A planting plan for a mature garden makeover

Find out which plants were used in the long border in the article. How to Make Changes in a Mature Garden:

“It was a difficult decision, but last spring I cut back some of the larger trees in hopes of regaining my full sun border and bringing the plantation back to scale. Each tree left a large hole, though. , but I knew that the existing sun-loving perennials and shrubs would eventually fill in. In the meantime, I planned to fill the void with annuals that grow tall and wide, like flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestrisannual) and ‘Amisted’ sage (Salvia ‘Amistad’, zones 9–11). I plan to add some more shrubs for structure and easy maintenance.”

See more of this garden here.

Pruning the bushes back keeps the plants proportional. (pictured above)

1. Tiger Eyes® Sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Beltiger’, zones 3-8)
2. ‘Tardiva’ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea Panculata ‘Tardiva’, zones 3–8).
3. ‘New Zealand Purple’ castor bean (Ricinus communis ‘New Zealand Purple’, zones 9-11)
4. ‘Bronze Beauty’ heuchera (Heuchera villosa (‘Bronze Beauty’, Zones 4-9)
5. Rabbit tail grass (Lagorus sporeszones 8-10).
6. ‘Profusion Apricot’ zinnia (Xenia ‘Perfusion Apricot’, annual)
7. ‘Blue Dwarf’ Japanese Larch (Larix campfirei (‘Blue Dwarf’, Zones 4-8)
8. ‘Tinkerbell’ flowering tobacco (Nicotiana ‘Tinker Bell’, annual).
9. The princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa*, zones 5-8).
10. Mystic Illusion Dahlia. (The dahlia ‘Knockout’, Zones 8-11)
11. ‘Golden Spirit’ smoky bush. (Kotense Kogegria (‘Golden Spirit’, Zones 4-10)
12. ‘Burgundy Spice’ Sweet Shrub. (Callicanthus floridus ‘Burgundy Spice’, zones 6-9)
13. A variety of bulbous oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius var Bulbosum ‘Variegatum’, Zones 4-9)
14. Summer Wine® Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Seward’, zones 3-7).

A slow-growing tree in a sunny border

1. ‘Profusion Apricot’ zinnia (Xenia ‘Perfusion Apricot’, annual)
2. ‘Purple’ Globe Amaranth (Gomphrina globosa ‘Purple’, annual).
3. ‘Standing Ovation’ Small Bluestem (Schizacherium scoparium (‘Standing Ovation’, Zones 3-9)
4. ‘Tinkerbell’ flowering tobacco (Nicotiana ‘Tinker Bell’, annual).
5. ‘Autumn Moon’ Full Moon Maple (Essar Sheeraswanam ‘Autumn Moon’, Zones 5-7)
6. ‘Royal Purple’ Smoky Shrub. (Kotense Kogegria ‘Royal Purple’, Zones 4-8)
7. Nettle-leaved mullein (Verbascum chaixiizones 5–8).
8. Yellow catalpa (Catalpa ovatazones 4–8).

Dramatic editing brings in more light.

1. ‘Limelight’ Panicle Hydrangea. (Hydrangea Panculata (‘Limelight’, zones 3-8).
2. Variegated Roadleaf Sage (Carex siderosticha ‘Variegata’, Zones 4-9)
3. Paperbark Maple (Acer griseumzones 4–8).
4. Small globe thistle (Echinops rhytrozones 3–8).
5. Floral tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestrisper annum)
6. ‘Fazl’ smoky bush. (Kotense Kogegria ‘Grace’, zones 4-10).
7. ‘Ogon’ Spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogun’, Zones 4-8)
8. Snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginatazones 3–11).
9. ‘Purple’ Globe Amaranth (Gomphrina globosa ‘Purple’, annual).
10. ‘Profusion Apricot’ zinnia (Xenia ‘Perfusion Apricot’, annual)
11. Sea cabbage (Crambe maritima(zones 5-9)
12. Xenia ‘Benry’s Giant Salmon Rose’ (Xenia elegans ‘Benry’s Giant Salmon Rose’, annual)
13. ‘Gateway’ Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum ‘Gateway’, zones 4-8).
14. The princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa*, zones 5-8).
15. ‘Goldflame’ Japanese Spirea (Spiraea japonica (‘Gold Flame’, Zones 4-8)
16. ‘Blue Star’ Juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, Zones 4-8)
17. ‘Tardiva’ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea Panculata ‘Tardiva’, zones 3–8).
18. ‘New Zealand Purple’ castor bean (Ricinus communis ‘New Zealand Purple’, zones 9-11)

*Caution Warning:

princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

This plant is considered invasive in AL, CT, GA, IN, KY, ME, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, and WV.

See invasiveplantatlas.org For more information.