Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northwest

See regional picks for tough pretty works , and read the clause by Julie Lane Gray for even more theme .

It ’s important to limit first what I mean by a “ rugged ” works . To my mind , it ’s a plant that will flourish on its own as long as it is planted in a place that provides its basic needs and is return suitable water . It wo n’t recede if it has aggressive neighbors , sound off if it does n’t get rationalize for a yr or two , and necessitate particular intervention in lodge to attend safe . A pretty , hard plant is one that looks more ticklish than it actually is .

1. ‘Fröhnleiten’ epimedium

Name:Epimedium×perralchicum‘Fröhnleiten’

Zones:5–9

Size:12 to 15 inches tall and 8 to 10 feet panoptic in 10 age

Conditions : illumination to partial shade ; well - drained soil

aboriginal stove : Hybrid of European species

‘ Fröhnleiten ’ is an ironclad heirloom ground cover that has stood the test of sentence . Its heart - influence brochure remain fully evergreen , growing in dense , cockeyed patches that exclude nearly every weed . Even though the leaves will look good , clip them down in recent winter to make means for garish , bright yellowish , spidery flowers on short , upright stems that liven up other spring days . As the flowers fade , the new leafage emerges red with burnt lime green veins ; as it suppurate , it change state obscure fleeceable . If grow with some sun , the winter leaf turns deep red . It is very insubordinate to deer browsing and is drought resistant once established .

2. ‘Grace’ smokebush

Name:Cotinus‘Grace’

Size:12 to 18 feet improbable and 8 to 12 ft wide of the mark in 10 age

Conditions : Full sunshine ; moist , well - drained soil

Native range : Hybrid between North American and Asian metal money

This robust large shrub has spectacular leafage . young leave are reddish over-embellished with an strange bluish - green shape . ‘ Grace ’ smokebush is the quintessential cutback shrub . Once it is prove , clip it to 1 to 3 feet tall in late winter to allow vigorous stem to elongate out with lovely rounded leaves . This shrub is heavy for adding structure to the garden in a dramatic agency . If it is appropriate to grow tall , lacey smoke - like pink flowered panicles are formed in midsummer . All of this is followed by keen evenfall color — flaming crimson and fiery orange . It is rarely browsed by cervid and is drouth patient of once established .

3. Black mondo grass

Name:Ophiopogon planiscapus‘Nigrescens’

Zones:6–9

Size:8 to 10 inches tall and 3 to 4 feet wide in 10 years

Conditions : Partial spook ; well - drained soil with occasional watering during juiceless flow

Native range : Japan

This is one of those unforgettable , must - have plants because there is nothing like it . Jet dim strappy farewell are the perfect contrast for almost any other flora . This dull cultivator will not take over , and it take care good as a small clump or a large - scale land cover song . In summertime , short peak capitulum are nestled into the foliage with tiny but cute lavender flowers . By autumn , the flower spikes are transformed into pea plant - sized yield that resemble pitch-dark pearls . An easy grower that is the altitude of elegance , dark mondo grass should be protect from the vivid reflective passion of late good afternoon Dominicus .

4. ‘Kaleidoscope’ abelia

Name:Abelia×grandiflora‘Kaleidoscope’

Size:30 to 36 column inch tall and 3 to 4 feet wide

Conditions : Full sun to open shade ; fecund , well - drained grime

Native Range : Hybrid of Asian species

Flashy leaf on a long - blooming , easy - to - grow compact bush — it sounds unsufferable , yet that is what ‘ Kaleidoscope ’ cede . burnished golden foliage emerge in spring with a deep dark-green splash in the heart . As the foliage matures in summertime , orange and ruddy tones develop ; these fiery colors then predominate in fall and former winter . Pale , pinkish whitened flowers appear in dotted clusters over this low bush from recent leap until early dusk . It naturally grows in a heavyset pitcher , but it is promiscuous to give a light clipping to any isolated branches . periodic tearing during extended dry stop will keep this shrub blooming profusely through summertime .

Richie Steffen is executive manager of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle .

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Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southeast

Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northeast

Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Midwest

Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southwest

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