Pratt LD Plants!
I take pictures of plants on the reg so I decided I’m going to start turning my weekly photos into a reel on Instagram AND a blog post. Win-win. It’ll be a great way for you to find something new, gain some plant knowledge and get a behind-the-scenes at the plants I use regularly in my area in my designs.
Hope you like it!
Here’s a breakdown of what I snapped this week:
Pink Jasmine - does well with afternoon shade, smells even better than your standard star jasmine, definitely not as hardy but worth it if you have a space for it. People have started using/touting them as houseplants, but I haven’t had luck with that yet and they’re a freaking mess inside. Be advised.
Hydrangea - definitely needs afternoon shade and a lot more water than most! This hydrangea “hedge” is sheltered by an exterior wall, under the shade of mature Magnolia’s at #everythingscominguprosens so they’ll be ok, but you don’t want to plant these in our valley heat with any afternoon sun exposure. Remember, we are a desert, and hydrangeas are not desert plants. Plan(t) accordingly! 😜
Iceberg Roses - this rose is in my top ten list of #bulletproofplants. They can take a beating and still bloom beautifully from spring to fall. I use them ALL THE TIME and you’ll see them used commercially (parking lots, medians, office parks, actual parks, etc) for their easy care everywhere you look. **HOT TIP: anytime a plant performs well in commercial settings you can bet it’ll do great in your yard. If you’re looking for the lowest maintenance options, typically you can count on the commercial projects in your area giving you a hint at what those plants would be.**
Blueberries - typically need a little shelter and shade in our area, but do really well potted. Blueberries can be finicky with soil (just like hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and azaleas) as they need acidity which can be hard to accomplish sometimes. I tend to plant them all together for ease of care and practicality. When you have to buy acidic soil amendment it’s easier to control those levels in a set space than in scattered spots all around the yard. These blueberries are along the same wall as the hydrangeas and as such can be treated at the same time, in the same place. #practicalfunctionalbeautiful
Acanthus - this old school stunner is great for filling in shady corners or spots under mature trees. I absolutely love the blooms and the deep green large leafed foliage. She’s a beaut. Be aware that she’ll spread quickly, so stay ahead of keeping her cut back from the roots if you don’t have space for her to sprawl. Luckily, our summers get so dry and hot here that you don’t have to worry too much about invasiveness, as long as you don’t over water. No afternoon sun for her, either.
Asparagus - if you follow me, you know of my recent love affair with all things asparagus. (I have a highlight bubble with the whole process from last year till now, check it out!) I’m currently growing this Mary Washington variety in our backyard and I can’t get enough of it. I’m all about adding “edibles” (not those kind… 😜) into my landscape designs. If you’re going to grow things, you might as well add in things you can eat! I grew up gardening and have always had something growing wherever we’ve lived, so it’s only natural for me to take that knowledge and add it into landscape design. Citrus trees are evergreen and gorgeous with scented blossoms and fruit! Asparagus make great poolside plants with their luscious ferns once harvesting is over. I love it all. Edibles will always have a place in my designs if people are open to growing them.
Redbud - Redbud trees are another of my favorites to use, especially here in the Central Valley. They are dainty looking but tough and offer an array of colors and variegation, as well as upright or weeping forms. They’re deciduous, but not messy, the spring blooms are bright and beautiful, and the leaves are large and uniquely shaped for a smaller scale tree. Almost all are low water users…add this to your list of trees to try! I caught this one while we were at dinner the other night and after my research, my best guess is ‘Carolina Sweetheart’, but if you think otherwise, let me know in the comments!
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass - I’m growing this in my backyard and it’s another one in my top ten list. I love the size and shape of it, I love how it changes throughout the seasons. It has to be cut back in late winter/early spring, as it is a perennial grass, but the rest of the year I leave it be. One and done, straight cut across for a nice little flattop…military style. After that, it grows to about 3’ tall and stays this bright gorgeous green until summer, and then the tall wheaty fronds come out and mine last year were all between 5-6’ tall. It was so fun to watch. They flow and sway in the breeze and create a great screen.
That’s it! Hope you enjoyed this first round of #prattldplants …much more to come! 😉