From coast to coast, you’ll find large swaths of postage-stamp properties, lovingly referred to as cookie-cutter homes popularized during the 1950s post-war 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 complete lack of “wow-factor” that they possess. 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 x 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.