In observance of Garden Blogger Bloom Day*, I present the most photogenic spot in my garden, and it’s that most public of them all – the curb garden. This combination of beautyberrry and Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ just blows me away. Here’s a close-up.
- Sedum
- Beautyberry (Callicarpa)
- Miscanthus sinensus ‘Morning Light’
- Caryopteris
- Hardy begonia
- Japanese anemone
- Aster
- Blush ‘Knockout’ rose, photo below.
And just how sustainable are they?
Here’s what resources it takes to keep these plants alive and looking good.
- Sedum and Miscanthus are super-drought-tolerant and require no care except for chopping them down in early spring. Also, the sedum needs to be divided every three years or so or it’ll flop.
- Caryopteris, hardy begonia, Japanese anemone and asters are of average to good drought-tolerance and get no care from me except for their yearly pruning. Only problem is with the asters, which have looked awfully crappy for two years running now. Last year I thought the culprit was drought but this year, with plenty of rain, I just don’t get it. Some undiagnosed disease? (Here’s a post and photo – any ideas?)
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Knockout roses, also of average drought tolerance, are disease-resistant enough to still have great-looking foliage now in October, so they’re FAR more sustainable than most roses. They also don’t require deadheading. As for fertilizer, in their first year in my garden they bloomed heavily until December with no fertilizer at all from yours truly, though I’m experimenting with a dose of Rosetone a couple times a year to see if it makes a difference..
*Why a day early? Coz tomorrow is Blog Action Day!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I grow new england asters and love them becuse of the many insects to be found on the blooms. Most will get woody and rangey, with most flowers towards the ends.
One solution is to let the plants get a couple of feet tall and cut the whole mass back by half. It will bush out,flower heavy and hide any mildewy foliage.
Option two (and both options can and are used here often). Just pull up any old plants and let a few new ones grow.
I let huge spaces of asters grow each year. They are the one plant I always cut back after all blooms have finished instead of waiting for spring. It seems to help.
Pushed submit to soon. The Beautyberry and the sedum are very pretty together.The low ground cover enhances the setting. Great streetside planting!
I think that is a ‘genius’ combination! Well done.
Great parking strip garden! I have a little blog all about those, in case you’re ever interested. Here in Seattle, there are many folks who have decided to plant in this area, and the variety is wonderful. Plenty of sedums but I’ve yet to see one paired with beautyberry. Genius!
- Karen
http://greenwalks.wordpress.com
PS My asters look awful right now too, foliage is very spotty. Wonder what it is??
I love the beautyberrry and sedum companion planting, a combo I just might have to incorporate somewhere (the front bed?) in my gardens.