Gardeners Helping Gardeners Succeed

First Impressions

An Entry Garden for Sun

Many of us want something out of the ordinary - a departure from the evergreen foundation shrubs that came to be the standard look for the American front yard. However, since this area is key to the first impression visitors have of your home, something rather elegant and understated is desirable.

This design is an attractive option - a composition of flowers and foliage all tied together by a common color link: white flowers against green foliage. Against an existing evergreen background or one of your choosing, plant several hardy white shrub roses such as ‘Fair Bianca’ or ‘Iceberg’. They will provide summer-long bloom and work beautifully with flowering perennials and elegant ornamental grasses. Best of all, these selections are easy to maintain and require only fertile, well-drained soil, moderate watering, and lots of sunshine.

If the all-white color scheme of the flowers isn’t quite your cup of tea, fell free to substitute more colorful cousins for some of the selections. Just make sure they have the same size and growing habits as the recommended varieties. Plant in groups of three except where indicated.


A	Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' Graceful plants with white flowers borne on wiry stems that move in the wind, Height 36" Durable to -20°F	I	Malva 'Alba' White flowers aplenty from early summer to frost and deeply divided, lightly aromatic light green leaves. Height 36" Durable to -30°F
B	Artemisia 'Powis Castle' Feathery, finely cut foliage that is beautiful in cut-flower arrangements as well as in a mixed border. Height 24-36" Durable to -20°F	J	Miscanthus 'Adagio' Clump-forming ornamental grass with very slender leaf-blades that turn a soft caramel color in winter. Height 36-48" Durable to -20°F
C	Artemisia 'Silver Brocade' Splendid silvery-white stems and foliage that grow in a fairly dense and rounded form. Height 24" Durable to -40°F	K	Pennisetum 'Hameln' Graceful leaves and arching spikes of foxtail-like flower heads. Perfect for groundcover or to soften pathways or rock gardens, Height 12-24" Durable to -20°F
D	Campanula 'White Clips' Forms a mound of bright green foliage covered with an early-summer profusion of white "bells." Height 6-8" Durable to -40°F	L	Phlox'David' Trusses of fragrant pure white flowers, held aloft sturdy stems with thin, oblong leaves, Height 24" Durable to -30°F
E	Delphinium 'Casa Blanca' Low, well-branched and produces white flowers in a delicate, open habit. Seldom needs staking. Height 48" Durable to -40°F	M	Physostegia 'Crown of Snow' A delightful, pristine show of white flowers, whether in the garden or cut for fresh indoor arrangements. Height 24-36" Durable to -40°F
F	Geranium 'Lancastriense' Large, pale pink and red-veined flowers with a backdrop of dissected or lobed leaves. Height 8-10" Durable to -40°F	N	Platycodon 'Mother of Pearl' Large, bell-shaped, pale pink flowers and bluegreen foliage that is "toothed" along the edges. Height 24" Durable to -40°F
G	Lavandula 'Melissa' A sweet English Lavender, with spikes of both pink and white flowers topping a dense clump of silvery blue-gray foliage. Height 12" Durable to -20°F	O	Veronica 'Noah Williams' Long-lasting spikes of flowers and glossy rich green leaves. Height 20-24" Durable to -40°F
H	Liatris 'Floristan White' White flowers on dense spikes atop leafy, erect stems, A pleasing addition to the back of a mixed border. Height 36" Durable to -40°F

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