Color Garden for the California Coast

Immerse yourself in color! This landscape design plan creates an ever-changing collage of bold, vibrant hues in foliage and flowers throughout the seasons.

Enter this garden of hues through the vine-draped arbor or by way of two other stepping stone walkways that wind past pots of annual color. The bench with a commanding view of the numerous spreading, mounding and cascading blooms is sheltered by a flowering tree. While the overhead canopy provides summer shade, a cluster of shrubs behind the bench provides enclosure. A vine clambers over a tuteur to provide a vertical architectural focal point.

The undulating border and meandering pathways provide easy access to all of the plants and containers of color. Wait until spring to trim back any frosted plants and you will enjoy the wintry textures provided by the branches and remaining stems and seed heads. Allow some of the perennials to reseed to create a full and bountiful garden of color.

Plant List

A. Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus) (1)
B. Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), on arbor (2)
C. Confederate/star jasmine (Trachelospernum jasminoides) on tuteur (1)
D. Annuals, selected by gardener, in 3 containers
E. Compact Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesi 'Compacta') (2), plant four feet apart
F. Confetti variegated abelia (Abelia grandiflora 'Confetti') (2), plant 3-1/2 feet apart
G. Anthony Waterer spiraea (Spiraea x bumalda) 'Anthony Waterer') (2), plant four feet apart
H. Eichholz bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster 'Eichholz') (5), plant 2-1/2 feet apart
I. Lemon Drop primrose (Oenothera 'Lemon Drop') (42), plant 1 foot apart
J. Eichholz bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster 'Eichholz') (4), plant 2-1/2 feet apart
K. Goldsturm black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullvantii 'Goldsturm') (9), plant 1-1/2 feet apart
L. Adagio maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio') (5), plant 2-1/2 feet apart
M. Sunrise coneflower (Echinacea 'Sunrise') (4), plant 1-1/2 feet apart
N. Burgundy blanket flower (Gaillardia 'Burgundy') (8), plant 1-1/2 feet apart
O. Wood's Pink aster (Aster dumosus 'Wood's Pink') (8), plant 1-1/2 feet apart
P. Purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) (13), plant 1-1/2 feet apart
Q. Anise hyssop (Agastache 'Tutti-Frutti') (15), annual in USDA Zone 5, plant 1-1/2 feet apart
R. Lady in Black aster (Aster laterfolius 'Lady in Black') (6), plant 2 feet apart

Key

1. Arbor: 4' wide x 2' to 3' deep
2. Tuteur: 2' wide x 6 to 7' high
3. Container: 18 to 22" wide
4. Stepping stones with mulch paths
5. Bench: 4' wide

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