As summer flowers fade, the shapes and colors of foliage become more noticeable. A few carefully chosen plants can give a border more definition, soften the edge of a walkway, or bring color to a container. Start with one area you would like to improve and consider what kind of plant would make the difference. The five selections from Sunset® Plant Collection below offer distinct forms and colors, and all have low water needs once established.
Begin with Coolvista™ Dianella
If a border needs more definition, Coolvista™ Dianella is a natural place to start. Its fine, blue-toned foliage forms upright clumps that stand out among broader foliage. Use one to give a container a focal point, or repeat several along a path or through a mixed bed to draw the eye through the planting.
Coolvista grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 1.5 to 3 feet wide, so leave room for its mature spread when planning a group! It takes full sun to part shade and tolerates heat and salt spray. Small blue flowers appear in spring, but its foliage remains the main attraction through fall and beyond.
Soften the Edges with Platinum Beauty® Lomandra
For a softer shape, turn to Platinum Beauty® Lomandra. Long green leaves with fine white striping arch outward, adding movement and a lighter note among darker shrubs or blue foliage. It works especially well where a bed meets a walkway, in a broad border, or in a large container. Allow for its eventual size of approximately 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Platinum Beauty takes full sun to part shade and tolerates heat and coastal salt spray.
Bring Fragrance Close with ‘Meerlo’ Lavender
For a spot you pass often, consider ‘Meerlo’ Lavender. Its fragrant leaves are edged in cream, so the plant adds both scent and a softer kind of color. Place it near a seating area or along a path where you can appreciate it up close. Its pale blue flowers bloom in summer, while the variegated foliage provides interest beyond the flowering season. ‘Meerlo’ grows roughly 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Give it well-drained soil and full sun to part shade.
Add a Stronger Accent with Clarity Blue™ Dianella
For a bolder accent, Clarity Blue has a stronger, more upright look than Coolvista. Its deep blue foliage makes a focal point in a container or a small opening in the bed. Set it against arching leaves for a change in form, or near lighter foliage to bring out its color.
At about 24 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, Clarity Blue fits into smaller compositions and grows in full sun to part shade. Both Dianellas bring blue tones to the garden, but Coolvista has a finer texture suited to repetition, while Clarity Blue holds its own as an accent.
Finish with the Golden Color of ‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum
For a larger dose of color, ‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum brings golden foliage in full sun and a more chartreuse look in part shade. It contrasts with blue-toned Dianella and provides a bright backdrop for lower plants. Use it where a border needs height, or repeat it to form a colorful hedge. ‘Sunshine’ can reach 4 to 7 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, so give it space to develop. It can be pruned to shape, though pruning is not required. Its year-round foliage makes it a practical choice when a planting needs both color and structure.
Make the Refresh Fit Your Garden
Think about the view you want to improve before choosing plants. Repeating a fine-textured selection can tie a long border together, while a single upright accent or a bright shrub can change the look of a smaller space. Before planting, check each variety’s mature size, light needs, and suitability for your Sunset climate zone. Group plants with similar water needs and mulch around them to help hold soil moisture. Give new plants regular water while their roots establish; their lower water needs come later.
For more water-wise garden planning tips, see six steps to a water-wise garden.
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