I'm gaga for gardens; a flower floozy; a hortiholic—or however you'd like to characterize someone who takes great joy in sleuthing out their next plant acquisition. But I'm open to a wide range of possibilities when it comes to selecting plants for my home garden or client gardens. The longer I've been gardening, the more I've come to believe that some of the best garden plants can be very common and/or widely-grown.
However, it's not uncommon to hear longtime gardeners dismissively declare that they dislike a particular plant, accusing it of being pedestrian, old-fashioned, ubiquitous, or unimaginative. I beg to differ. Common plants are typically common because they are easy to grow and easy to use successfully. They’re doers—reliable and trustworthy, and they’ve been around forever. And yes, it's easy to find lots examples of them being grown poorly and/or in uninteresting ways. But I challenge the assertion that these are "bad" plants and suggest instead that they just need the right partner to bring out their best qualities.
advertisement
Like a carefully assembled ensemble cast, a successful planting vignette is a result of the combined effect of the selected individuals, stronger together than each alone. Even a common, ubiquitous plant can be elevated by its association with a complementary partner—each player adding its perfectly-timed contribution of foliage, flower, fragrance, or other pleasing attribute. Paired with a more engaging partner, a ho-hum plant can be energized, updated and given a modern makeover, and before you know it—voila! You have a plant combo worth growing.
Browse the eGardenGo web app for creative planting combinations that rely on common, easy-to-grow plants such as coneflowers, hardy geraniums, fountain grass, hosta, and more!
advertisement
GORGEOUS GARDEN SCENES CREATED WITH COMMON PLANTS
COMMON PLANTS ARE OFTEN THE BEST PLANTS
Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'
Kaleidoscope Abelia
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Morning Sun, Part Shade, Part Sun
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9
Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
Hybrid Hyssop
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9
Aster x frikartii 'Monch'
Frikart's Aster
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Rocket'
Orange Rocket Barberry
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Bergenia cordifolia 'Winter Glow'
Pigsqueak
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Variegated Siberian Bugloss
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
FEATHER REED GRASS
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9
Carex testacea
Orange Sedge
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like, Groundcover, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat, Morning Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Vintage Gold'
Vintage Gold Threadleaf False Cypress
Type:
Conifer, Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Choisya ternata 'Sundance'
Sundance Mexican Orange
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Afternoon Sun, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'
threadleaf coreopsis
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
Purple Smokebush
Type:
Shrub, Tree
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
Brilliance Autumn Fern
Type:
Fern, Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
Elijah Blue Fescue
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Gaillardia grandiflora 'Arizona Red Shades'
Blanket Flower
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Geranium 'Gerwat' Rozanne
Rozanne Hardy Geranium
Type:
Groundcover, Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
Gold Variegated Japanese forest grass
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like
Exposure:
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Heuchera 'Amethyst Myst'
Amethyst Myst Coral Bells
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hosta 'June'
June Plantain Lily
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
Panicle Hydrangea
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Blue Star Juniper
Type:
Conifer, Shrub
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
Hidcote English Lavender
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'
Shasta Daisy
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
Japanese Silver Grass
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream'
Compact Heavenly Bamboo
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9
Nasella tennuissima
Mexican Feather Grass, Pony Tails
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like, Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
10, 6, 7, 8, 9
Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'
Walker's Low Catmint
CATNIP
NEPETA X FAASSENII 'WALKER'S LOW'
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Reflected Heat, Full Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Black Mondo Grass
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'
Variegated False Holly
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Afternoon Sun, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Dwarf Fountain Grass
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun
Zone:
10, 11, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Pieris japonica 'Little Heath'
Little Heath Lily of the Valley
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
Black-eyed Susan
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'
Caradonna Sage
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
Autumn Joy Stonecrop
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
10, 11, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Spiraea japonica 'Walbuma'
MAGIC CARPET® Japanese spirea
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Morning Sun, Part Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Viburnum davidii
David's Viburnum
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Yucca filamentosa 'Golden Sword'
Golden Sword Variegated Yucca
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Shade, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
PLANT COMBOS THAT RELY ON COMMON PLANTS
Colorful Foliage Anchors This Plant Combination
Zone:
7, 8
Exposure:
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun
Evergreen Foliage Combo for Year Round Good Looks
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Exposure:
Full Sun, Morning Sun, Part Shade, Part Sun, Full Sun
Evergreen Foliage Vignette with Red Astilbe
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Exposure:
Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Morning Sun, Part Shade, Part Sun, Full Sun
Four-season Foliage Garden for Front Yard
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Exposure:
Open Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Part Shade, Part Sun
Low Maintenance, High-Impact Front Yard Garden
Zone:
6, 7, 8
Exposure:
Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Morning Sun, Part Shade, Part Sun
Sun-Loving Combination with Zippy Foliage & Flower
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun
