MY LAST SWEET PLANT COMBO

My last spring plant combination includes a tropical twist of bright, warm colors.  Just as the first two, I have my consistent ajuga, plus included two additional tasty plants in this simple arrangement.

This planting is for full sun in zone 5.  The plants in this design include:

Ajuga reptans 'Mahogony' / Bugleweed
Thymus x citriodorus ‘variegata’/ Variegated Lemon Thyme
Kniphofia ‘Mango Popsicle’ / Dwarf Poker

What I like most about this combination:

• Has a tropical feel, if you're needing that in the Midwest U.S.
• The contrast of leaf textures...coarse ajuga leaves to the medium kniphofia leaves to the fine thymus leaves.
• The low groundcovers setting a nice base for the strong upright form of the kniphofia.  
• A unique warm color combination of the oranges and yellows to the mahogany.

A TOFFEE CREME BRULEE PLANT COMBO

My next spring plant combination has such a sweet, cottage feel to it.  Again, I've included another ajuga, was inspired by tasty sweets, and kept it simple with just three plants.

This planting is for full sun in zones 4 and 5.  The plants in this design include:

Ajuga reptans 'Toffee Chip' / Bugleweed
Veronica  'Waterperry Blue'/ Speedwell
Coreopsis verticillata 'Creme Brulee' / Tickseed

What I like most about this combination:

• The striking color contrast between the light green, almost white ajuga with the veronica's dark foliage and vibrant blue flowers.
• The contrast of leaf textures...coarse ajuga leaves to the finer veronica leaves to the even finer coreopsis leaves.
• The low groundcovers setting a nice base for the strong upright form of the coreopsis.  
• The quaint feel of the soft yellow, daisy-like coreopsis flowers against the vibrant blue veronica flowers.  Ugh, I want to plant this in my garden right now!

SWEET SPRING PLANTINGS

I thought it would be fun to share a few spring plant combinations over the next three posts.

Three things inspired me:

SIMPLICITY: Sometimes we struggle with pairing plants, so I wanted to take a step back and just focus on three plants in each combination.

TASTY TREATS: It's so much fun picking a theme to narrow down plant choices.  There are many plants with delectable names, so why not try some?

AJUGA: This is a common, yet still fabulous groundcover.  It's easy to find, performs well in shade and sun, plus looks great with many other plants.  I chose a different ajuga for each of my three designs, then allowed that plant to direct the choice of its companions.

This planting is for full sun or part-shade in zones 4 and 5.  The plants in this design include:

Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda' / Chocolate Chip Bugleweed
Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'/ Stonecrop
Geum 'Totally Tangerine' / Avens

What I like most about this combination:

• The striking color contrast between the purplish/green ajuga and the chartreuse sedum.
• The contrast of leaf textures...coarse geum leaves, medium ajuga leaves, and the fine sedum leaves.
• The pop of orange from the geum flowers (this plant always pops!).

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