To keep distinct themes and moods around the garden, I tend not to repeat specific plants in different sections. (Roses might be an exception, with so many colors and varieties to choose from.) But there are a few plant and flower traits I'm drawn to again and again and they repeat throughout the beds.
VARIEGATED LEAVES
I love plants with variegated leaves. They provide contrast and brighten otherwise monotone beds. I have them everywhere, but I try not to overdo it by planting different varieties too near each other.
Two evergreens--variegated English Holly will have red berries for Christmas &
Pittosporum Tobira, a gray-green that makes a wonderful filler in arrangements.
Two deciduous shrubs--Weigelia Mor-colourful, with wands of pink blooms in spring &
bush Dogwood Ivory Halo, with insignificant blooms but striking red branches in winter.
Two woodland favorites--Hosta Patriot & Brunnera Jack Frost with forget-me-not-like flowers.
Favorite deciduous ground covers--Bishop's Weed spreads every year &
Daphni's Masterwort comes back bigger and better each year.
I also like multi-tone leaves. Above--commonly called Chameleon plant--a very invasive ground cover that I still can't resist & Redbud tree Carolina Sweetheart with pink spring flowers along the branches, but most appealing, a beautiful array of leaf colors.
QUEEN ANN'S LACE & LOOK-ALIKES
I have two favorite flowers structures that I've repeated in various forms throughout the garden. The first are flat, lacy white flowers.
Bishop's FLOWER (Queen Ann’s Lace family) is a roadside weed in much of Oregon,
but I've actually seeded it because I love the ferny stalks, wispy flower heads and showy seed balls.
Bishop's WEED (also in the Queen Ann’s Lace family) & Daphni's Masterwort.
Both, listed above for their variegated leaves, also have lacy flowers--
which makes them double favorites!
White Finch Lace is a small annual that I seed. It hasn't been the successful filler I'd hoped.
ANEMONES
My other flower favorite is Anemones--many different varieties. I especially love Japanese Anemones blowing in the breeze of late summer and fall. But spring blooming snowdrop and windflower varieties are also favorites. And woodland anemones and snow poppies (similar to anemones in flower) are delicate and lovely.
White Anemone Sylvestris spreads slowly, but reliably,
while brilliant pink Sylvestris Spring Beauty unfortunately doesn't spread.
Petite Wood Anemones only reach about six inches. I've only found seeds, which haven't taken well. But these taller Canada Anemones self-seeded eagerly.
Japanese anemones are common and floriferous fall bloomers.
Pink Fantasy Jasmine and September Charm mingle at the cottage.
White Andrea Atkinson and tall Honore Jobert happily overtake other beds.
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