When you garden with a matrix-style design, different plants can play different roles in the landscape. Here are some ideas to get your designs going.
Planting plan details
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Matrix plants
- Bloody geranium (Geranium sanguineum and cvs., Zones 3–9)
- Lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantina and cvs., Zones 4–8)
- Moor grass (Molinia spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9)
- Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa, Zones 4–9)
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense, Zones 4–6)
Primary plants
- ‘Chocolate’ white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’, Zones 4–9)
- Globe thistle (Echinops spp. and cvs., Zones 3–8)
- ‘Jindai’ tatarian aster (Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’, Zones 4–8)
- ‘Matrona’ sedum (Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’, Zones 3–9)
- Siberian iris (Iris sibirica cvs., Zones 3–8)
Photo: Michelle Gervais
Scatter plants
- Blazing star (Liatris spicata and cvs., Zones 3–9)
- Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum and cvs., Zones 3–9)
- ‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’, Zones 4–9)
- Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina, Zones 3–8)
- ‘Sun King’ aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’, Zones 3–9)
More on naturalistic gardens:
- A Naturalistic Garden Is Better for the Environment and Requires Less Work
- Plants for a Layered-Style Garden
- Thomas Rainer and Piet Oudolf on Naturalistic Gardens
Steve Aitken is editor at large.
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