I have been adding plants for my xeriscaping. Colorado Zone 6a – Semi Arid high-plains
Obviously not everything is mature and as large as it will be but I still feel like I’m missing something.
It’s also later in summer so everything has bloomed for most part.
by Quick-Ostrich2020
3 Comments
Figure out what other stuff blooms late in your area. Rabbitbush maybe? Might be amazing with the Russian Sage. [Yep, a few pictures out there showing such.] Easy to find appealing spring and summer flowers but I’m coming to believe it’s better to plan for a fall flowering garden because young foliage is usually attractive and spring flowering plants are going to sneak in anyway.
Texture. The iris and new zealand flax are a terrific contrast to the fluffy stuff. When it’s time to divide them plant in a strong shape, maybe an oval or curved line to carry them through the entire garden. What other textures can you come up with? I decided to leave a non native myrtle shrub in as a stand in for native coyote bush which is a solid true green blob. Maybe some of the baby plants will provide such in a year or two? Any good sized bunch grasses? They might not be dark green but they are useful blobs.
Time of course. I’m sure some of the little stuff won’t be little next year. Also weed carefully. Some of those plants will seed around and fill in the garden nicely. I have about 100x the gumweed I started with – not sure it’s for the better but loving it at the moment.
Also in Colorado. The two I have in my yard that are awesome late-season bloomers (going strong now and look like they still have a lot of life in them) are Coronado hyssop (I think anything in the Agastache family would work) and Maximilien’s Sunflower.
The hyssop has lovely foliage and looks pretty even before blooming, it smells good, and the hummingbirds and bees love it. The sunflower is awesome but it’s HUGE (mine’s 7 feet tall now and is *covered* in flowers) so plant it in the back if you go that route.
Pic 1 is missing a local native tree or shrub in the center of the planting behind the rock between the irises and whatever that other thing is. Idk about that tree in the background next to your car either. If that’s not native I might drop that sucker and give you’re driveway more access. Looks pretty good tho if you’re going for a more meadow vibe.
Pic 2 has the tree already but needs to be planted a little more densely. Local native shrubs, perennials, and ground covers only for me personally. I love the bird bath. I got one of those little floating solar fountain thingys for mine and the birds love it. Happy planting!