Easily Growd Almost Anywhere

Got a challenging spot in your garden? You’re not alone. I’ve never encountered a landscape that didn’t have at least one area that was difficult to grow plants. Mine is a highly visible spot on the corner of my house, which experiences a wide range of extremes during the growing season.

When it rains, water from hardscape and gutters pools in this area, temporarily becoming incredibly wet. This is where the basement sump pump outlet is located. Western sunlight hits nearby walls and paths, and the resulting reflected heat keeps this area warmer than the surrounding garden even into the night. The soil is compacted from previous construction projects, and there are inches of rocks and gravel from a former deck pad. In addition, this area has received decades of road-salt contamination.

1. Bluestar is a visual delight, resplendent with blue spring flowers and yellow fall color

Amsonia tabernemontana var. Illustris

Shining Bluestar is sure to be a garden powerhouse with its ability to adapt to most conditions and three consistent seasons of interest. The plant emerges in late spring with elegant emerald shoots adorned with clusters of sky-blue flowers. This species in particular is known for being covered in blue for several weeks. The flowers are then replaced by emerald-green, glossy leaves that eventually form a dense mound. In the fall the entire plant turns a glossy, vivid yellow and will hold its leaves until a hard frost (infusion). As the plants age, they can be cut back in half immediately after flowering to prevent reseeding and keep the plant small. A favorite of large bumblebees, Shining Bluestar also attracts butterflies while being inedible to herbivores. Plant it in a perennial border as a specimen, or scatter it through a lawn or cottage garden for a stunning display in spring and bright golden clouds of foliage in fall. Native to moist clayey meadows, prairies, and marshes, this plant thrives in most soil types and adapts to a variety of moisture levels. Try it in areas that are too moist for other perennials.

2. White sage provides attractive silvery foliage for dry and sloping sites

Artemisia ludoviciana and CVS

With common names such as "white sage" and "silver wormwood," this plant is one of the best choices for adding sparkle to the garden. Easy to grow in most locations, this clump-forming perennial emerges in spring with upright stems of gray, finely textured leaves. The aromatic leaves don't like to be pruned and can be pruned to keep the plant in the desired shape. The silver color comes from the dense, fuzzy hairs on the surface of the leaves, which make the entire plant soft to the touch (a great feature near paths). The flowers are attractive but not showy, in small, lime-green to yellow clusters. A low-maintenance plant that will eventually become a ground cover, white sage can even tolerate being cut back. Try to find dwarf or well-behaved garden varieties of white sage, such as Garden Ghost™, 'Silver King' or 'Valerie Finnis', as some selections are considered aggressive. Native to dry slopes and dry meadows, it is a great choice for erosion control, covering steep hillsides or for a layered effect on walls and terraces.

3. Soft Blue Aster Provides a Late-Season Feast for Eyes and Pollinators

Symphyotrichum laev

It would be a shame to talk about adaptable native perennials without mentioning at least one aster. Soft blue aster is distributed throughout most of North America, making it an easy, low-maintenance addition to almost any garden. Growing as a clump of green leaves, this plant is a nondescript mound from mid-summer to mid-autumn, with slender branches bearing dozens of flowers that bloom upward in late summer/early fall until frost. The blue-purple, daisy-like flowers are about an inch across. The peak blooms are perfect as fall color begins to develop in the rest of the garden, beautifully complementing the usual yellows, oranges, and reds. The plant itself has soft, glossy foliage with leathery leaves. Its dry seed pods are food for many types of birds, and the nectar feeds many pollinators at the end of the season. Rhizomes Spreading in a clump, this long-lived perennial allows it to expand a little each year. Native to meadows, woodland edges, and open forests, the delicate blue aster performs well in most garden conditions.

4. Thin Mountain Mint Adds Interesting Texture to Beds and Borders

Pycnanthemum tenufolium

An incredibly versatile perennial, thin mountain mint is a tough-as-nails option for the perennial border, cottage garden, and landscape that is ideal for pollinators. Covered in small white flowers for most of the summer, this plant is often seen as a blanket by native bees and butterflies. It emerges in spring with dense, needle-like, dark green leaves that begin to cluster by mid-summer. These interesting leaves also have a pleasant fragrance. Spreading by rhizomes and seeds over time, thin mountain mint can benefit from being cut back late in the season to prevent self-seeding. It naturalizes well and provides a beautiful backdrop and texture for the rest of the garden. This plant tolerates anything from wet to dry, but may be flexible in areas with high humidity or shade. It is believed that rubbing the leaves on the skin may provide some mosquito repellent properties. From dry grasslands to open woodlands to low-lying moist areas, this perennial thrives almost anywhere.

5. Self-healing makes an excellent ground cover, so tough you can even walk on it

Prunella vulgaris and CVS

Native to almost all parts of North America, this plant may already be growing in your garden and you may not even know it. One of the most adaptable native perennials, self-healing produces tight clumps of green leaves, sometimes forming carpets. It blooms profusely in mid-summer with white to lavender blooms, remaining sparse until frost. Fragrant when brushed, self-healing was originally named for its use in treating various ailments. It is a favorite of bumblebees and butterflies. This beautiful, slow-growing ground cover tolerates mowing and foot traffic, and is a great option for growing between walkways or in borders. Deadhead to prevent self-seeding. The leaves can take on red and purple hues in fall; some varieties may even be semi-evergreen. A favorite self-healing variety with purple flowers and a compact, ground-hugging habit is 'Magdalena', while 'Variegata' is a unique specimen plant with variegated leaves.