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Gallery: Small Front Yards

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Pastel Punch
Sea Lavender, Statice
Powis Castle Artemisia
Verbena
Azure or Russian Sage
Giant Catmit
Lavender Cotton
Moonshine Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewo
Purple Smoke Tree
Early Sunrise Coreopsis
Border or Garden Penstemon
Pink Gaura
Sea Lavender, Statice

Common name:Sea Lavender, Statice
Botanical name:Limonium perezii

This mounding shrub will reach about 3' high and has large, dark green leaves with small blue and purple flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Powis Castle Artemisia

Common name:Powis Castle Artemisia
Botanical name:Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

This mounding shrub reaches 3 ft. high and up to 5ft. wide with fine silver foliage. - Cornflower Farms

Verbena

Common name:Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena peruviana

This perennial forms a flat mat that covers an area rapidly. It has dark green leaves with clusters of bright flowers that bloom all year. Hybrids will have a little more height, different flower colors and spread more slowly. It is drought tolerant.

Azure or Russian Sage

Common name:Azure or Russian Sage
Botanical name:Perovskia X atriplicifolia

This broad perennial will grow 3'-6' tall and has small, grey-green leaves with blue-violet flowers that bloom in the summer. Foliage is aromatic if brushed against it.

Giant Catmit

Common name:Giant Catmit
Botanical name:Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'

From the early summer and into the fall, this aromatic plant will bloom with gray-green foliage and lavender blue flowers. This perennial grows from 30" to reach a height and width of 3'. It is tolerant of both humidity and drought. This perennial is effective when grown below roses, as a filler in perennial gardens, and as an edging plant. It also is complemented by pines and pale yellow flowers. The perennial should be placed in a well-drained location.

Lavender Cotton

Common name:Lavender Cotton
Botanical name:Santolina chamaecyparissus

This ground cover/small shrub will grow to 3' tall and has small, grayish/silver leaves with yellow flowers that bloom in the summer.

Moonshine Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewo

Common name:Moonshine Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewo
Botanical name:Achillea 'Moonshine'

Long, straight stems with pale yellow flowers are striking on the mats of green to grey-green leaves of this plant, which are flatter and less divided than those of the Achillea millefolium. This Yarrow propagates easily from rooted cuttings or divisions which should be performed in the early spring or fall. Following bloom, one should dead head the plant and divide the clumps when it appears crowded. Introduced by Alan Bloom in the 1950's.

Purple Smoke Tree

Common name:Purple Smoke Tree
Botanical name:Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus'

A deciduous shrub or small tree that grows up to 10' tall, the purpureus is grown for its wispy, thread-like flower clusters and outstanding fall color. Its foliage has a redish purple color that turns somewhat green in summer. The plant requires sun to part shade, with little or no summer water. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Early Sunrise Coreopsis

Common name:Early Sunrise Coreopsis
Botanical name:Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'

The 'Early Sunrise' is a wonderful cultivar and showy, southern U.S. native. Golden yellow double flowers on 2' bushy plants bloom from June to September in full sun and average to dry soils. It makes for good cut flowers, and pruning keeps the plants abundant with blooms. -Holland WIldflower Farm

Border or Garden Penstemon

Common name:Border or Garden Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon hybrids selection

This perennial plant will reach 3' high and has medium-sized, glossy dark green leaves with red, pink, lavender or purple flowers that bloom in summer and fall. It needs a bit extra water in the summer and no water in the winter. Hummingbirds love the flowers. This plant is great for cut flowers and color borders.

Pink Gaura

Common name:Pink Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink'

Pink Gaura is a profusely flowering perennial for all zones that grows 2'-3' tall and wide. It has maroon buds that open to showy, reddish pink flowers in spring through fall. It needs full sun with well draining soil. However in desert areas, it appreciates afternoon shade with regular watering. In non-desert areas, it is drought tolerant once it's established. Prune plant in spring to refreshen and fertilize to ensure more blooms. Looks great in containers.

Designer: Terri Nichols

Pastel Punch
Image: 8 of 20

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Integrated Pest Management:

Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.