A Garden Writer's Favorites Gardener's Diary : Episode GRD-1102 -- More Projects »
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Pam Harper at work in her garden.
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by Martha Tate, special to HGTV.comThe flat two-acre garden in front of Pamela Harper's house in the Tidewater area of Virginia is bisected by a gravel drive. On each side are magnificent informal plantings of trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and bulbs. Harper's goal each year is to cover every inch of ground. It shouldn't be hard to figure out how: Harper is a garden writer and photographer. Although Harper is known as an expert gardener, her approach to plants is one of wonder and discovery, trial and error, as if each time she steps out into the garden she's setting off on a new adventure. Some of the plants in her garden:
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'Alba' Japanese roof iris
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'Alba' Japanese roof iris (Iris tectorum 'Alba'). According to one story, this plant got its name when, during a famine, the Japanese were ordered to use ground space to grow food. In order to save their Iris tectorum, the Japanese gardeners planted them on their thatched roofs. Both blue and white forms are found across the U.S. Hardy in Zones 5-9.
Why you want it: A tough plant and low-maintenance plant, the Japanese iris tolerates a wide range of soils. The spring blooms in either bluish-purple or white are exquisite. Unlike the bearded iris, which can look ragged where summers are hot, the wide, arching leaves of the Japanese roof iris remain beautiful until frost.
How to use it: As a border along a woodland path, perhaps. Mix with hostas and ferns in a partial shade garden. In a sunny garden, make sure the leaves have room to arch over.
Cultivation: Ideally, Japanese roof iris would like cool, well-drained soil, but ordinary garden soil will do. Sun or partial shade.
Source: Iris City Gardens.
'Watanabei' (or 'Summer Snowflake') viburnum
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'Watanabei' (or 'Summer Snowflake') viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum 'Watanabei' or 'Summer Snowflake' or alternately, 'Nanum Semperflorens'). In spring this graceful deciduous shrub, the doublefile viburnum, offers exquisite lacecap flowers along the top of horizontal, tiered branches. The species doublefile viburnum is a broad-growing shrub that usually averages 8 to 10 tall. Another common doublefile cultivar, 'Shasta', easily grows to six feet or more and almost twice as wide. But 'Watanabei' is usually more compact. (Most experts agree that 'Watanabei' and 'Summer Snowflake' are virtually indistinguishable from one another.) Hardy to Zone 5. According to one source, the plant doesn't tolerate temperatures below -20 degrees F.
Why you want it: If you can't grow native dogwoods because of climate or disease, this viburnum can give you a similar look. The snow-white blooms are breathtaking in spring and, in the South, appear sporadically throughout the growing season. The red berries typical of many viburnums are abundant in cooler climates.
How to use it: Grow it as a specimen plant or in a large shrub border. Also good for a large cottage garden.
Cultivation: Give it full sun to partial shade (especially in the South), and moist, well-drained soil.
Source: Viburnums are becoming more popular, so check with your local garden center in both fall and spring. Also: Joy Creek Nursery.
'Aromi Sunrise' azalea (Rhododendron x 'Aromi Sunrise'). In the hot, humid climate of the southeastern U.S., the brightly colored Exbury hybrids from England don't thrive. This tall, deciduous azalea is the result of a cross between Exbury azaleas and more heat-tolerant types. 'Aromi Sunrise' is a lovely warm yellow touched with a blush of salmon. Hardy in Zones 6-9.
Why you want it: For brilliant color and for the large, fragrant trusses that are reminiscent of the Exbury azaleas. The plant is heat-tolerant.
How to use it: It's a gangly plant, so place it near an evergreen backdrop. Harper uses it next to a stump with Hedera helix 'Goldheart' and near a tree with red honeysuckle.
Cultivation: Give Aromi hybrid azaleas at least a half-day of sun and well-drained soil that has been amended with finely ground pine bark.
Source: The Green Plant Market, Inc.
Baptisia (false indigo, or wild indigo ( Baptisia x 'Serendipity'). The lovely yellow baptisia seen here is a chance cross that Harper found in her garden and dubbed 'Serendipity'. Baptisias are herbaceous perennials that are native to the U.S., mostly in the East. Probably the best known is Baptisia australis, which is also the cold hardiest (Zones 3-9). It has upright racemes of pea-like flowers that are a rich indigo blue. Harper has many other types that produce flowers of white, cream, pale yellow, bright yellow and smoky blue.
Why you want it: Baptisias are enchanting garden plants. In areas of the country where lupines will not grow, baptisias can provide a similar look. Also, they're drought tolerant.
How to use it: Lovely when mixed with other flowers that bloom at the same time such as peonies, roses and iris. A white baptisia near a maroon 'Forest Pansy' redbud is gorgeous.
Cultivation: Baptisias want sun and well-drained soil. Since voles can be a problem, Harper spreads gravel around the base of the plants to discourage the creatures. Once you plant a baptisia, it's best to leave it there.
Source: Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. —Martha Tate is co-executive producer of Gardener's Diary.
Resources plantsPlant Delights Nursery, Inc.
Website: www.plantdelights.com
plantsNiche Gardens
Website: www.nichegardens.com
plantsJoy Creek Nursery
Website: www.joycreek.com
plantsThe Green Plant Market Inc.
Website: wegrowit.com
plantsIris City Gardens
Website: www.iriscitygardens.com
Also in this Episode
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![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/10/10/grd1102_gardener_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/10/10/grd1102_ajuga_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/10/10/grd1102_iris_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/10/10/grd1102_viburnum_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/10/10/grd1102_azalea_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/10/10/grd1102_baptisia_e.jpg",350,450))
