To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
~ Audrey Hepburn
The loveliest and most peaceful gardens are often the simplest. With a small assortment of beautiful and reliable nursery staples even a novice gardener can build an exquisite outdoor sanctuary. These five common plants create the foundation for a stylish, traditional garden, perfectly matched to the vintage homes and shady neighborhoods of the northern Midwest. These are the steadfast requisites for your garden. There are no divas here. They ask for little attention, give more than they take, and thrive in the erratic climate of the Great Lakes Region. Beauty is found in simplicity.
Annabelle Hydrangea
Zones 3 through 9
She’s happy in the shade but, unlike her kin, doesn’t much complain about sun as long as she’s gets a bit of water on hot days. Her big, blousy 10-inch flower clusters bloom bright white beginning in June. They fade to a delicate pink followed by pale green as the summer evolves, and finally dry to a light parchment color, staying to catch snow throughout the winter.
Allium
Zones 4 through 9
The Allium bulb, also known as Persian Onion, thrives throughout the Great Lakes Region in early to mid- spring. The large purple or white blossoms stand tall on stems that can reach 30 inches in height making a striking display. As the color fades, the flowers retain their shape and add interest to the garden until they finally retire in mid-summer.
Boxwood
Zones 4 through 9
There isn’t a more perfect shrub than the Boxwood. Truly the “little black dress” of garden plants, this classic foundation plant enhances every home and garden style. Easily managed with a moderate clipping in the spring, Boxwoods grow into round or conical shapes depending on the variety and frequency of pruning. A boxwood in a decorative pot is the essence of timeless style.
Peony
Zones 3 through 8
The Peony is the antique of the garden. Prized for their showy and delicately-scented blossoms, peonies are tough enough to survive the harshest winter weather, thriving in Midwest gardens for up to 50 years. They demand little attention and happily take a back seat in the border after their lovely blooms have faded in mid to late June.
Hosta
Zones 4 through 9
Wait. Hear me out. Hostas are ubiquitous, sometimes a bit dull, but if you think you’ve seen them all, you haven’t. The most stylish varieties show off broad foliage in shades of blue gray, gold and chartreuse. A workhorse in the garden, hostas flourish year-after-year, increasing in size and hardiness with each season. They effectively hide the fading leaves and blossoms of spring bulbs and quietly overwhelm weeds and insects.
Editor’s note:
All of these practically fool-proof garden plants also work beautifully in containers, make nice cut flowers and foliage, and are a cinch to care for. But you will need a few basic tools: some reliable pruners, a bulb planter, and hedge trimmers. We recommend Friskars products for quality and value. Find our favorites and some pretty pots below.
Join us on Pinterest where we share dozens of beautiful, low-maintenance gardens.
Find more garden inspiration in our article City in a Garden from Spring 2016.
This article appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Lakeshore Magazine. Read the full issue HERE.
