It can never be stressed enough that when choosing plants, trees or shrubs, the rule of thumb is to select the plant for the right conditions. You can't grow roses in the shade, and most hostas will not perform in bright sunshine.
But like anything in life, we always want what we don't have. People with curly hair like to pine for sleek and straight locks, while gardeners with shade crave plants that need hot, dry spaces. For those of you lucky to have a hot, dry, sunny site, here are some great selections for your conditions.
Phlomis tuberosa reminds me of a plant that is straight off the pages of a Dr. Seuss book. The flowers, which appear in early summer, are hooded and tiered along tall stems. It is a great combination of soft pink flowers and rough-textured green leaves.
These cool flowers turn into ornamental seed heads that will last throughout the winter and keep the birds happy. Phlomis looks good in the border with blue-flowered geraniums, ornamental grasses and lavender. The leaves are evergreen, which add interest to the winter garden.
You need to plant this in well-drained, sunny conditions as it is a Zone 6 plant.It definitely grows best in full sun and will flop over if it grows in too much shade. It grows about three feet tall with an equal spread.
If you are looking for something a little different in your sunny bed, try Caryopteris. This small shrub is also known as bluebeard. Caryopteris is one of those plants that go off my radar because I don't have sharply drained soil or a hot, dry bed to grow it in. If you do, you are in luck.
There is a fairly easy-to-find variety called Caryopteris x clandonensis "Dark Night," which is a great addition to the sunny bed. You will love the deep purplish-blue flowers that grow in tufts along the stems.
The nice surprise with Caryopteris is that it blooms near the end of the summer, a time when few flowering shrubs/perennials are still shining. I love shrubs and plants that give you something to look forward to at the end of the season. The leaves are also highly scented, so if you plant it near your walkway, you will get to enjoy it on warm summer days.
Before you run down to the store and stock up on Caryopteris, I want to put out a small disclaimer. This shrub is a Zone 6 plant, which technically, with all the right conditions, will grow and thrive here in Squamish. The key to its success is well-drained soil and a spot in full sun. That said, we have been having serious winters and there is no guarantee with any plant.
This variety will grow about three to four feet and it is quite small growing in a tidy mounded shape. You can prune them in the late winter (February) to about eight to 12 inches as it is technically considered a sub-shrub like lavender. Pruning a late-season blooming shrub early in the season gives you a sturdier, more prolific blooming plant.
If you like the bright chartreuse yellow/blue combination, look for Caryopteris incana '"Jason" Sunshine Blue. These are an excellent variety and are even a little hardier (Zone 5). They look great planted with grasses, and to see several of them planted in a drift is stunning.
