From coast to coast, you’ll find large swaths of postage-stamp properties, lovingly referred to as cookie-cutter homes, popularized during the 1950s postwar-era housing boom. Located just outside of city centers, these houses have a lot to offer—manageably sized lots within walking distance to urban amenities, just to name a couple. What often irks these property owners, however, is the lack of outdoor living spaces and the missing “wow-factor.” That’s where garden designers like Stacie Crooks come into play. In this feature article from Fine Gardening Issue 220, Stacie explains the process she used to transform a Seattle cookie-cutter property into an outdoor oasis (read more about this garden here). A good deal of credit goes to the alluring and diverse plant palette she used. The following are many of the plants that you’ll see in this eye-catching landscape.

1. ‘Spring Bouquet’ laurel viburnum (Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’, Zones 7–9) *in container
2. ‘Kaleidoscope’ abelia (Abelia × grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’, Zones 6–9)
3. ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Zones 5–9)
4. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, Zones 5–9)
5. Bear’s beeches (Acanthus mollis, Zones 7–10)
6. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9)
7. Golden Spirit ™ smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Ancot’, Zones 5–8b)
8. Rozanne geranium (Geranium ‘Gerwat’, Zones 5–8)
9. Japanese maple
10. ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum atropurpureum ‘Bloodgood’, Zones 5–8)
11. Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’, Zones 3–9)
12. Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Mariesii’, Zones 5–8)
13. ‘Cappuccino’ New Zealand hair sedge (Carex tenuiculmis ‘Cappuccino’, Zones 7–9)
14. ‘Spring Bouquet’ laurel viburnum
15. Vine maple (Acer circinatum, Zones 5–9)

1. ‘Helen von Stein’ lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Helen von Stein’, Zones 4–8)
2. ‘Cappuccino’ New Zealand hair sedge
3. Rozanne geranium
4. ‘Firefly’ heather (Calluna vulgaris ‘Firefly’, Zones 4–9)
5. ‘Valley Cushion’ mugo pine (Pinus mugo ‘Valley Cushion’, Zones 2–7)
6. ‘Hidcote’ English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’, Zones 5–11)
7. David viburnum (Viburnum davidii, Zones 7–9)
8. Rozanne geranium
9. ‘Katsura’ andromeda (Pieris japonica ‘Katsura’, Zones 5–8) *in container
10. Upright Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’, Zones 6–9)
11. ‘Color Guard’ yucca (Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’, Zones 4–10)
12. ‘Lucifer’ crocosmia (Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Zones 5–9)
13. Weeping Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’, Zones 3–8)

1. ‘Helen von Stein’ lamb’s ears
2. ‘Spring Bouquet’ laurel viburnum
3. Rozanne geranium
4. Vine maple
5. ‘Orange Rocket’ barberry (Berberis thunbergii* ‘Orange Rocket’, Zones 4–9)
6. ‘Firefly’ heather
7. ‘Hidcote’ English lavender
8. David viburnum
9. Japanese maple
10. ‘Moon Bay’ heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica* ‘Moon Bay’, Zones 6–9)
11. ‘Cappuccino’ New Zealand hair sedge
12. ‘Firefly’ heather
13. Japanese maple
14. Golden Spirit ™ smoke tree

*This plant can be considered invasive in certain areas of the country.

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