Some plant combinations we work hard to create, others appear by themselves often producing a better effect than the result of much thought and effort on our part. Here are some examples of combinations that are mostly the result of serendipity.
Bloodroot do selfseed a fair bit and unfortunately do not bloom for a very long time. However the foliage is attractive. They happen to bloom at exactly the same time as these little violas. I planted the violas, but the bloodroot joined them on their own accord, the result being much nicer than what I had planned.
Bloodroot also chose to grow at the base of this rose bush. When the white flowers are open, they take the eyes off the naked canes, and later on, when the bloodroot foliage expands and shades the ground, it keep the rose roots cool.
.JPG "Salvia turkestanica, erigeron, thymus and Achillea 'The Pearl'")
In this instance, I planted all these myself but without realizing how much of a flow of the same lilac hue they would produce, spreading as it does from the fading thyme on the ground, up to the Erigeron (cultivar unknown) and, at the top, to the Salvia turkestanica.
Achillea "the pearl" acts as a contrast.
Iris sintensisii is happiest left to its own growing in grass. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) a European plant brought to North America as forage, is in bloom at the same time and produces a happy contrast. You can get more information on this iris by checking my previous post An Iris Grass Cannot Crowd out.
.JPG "Colchicum and Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'")
Many of these serendipitous plantings are the result of putting a plant or a bulb in a place where you have forgotten that something else was growing. In the case above, I put in Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea' in a spot where colchicum bulbs were already planted. I like the result. If you did not know better, you might think you were looking at the foliage and the flower of the same plant! The picture below provides another example of the same thing.
Some primulas were planted over hyacinth bulbs. Although the result is not as successful as in the previous combination, I have kept them together until I come up with something better. Perhaps I could find a daffodil that would bloom at the same time as this particular primula.
In this case, some creeping speedwell (probably Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue') has appeared on its own in the middle of a clump of Iberis sempervirens. The photo is not very successful, but still it gives a good impression of the attractive contrast the combination produces.
The combination above is entirely the work of nature as the picture was taken along a road side. Cypripedium parviflorum is growing through a clump of false Solomon Seal (Maianthemum stellatum).
To end with, a clump of forget-me-nots that have decided to embrace some Tulipa Saxatilis. The myosotis work beautifully as a jewel case, setting out the contrasting pink and yellow.
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| Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and violas |
Bloodroot do selfseed a fair bit and unfortunately do not bloom for a very long time. However the foliage is attractive. They happen to bloom at exactly the same time as these little violas. I planted the violas, but the bloodroot joined them on their own accord, the result being much nicer than what I had planned.
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| Boodrood and climbing rose (John Cabot) |
Bloodroot also chose to grow at the base of this rose bush. When the white flowers are open, they take the eyes off the naked canes, and later on, when the bloodroot foliage expands and shades the ground, it keep the rose roots cool.
In this instance, I planted all these myself but without realizing how much of a flow of the same lilac hue they would produce, spreading as it does from the fading thyme on the ground, up to the Erigeron (cultivar unknown) and, at the top, to the Salvia turkestanica.
Achillea "the pearl" acts as a contrast.
Iris sintensisii is happiest left to its own growing in grass. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) a European plant brought to North America as forage, is in bloom at the same time and produces a happy contrast. You can get more information on this iris by checking my previous post An Iris Grass Cannot Crowd out.
Many of these serendipitous plantings are the result of putting a plant or a bulb in a place where you have forgotten that something else was growing. In the case above, I put in Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea' in a spot where colchicum bulbs were already planted. I like the result. If you did not know better, you might think you were looking at the foliage and the flower of the same plant! The picture below provides another example of the same thing.
Some primulas were planted over hyacinth bulbs. Although the result is not as successful as in the previous combination, I have kept them together until I come up with something better. Perhaps I could find a daffodil that would bloom at the same time as this particular primula.
In this case, some creeping speedwell (probably Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue') has appeared on its own in the middle of a clump of Iberis sempervirens. The photo is not very successful, but still it gives a good impression of the attractive contrast the combination produces.
The combination above is entirely the work of nature as the picture was taken along a road side. Cypripedium parviflorum is growing through a clump of false Solomon Seal (Maianthemum stellatum).
To end with, a clump of forget-me-nots that have decided to embrace some Tulipa Saxatilis. The myosotis work beautifully as a jewel case, setting out the contrasting pink and yellow.
Some lovely combinations. White flowers really seem to set off other colours.
ReplyDeleteVery nice examples. We have forget-me-nots that spread everywhere, so they're often in combination with something! Having west coast weather these days - above zero, damp or drizzly, and the snow is turning to slush.
ReplyDeleteThese are great examples--whether they were planned or not! Inspirational enough to make one go out and plan for these combinations. One of my favorites here is the Resurrection Lilies/Hostas combination. The Lily foliage emerges in early spring, and just as it's receding in early summer, the Hostas take over. Then, in late summer, the Resurrection blooms rise up out of the Hosta foliage overnight for spectacular displays. Thanks for these great ideas!
ReplyDeleteYou have some really wonderful combinations, they say that nature is the best gardener! We have quite a few combinations here that have come about all on their own, mostly I leave them as they are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteSome beautiful combinations. How amazing to have Sanguinaria self- seeding, it never does here. And to have Cypripedium growing by the roadside! I have never seen that beautiful Iris sintensisii before, what a gorgeous shade of blue.
ReplyDeleteThat's part of the excitement of gardening.. every year is a bit different as nature shapes what we do. And often provides us with better ideas of her own!
ReplyDeleteSerendipity is doing a good job! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are just my kind of gardener with all those happy accidents. I have said for years that those pretty pictures of plant associations in coffee table gardening books were not planned and were almost impossible to recreate.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately bloodroot does not seem to like my sandy soil.
I liked your play on words on the picture 'boodrood' or was it just a typo?
I agree with you that most combinations, especially the best ones, are the result of luck.
DeleteAs for bloodroot, as I said below, it is a mystery that they can be a pest here but seem not selfseed in Europe.
I love this composition, Alain.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a Merry Christmas!
Both Mother Nature and you Alain have created some special combos there. I was only just thinking ahead to spring and wanted to try out some Anemonella at the base of some of the roses - you Rose/Sanguinaria combo is as near as and looks great. You've taken the decision on out my hands. Serendipity indeed!
ReplyDeleteThe blooms of the bloodroot are nice to have but what I like best about this combination is the fact that the leaves make a very nice cover for the rose roots for the rest of the growing season.
DeleteMany nice compositions ! I'll try bloodroot and violas next year... I'll have to plant them : violas do selfseed but bloodroot not !
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
It is funny that bloodroot won't self seed for you (Chloris says the same thing above). In all the Ontario gardens I have known it was rather invasive. Is it the climate? Does it need a cold winter?
DeleteThe combination of forget-me-nots and that particular shade of dwarf tulip takes my breath away!
ReplyDeleteThe colour combination in the final photo is stunning.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice isn't it? It started on its own but now I move forget-me-nots to the spot where the tulips are coming up. One of the great vertues of forget-me-nots is that they can be move just about any time.
DeleteHello Alain, there are some really good combinations there. It would be easy if it was just about colour but it's also about shape, size, texture and of course, they have to be flowering at the same time too! I like the idea of having a group of the same plants such as purple echinacea, with with just a couple of them being a different colour like echinacea "White Swan". It's what's left of my teenage rebellious side.
ReplyDeleteYou are right - the numerous elements you have to take into account make it very difficult. I expect that is why some of the best combinations are the result of luck.
Delete