Good to Know: The Best Outdoor Plants and Florals for Spring
Mother’s Day weekend is unanimously the best time to start working in the garden - everything is coming to life and (hopefully) snow is no longer in the forecast. For today’s Good to Know, Marianne and Marcie are going to share what they’ve learned after visiting a few local nurseries in search of the best plants and florals for a charming landscape. We’ll share the ideal growing zone for each greenery - here in Utah, we are a zone 7 but be sure to look up your area’s zone so you know if the option is suitable for your climate. You can find yours here.
New Dawn Rose
We love the charm and character a climbing vine adds to an exterior and this rose variation is the ultimate winner - its organic wild vines add height and texture plus, the flower itself smells divine. This bloom is best for pergolas, fences, and of course, home exteriors. Keep in mind this flower will require some maintenance and pruning but we think the payoff is totally worth it. Suitable for zones 6-11. Learn more about this climbing rose here.
Iceberg Rose
Another great rose variation is the Iceberg Floribunda Rose - beautiful clusters of medium-sized, white flowers that bloom all summer and sometimes into October. Our friend (and exceptional gardener), Kyong, has these lining the entire length of her backyard and it’s so magical. You can read her pro gardening tips here. These roses are suitable for zones 6-11.
Otto Luyken Laurel
Marianne was on the lookout for some landscaping for the northern section of her home. She landed on this beautiful Otto Lukyen Laurel for a few reasons - she loved how it has a little bit of a floral feel paired with the dark, glossy leaves. This leaf will be a nice contrast to her white painted exterior and since it has a dark rich hue, she’s hoping it will look good all year. Suitable for zones 6-9. You can learn more about this Laurel variation here.
Green Mountain Boxwood
For an all-season classic touch of green, we recommend using Boxwood. This is generally an easy plant to take care of (learn more about that here) and it thrives in most climates - even here in Utah, where we experience extreme weather. This is a great option potted and flanked on your front door or often used as a hedge for more substantial coverage. Suitable for zones 4-9.
Star Jasmine
This plant has white fragrant star-shaped flowers (hence the name) and is best trained on posts, walls, or a trellis but can also be used as ground cover. The Star Jasmine can be as tall as 20’ and therefore can be pruned to your ideal size/scale. These bloom from Spring into Summer and should be planted where the perfume scent can be best enjoyed. Suitable for zones
8-11.
It’s so hard to narrow down the list, we could go on about florals and greenery for days. Limelight Hydrangea, Sarah Bernhardt Peony and Espalier Manhattan Euonymus are a few other great tried and true options to consider. These are just a few of the many great options we love. Share with us in the comments what you’re planting this season - we love hearing from you!