’ red-hot poker (Kniphofia ‘Daybreak’, Zones 6-9)
4. ‘Aloha’ coneflower (Echinacea ‘Aloha’, Zones 4-9)
5. Thomson’s red-hot poker (Kniphofia thomsonii var. snowdenii, Zones 6b-9)
6. ‘Fire Dragon’ miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis* ‘Fire Dragon’, Zones 5-9)
7. ‘Fastigiata’ European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’, Zones 4-8)
8. ‘Magnus’ purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’, Zones 3-8)
9. ‘Sunstruck’ false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Sunstruck’, Zones 4-9)

1. Blackhawks’ big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’, Zones 3–9)
2. ‘Fire Dragon ’miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis* ‘Fire Dragon’, Zones 5-9)
3. ‘Caradonna’ salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, Zones 4–8)
4. ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, Zones 5–9)
5. ‘Little Gem’ Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’, Zones 7–9)
6. ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, Zones 4–9)
7. ‘White Swan’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’, Zones 3-8)
8. ‘Terracotta’ yarrow (Achillea ‘Terracotta’, Zones 3-8)
9. Pine (Pinus cv., Zones 3-9)
10. Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium, Zones 8-11)

1. ‘Campo Azul’ autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis ‘Campo Azul’, Zones 5–8
2. ‘Quink Drops’ lily of the Nile (Agapanthus ‘Quink Drops’, Zones 6-11)
3. Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia, Zones 5–8)
4. ‘Skyracer’ purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea ‘Skyracer’, Zones 5–8)
5. Angel Wings® senecio (Senecio candicans ‘Senaw’, Zones 8-11)
6. Queen Mum™ lily of the Nile (Agapanthus orientalis ‘PMN06’, Zones 8-11)
7. Petite Snow ™ crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Monow’, Zones 6-10)
8. Purple miscanthus (Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’, Zones 5–9)

1. Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima, Zones 6-10)
2. ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, Zones 4–9)
3. ‘Terracotta’ yarrow (Achillea ‘Terracotta’, Zones 3-8)
4. ‘Little Kitten’ miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis* ‘Little Kitten’, Zones 5-9)
5. ‘White Cloud’ muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’, Zones 6-10)
6. ‘Skyracer’ purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea ‘Skyracer’, Zones 5–8)
7. Undaunted® muhly grass (Muhlenbergia reverchonii ‘PUND01S’, Zones 5-9)
8. Guernsey lily (Nerine bowdenii, Zones 8-10)
9. Tassel bush (Garrya × issaquahensis, Zones 7-10)
10. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergia* cv., Zones 4-9)
11. Hardy banana (Musa basjoo, Zones 5-10)

*This plant is considered invasive in certain parts of the U.S.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
- 6.9 pounds
- 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)

Buy at Amazon

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

Buy at Amazon