The Natural Garden: Plant Perfect Perennials

One of my favorite gardening designs consists of the naturalistic garden. This type of garden not only incorporates the use of trees and shrubs, but wildflowers and native grasses as well, along with a variety of perennial plants that can blend in quite nicely. An added bonus with a natural garden is the fact that you can easily transform this into a garden for all seasons.

It doesn’t take a genius to design a natural garden; however, some planning beforehand might be wise. First, become familiar with the different types of native plants that may already be growing on your property. This will make it easier when you begin choosing additional flowers for the garden as it gives you an idea of the types of plants that thrive in your particular location. You always want to ensure that any chosen plant will flourish in its new environment as well as complement the surrounding landscape. Creating a natural perennial garden that is full of seasonal interest from spring through winter entails the simple planning and placement of long-lasting bloomers with an array of foliage plants as well as the occasional focal point for further interest. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area surrounded by woodlands, this type of garden will look right at home.

Try not to overlook the plant’s leaves when choosing perennials for a natural garden. While flowers make the garden intense with color, the foliage can provide impressive contrast and texture. This additional interest draws attention to the area, inviting others into the garden for a closer look, especially during non-blooming periods. However, if you carefully select plants with various flowering seasons and incorporate them alongside other foliage plants, there will always be something continually in bloom. When it comes to foliage plants, there are many to choose from. Some of my personal favorites include ferns, hostas, and liriope mixed with bluebells and Siberian iris; Artemisia intermingled with asters and purple coneflowers; or lamb’s ear planted next to sedum and a variety of iris.