Native Garden Bed for Sun: Blues, Dusky Reds and Oranges

Another fine example courtesy of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.!

Button Bush in August

The National Cathedral is adding lots of natives and the plantings are exquisite. This bed in full sun is of a scale that could work perfectly in a home garden. A mix of shrubs, grasses, perennials and one oak tree is coming to full fruition in August. Native gardens around the Virginia Mae Center were designed by Sandy Flowers, the former Director of Horticulture and Grounds at the National Cathedral. This garden bed on the west side of the Virginia Mae Center includes flowers but really relies on contrasting foliage and textures for its wow factor.

Grasses & Sedges

Bunny blue sedge (Carex laxiculmis 'HOBB Bunny Blue') adds blue hues and short wispy texture. The straight species blue sedge (Carex glaucodea) is similar. These sedges typically thrive in moist shade and the more sun they get, the more moisture they will need. This is an easy to grow sedge that clumps and spreads. There is also a thinner leaved sedge here which may be creek or narrow leaf sedge (Carex amphibola).

The taller grass really making a statement is switchgrass 'Purple Tears' (Panicum virgatum 'Purple Tears), a cultivar of straight species switchgrass. Switchgrass grows in sun or part sun and a range of moisture conditions from dry to moist. Using a cultivar that accents the reddish hues of the planting and combining the grass with shrubs and a limited number of perennials keeps the planting very cohesive. Using larger grasses in neater ways can be a challenge but here it is done beautifully!

Perennial Flowers

The main perennial in this planting is a cultivar of penstemon (Penstemon digitalis), Dakota™ burgundy (Penstemon digitalis 'Dakota™ burgundy'). Penstemon digitalis'Husker Red' is another commonly available cultivar of penstemon with reddish stems. The staying power of the seed heads and foliage well after blooms have faded really adds the burgundy hues to this garden bed. All of these self seed fairly readily.

The feathery foliage of bluestar (Amsonia hubrictii) is another significant color and texture contrast and sets off the reddish hues to great effect. Adding amsonia to a bed is a great way to get contrast with no extra work required. This perennials stays fresh looking all summer long nad has that great yellow fall color.

Shrubs

buttonbush

panicle hydrangea

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) adds the orange in August. These seedheads can't be missed. The National Cathedral uses two cultivars of buttonbush 'Sugar Shack®' and 'Magical® Moonlight,' both of which are smaller than the straight species which can grow upwards of 10 feet. I am not sure which this is but any buttonbush is sure to work.

Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is the second pronounced shrub in this planting. Native to Asia, these types of hydrangeas bloom in August. One could also used oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), native to the southeast U.S. Oakleaf flowers typically turn brown at this time of year but I am not sure it would make a difference to this planting.

A mix of other smaller culitvars of shrubs including a dwarf summersweet (Clethra alnifolia 'Sugartina® Crystallina') fill in between the statement plants.

The Total Picture

It all comes together in a planting that has lots of interest, contrast in textures and looks full but not crazy wild. To me. it strikes the perfect balance. If there was any question about penstemon reseeding, I think this photo answers that!

Happy Gardening.