This spring I added some plants to the bed between our screened in porch and outdoor shower. Because this space is primarily used in the warm season, I focused on landscaping that included deciduous, flowering plants, especially those that tolerate our hot and dry summers. I wanted the space to be dramatic and was ok with most of the plants going dormant in the winter. Leaf color and texture were as important to me as flower color, but I prioritized plants that support hummingbirds and pollinators. Read on to learn about the plants I selected.
Bold foliage – Canna ‘Bengal Tiger’, Hedychium ‘Elizabeth’, and Stachys ‘Helen von Stein’
Flower power – Salvia ‘Arctic Blaze Purple’ and ‘Mirage Salmon’, Vitex ‘Flip Side’
Annuals for extra color – Coleus ‘Gay’s Delight’ and Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum ‘Dark Opal’
The perennials emerged in late spring and have been filling in over the course of the summer. I added in a few summer annuals and the density of the planting has kept weeds and Bermuda grass from taking over. The plants have tolerated both the high heat and drought of early summer, and the significant rain we received recently. I’m looking forward to the fragrant blooms of the Hedychium, but plan to cut the bright orange (not my color) flowers off the Canna when they emerge. Focusing on one season of interest allowed me to create a really dynamic summer display and while we don’t have deer in our yard (thankfully) all these plants are highly deer resistant as well.
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