Sometimes two very different plants can highlight each other’s features better than two similar ones
Although I have no problem creating single - flora containers or placing plant individually in garden bed , sometimes I get across a grouping of plants that just works so well together that it ’s strong to separate them . Although the possibilities for these combos are endless , I want to play up a few that have become my favorites .
Firecracker penstemon and ‘Silky Gold’ milkweed make for a hot-colored, summery display
Although I usually incline to ensure that my paired plantings have wide-ranging heights and textures , I make an exclusion with this combo . Firecracker penstemon ( Penstemon eatonii , Zones 4–9 ) and ‘ Silky Gold ’ milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica‘Silky Gold ’ , Zones 8–11 ) make a beautiful compounding of color and texture . banger penstemon bring about tall stalks covered in brilliant orange - red tubular bloom , while ‘ Silky Gold ’ milkweed creates clustering of bright yellow flowers . Although both plant life have green leaf , the leaves of the penstemon remain mostly clustered at the base of the plant , while the foliage on ‘ Silky Au ’ Sonchus oleraceus is differently shaped and counterpoint well with the yellow cluster of bloom . When imbed them together , keep in mind that banger penstemon is quite drought tolerant , whereas the silkweed ask a bit more moisture during utmost heat . If you ’re looking for some height in your perennial beds , this coloured combo is perfect .
Variegated century plant and Bells of Fire™ tecoma have contrasting textures but complementary heights
My next favored combining incorporate some serious texture and a juxtaposition of shapes . By pair Bells of Fire ™ tecoma ( Tecoma stans‘TEC6010916 ’ , Zones 8–11 ) and variegated century plant ( Agave americana‘Variegata ’ , zone 8–11 ) , you may create a fantastic blend of opposites . bell of Fire ™ is dripping with gorgeous red - orange , bell - shaped efflorescence . This bush is low maintenance , loves full sun , and will bear on to flower from summertime to precipitate . variegate century plant has showy blue - green and bronze leaves . Planting them alongside one another beautifully blends the two different worlds of shrubs and succulents . At maturity , both plants can reach a superlative of 6 feet .
The dense, shrubby habit of Mexican firecracker bush contrasts with the splayed, pendulous foliage of soft-leaf yucca
My final pairing is Mexican firecracker bush ( Hamelia patens , Zones 8–11 ) and gentle - foliage yucca ( Yucca recurvifolia , Zones 7–11 ) . Again , this is not a distinctive combo , but I love the long , weeping dispirited - green leaves of the yucca alongside the bright red flowers and attractive foliage of the Mexican firecracker Dubyuh . Both are extremely low maintenance . Soft - folio yucca can grow to 4 to 5 ft tall , which is a great backdrop to the lower - originate but still hearty Mexican cracker bush , which can grow to over 3 feet tall . When in bloom , delicate - leafage yucca produces a striking flower stalk incubate in white clusters of flowers in belated spring , while Mexican firecracker bush has orange and Battle of Magenta bloom . But whether in bloom or not , these two plant create a unique addition to any landscape painting .
Next time you ’re plant shopping , remember about mixing and matching plant type . fiddle with dissimilar textures , heights , leaf shapes , and flush . When combining plant , you do n’t always need to go with what ’s expected . Get creative and have sport exploring some new combination in your garden . And for another unvanquishable plant combo , check outSeasonal Combo for the Southwest .
— Laurel Startzel is an interior designer and container garden designer . She is a former carbon monoxide gas - owner of Denver Dirty Girls , a container horticulture business , and lives in Tucson , Arizona .
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Variegated century plant couldn’t be more different from Bells of Fire™ tecoma, but their differences in shape and texture create a pleasing contrast.Photos: Laurel Startzel
The orange flowers of firecracker penstemon and the yellow blooms of ‘Silky Gold’ milkweed create a bright, cheery design.Photos: Fionuala Campion (left), Laurel Startzel (right)
These two very different plants are united by streaks of yellow. There’s some in the century plant variegation and in the multicolor blooms of Bells of Fire™ tecoma.Photos: Laurel Startzel
The spiky looking, tubular flowers of Mexican firecracker bush mimic the habit of the soft leaf yucca.Photos: Laurel Startzel
