Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 74: Short Plants Are Better

Episode 74: Short Plants are Better
The pair discusses why short plants are important to good design and exactly what dimensions qualify a plant as “short.” The list includes some shrubs, some perennials, and plenty of options for multiple seasons of interest.
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      Video by Danielle Sherry & Steve Aitken, Edited by Kara Demos

      Danielle was convinced that this was HER episode, considering she’s shorter than Steve. But it turns out that Steve had a lot of great short plants to talk about on this episode too. The pair discusses why short plants are important to good design and exactly what dimensions qualify a plant as “short.” The list includes some shrubs, some perennials, and plenty of options for multiple seasons of interest. After all, if you put a plant front and center, don’t you want it to look good for as long as possible?

       

      Expert testimony: Susan Morrison, owner of Creative Exteriors Landscape Design in the East Bay region of Northern California

       

      Steve’s plants

      Wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys, Zones 4–9)

      ‘Little Goldstar’ black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sulivantii ‘Little Goldstar’, Zones 4–10)

      ‘Georgia Pancake’ amsonia (Amsonia ciliata var. filifolia ‘Georgia Pancake’, Zones 5–9)

      ‘Quicksilver’ Chinese wild ginger (Asarum splendens ‘Quicksilver’, Zones 6–9)

       

      Danielle’s plants

      ‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’, Zones 4–9)

      ‘Mini Skirt’ hosta (Hosta ‘Mini Skirt’, Zones 3–9)

      ‘Sandy Claws’ epimedium (Epimedium wushanense ‘Sandy Claws’, 6–8)

      Burly Blue™ juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘MonOliver’, Zones 3–8)

       

      Expert’s plants

      Baby Bliss flax lily (Dianella revoluta ‘DTN03’, Zones 7–11)

      ‘Koi’ geum (Geum coccineum ‘Koi’, Zones 5–7)

      ‘Kent Beauty’ ornamental oregano (Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’, Zones 5–8)

       

      Plants

      Wall germander
      Wall germander
      ‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod
      ‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod

       

      ‘Georgia Pancake’ amsonia
      ‘Georgia Pancake’ amsonia

       

      ‘Quicksilver’ Chinese wild ginger
      ‘Quicksilver’ Chinese wild ginger

       

      ‘Sandy Claws’ epimedium (credit: Walters Gardens Inc.)
      ‘Sandy Claws’ epimedium. Photo: Walters Gardens Inc.
      ‘Mini Skirt’ hosta
      ‘Mini Skirt’ hosta. Photo: Walters Gardens Inc.

       

      ‘Little Goldstar’ black-eyed Susan
      ‘Little Goldstar’ black-eyed Susan

       

      Burly Blue™ juniper
      Burly Blue™ juniper

       


      Expert pick

      Susan Morrison: expert testimony (credit: Susan Morrison)
      Photo: Susan Morrison

       

       

      Expert testimony: Susan Morrison, owner of Creative Exteriors Landscape Design in the East Bay region of Northern California.

      ‘Kent Beauty’ ornamental oregano
      ‘Kent Beauty’ ornamental oregano

       

      ‘Koi’ geum
      ‘Koi’ geum
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