Daily Dose Blogger Bios
Unpacking Box
A reader from the Southeast, Keeganp, needs some serious help. Her boyfriend is boxwood crazy, and it is driving her 'round the bend. She says that all they have in their garden is boxwood - box topiaries, box hedges, box balls ... SHEESH! Although she admits that their garden is beautiful (box is a pretty classy shrub, afterall), she wants more! She wants color! I don't blame her - let's see, how can we sexy up her garden?
Okay- many people will think I'm a fuddy-duddy, but nandinas are absolutely indespensible, and look great with everything. I love Nandina 'Sienna Sunset' and Nandina 'Gulf Stream'. I don't know why they have a questionable reputation - they are great! Who cares if they aren't the 'plant du jour'?
Since box gives plenty of evergreen structure, I think a small deciduous tree in a great color is called for - my favorite - Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', and it works beautifully in the Southeast.
If pumped up color is called for, then Corydalis 'Berry Exciting', with purple flowers and bright yellow gold foliage, is the plant answering that call! I think it would work in the boxwood garden, especially if Euphorbia 'Martinii' is planted nearby.
That's a few to start with - does anyone have other suggestions?
In view of this being a new entry, I'll recomment with addenda.
I'd start with groundcover that stays tidy. (Do you have mostly sun or mostly shade?) Then maybe a flowering tree with lots of structure to satisfy this need of his - like a weeping cherry or peach.
You can also try for color without flowers, like blood grass or zebra grass. He can keep these sheared off flat if he so desires and you'll still have some color and texture.
Honestly I intended no disrespect to Virgo gardeners, because I am one!
I felt Keeganp's husband had a sense of style and structure that's very Virgo in its orderliness. In my case, my Aquarius husband is 'into' plants, so he manages acquisitions, then it tends to be my job placing and arranging them. So maybe that's a model Keeganp can adapt to her yard too, while keeping marital peace.
And I don't like Nandinas. I find them common. I'm sure there are lovely ones, but I prefer to see them in other people's gardens. We all have lists of plants we don't want to invite in, even if they're very rewarding for other gardeners.
Nandinas are so controversial - and I like that! Susa, your taste in plants is impeccable, and you are definately not alone in your dislike for them - and in your post you lead me to another topic I have to write about: common plants. I think it is really interesting to deal with what makes a plant common, and if that is a bad thing - Wait, don't respond to that yet! You have to wait until I write and post, then we can get a nice exchange going.
I think a strong groundcover is the most important part of any garden, don't you? I mean, a garden of shrubs and perennials surrounded by dirt looks unfinished, but a garden of woven together groundcovers looks like a colorful carpet.
What sign would make the worst gardener? Capricorns? Am I opening up a can of worms? (on this blog, all disrespect is unintended - but happily embraced. I can't help it - I love controversy!)
The reason Nandina is controversial is quite simple: It is an invasive species and it is choking out native plants in forests and along creekbeds throughout the southeastern US. Birds eat those lovely red berries and then scatter them to the winds. If you want a truly green garden -- pick another plant.
LMM- the species I suggested are berry-less and therefore, not invasive. And in most of the country, species Nandina domestica doesn't invade - it needs a very specific condition. Please people, before you cut out a valuable plant from your palette, talk to a local designer, or call your local Master Gardener's program, which will give you someone who can answer specific questions as to whether or not a plant will get out of control in your area. Please don't limit your choices because a plant is on somebody's bad guy list. Get more info.
The Germinatrix would never, ever want anyone to plant invasive species in sensitive areas, but I also am flat out against horticultural zenophobia!