February 7, 2012

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Star-Spangled Banner
A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE
 
One great way to show your spirit is to create a festive garden that celebrates the colors of the American flag. The corner in this design may represent the corner of the house, and the forward line may be the edge of a driveway or patio. Or, the design could be split into two corner or triangular plantings. Grouping red in the front, white in the middle, and blue in the distance gives an illusion of greater space. The floral display will begin with the red 'Cardinal' and blue 'Blue Bird' Aquilegias along with the white Iberis 'Snowflake'. Before these end, others will bloom in a parade of red, white, and blue throughout the summer. The butterflies that will visit the flowers of the white Buddleia will provide sparks of other colors from late spring until frost. Give them a sunny location and soil high in organic matter with good drainage, and you will have your own floral fireworks all summer long.
a. Aquilegia 'Cardinal'
Height 24", Spacing 12-18".
j. Iberis 'White'
Height 8-10", Spacing 12-18".
b. Dianthus 'Arctic Fire'
Height 8-12", Spacing 12-15".
k. Veronica 'Icicle'
Height 20-24", Spacing 12-18".
c. Dianthus 'Frosty Fire'
Height 4", Spacing 12-15".
l. Aquilegia 'Blue Bird'
Height 24", Spacing 12-18".
d. Geum 'Mrs. J. Bradshaw'
Height 24", Spacing 18-24".
m. Campanula 'Birch Hybrid'
Height 6-8", Spacing 10-15".
e. Penstemon 'Scarlet Queen'
Height 24", Spacing 15-18".
n. Campanula 'Joan Elliott'
Height 15-18", Spacing 12-18".
f. Tanacetum 'Red'
Height 24", Spacing 12-18".
o. Delphinium 'Bellamosum'
Height 36-48", Spacing 18-24".
g. Buddleia 'Nanho White'
Height 5-6', Spacing 5-6'.
p. Lavandula 'Martha Roderick'
Height 12-18", Spacing 15-18".
h. Delphinium 'MF Pure White'
Height 36", Spacing 15-18".
q. Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'
Height 18", Spacing 12-15".
i. Echinacea 'White Swan'
Height 36", Spacing 15-18".
r. Veronica 'Blue Carpet'
Height 18", Spacing 12-18".
This garden includes 48 plants of 18 cultivars. Substitutions of similar plants may be made if some varieties are not available.
 
Show Plant List
helpful hints
  • By eliminating or substituing for the Buddleia, Lavender, and Penstemon, this garden can be a Zone 4 collection. Substituting for the Geum 'Mrs. J. Bradshaw' will make this garden a Zone 3 collection.
  • Plant this design against a sunny corner of the house or along the borders of a walkway.
  • Add in flowering shrubs such as Red Hybrid Azaleas, White Spirea, or White or Red Meidiland shrub Roses to intensify your star-spangled display.
  • Plant the Delphiniums at a spacing closer than recommended, and they will support each other all season without the use of stakes.
Credits: Etera Perennial Guide, Vol. 1, 1999
 

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