Summer Blooms, Winter Fragrance Within Evergreen Foliage Frame

Low-maintenance, easy-care and looks great year-round! This handsome combo also has a pleasing seasonal flow: winter fragrance, spring-to-summer blooms, and a dash of fall color from the hydrangea, all within a frame of evergreen plants of varied sizes and foliage textures. A finely-textured, lightly variegated grass covers the ground; the dwarf conifer in the middle is a slow-growing bun of rich green foliage and its fine foliage is a nice contrast to the glossy green leaves with a yellow margin of the daphne. A well-timed spring pruning of the hydrangea and gentle snips to control errant growth or excessive size on the conifer and daphne are all that this vignette needs to keep performing and looking its best. This combo can be adapted to a very small space; the bed shown here is approximately 5 feet deep.

If you have difficulty finding Carex conica 'Snowline', sub in Carex oshiomensis 'Everest' or Carex oshiomensis 'Evergold' — if you do, leave a bit more space between them as they're larger plants. 


Growing Conditions

Zone: 7, 8, 9
Exposure: Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Part Shade, Part Sun, Full Sun
Water Needs: Average

Design Considerations

Style: City and Courtyard, Northwest Eclectic
Features: Romantic Cool Colors, Fabulous Foliage, Four Season Appeal, Fragrance, Low Maintenance, Winter Interest
Focus: Year-round Interest, Curb Appeal, Mixed Border, Pleasing Seasonal Flow, Small Space, Efficient Use of Space
Seasons of Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Year-round Interest, Pleasing Seasonal Changes, Three Seasons of Interest

Care and Maintenance


Maintenance Level: low



Plants In this Combo