• Landscape Features
  • Residential Gardens
  • Commercial Gardens
  • Process
  • Annual Conference
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Awards
Residential & Commercial Landscape Design | Landscaping Services  | North Denver
  • Landscape Features
  • Residential Gardens
  • Commercial Gardens
  • Process
  • Annual Conference
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Awards

Green Roof Living Is Stressful For Plants: Here's Why That's a Good Thing

What do driving wind, scorching sun, sub zero nights, and shallow soil have in common? They are all found atop a Colorado green roof. Fortunately, stress is something plants in our environment have come to understand.


Read more

tags: green roof, plant selection, sun plants, naturalistic planting, native grass, garden design, colorado plants
categories: Garden Philosophy, Plant Selection, Projects
Monday 04.25.22
Posted by Johnny Moore
 

Tree of Life Plants of the Year 2021

IMG_1232.jpeg

After a very successful planting season in our demanding steppe climate, we have compiled a list of our favorite plants that we used this year.

Read more

tags: Perennial, plant selection, colorado plants, shade plants, sun plants
categories: Plant Selection
Thursday 08.19.21
Posted by Mark Maeda
 

3 Plant Combinations For Colorado Summertime

After decades of experience, we have found some of our favorite plant combinations that thrive in the Colorado climate.


Read more

tags: plant selection, plants, sun plants, shade plants, garden design
categories: Plant Selection
Friday 07.31.20
Posted by Guest User
 

10 Plants That Thrive in Colorado’s Summer Heat

 

Despite its dry heat and alkaline soil, Colorado flaunts colorful gardens with plants well-adapted to its natural conditions. Through years of observation, we have gained a repertoire of knowledge surrounding our local plant palette. That’s why we love what we do. We’ve spent years forming a relationship with the landscape and learning its intricacies as they reveal themselves. This month, we’re sharing a few of our favorite Colorado plants that thrive in the summer heat.

The Sun-Lovers

Heliopsis helianthoides - False Sunflower

This yellow beauty in the sunflower family shows radiant blooms from June to August. It grows 3-6 feet tall with a spread of 2-4 feet and attract butterflies to the garden.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.42.19 AM.png

Echinops ritro - Globe Thistle

Known for its bold, globular form, Echinops ritro adds distinct structure to the garden. Showing a blue color and intriguing texture, the flowerhead displays its form throughout the year. Rightly named, the greek roots of the word refer to a hedgehog appearance. You can expect Globe Thistle to reach about 4 feet tall and bloom from July to September.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.42.25 AM.png

Chamaebatiaria millefolium - Fernbush

Fernbush gives the appearance of being evergreen with its buds that remain visible through the winter months. This 3-5 foot tall native plant has aromatic white blooms that last from mid-June to August and its leaves are thought to have medicinal uses (Native Americans used the leaves in tea to settle an upset stomach).

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.42.34 AM.png

Phlomis cashmeriana - Cashmere Sage

This late spring to early summer bloomer grows to be 36-60 inches tall, showing lavender-pink towers of color that turn to ornamental seedheads in the fall and winter. The Phlomis stalks add intriguing form to the garden.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.55.08 AM.png

Origanum libanoticum - Oregano Hopflower

A cascading perennial, Origanum looks best where it can flow over a planter wall. Quite literally, the blooms resemble hops and show a gradient of chartreuse to lavender. The long bloom (June to September) provides interest in the garden for most of the season. Origanum stays low at .75-1.5 feet and spreads 1-1.5 feet.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.42.47 AM.png


The Shade-Dwellers

Jamesia americana - Cliff Bush

Jamesia prefers dry shade, especially at the base of a cliff or boulder where its roots can be kept cool. Clusters of waxy white flowers, reddish bark, and brilliant autumn colors make it a lovely option for the year-round garden. Look for it in the wild and you're sure to find some growing near the cliffs.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.42.56 AM.png

Carex rosea - Rosy Sedge

This sedge plant creates mats of soft, fine texture in the shade of your garden, offering a vivid lawn alternative in the landscape. Carex adapts to wet and dry soil, as well as shade and sun, making it the perfect plant for tough spots.

Brunnera macrophylla - False Forget-me-not

With vibrant heart-shaped leaves, Brunnera spreads across the shade of your garden floor and shows delicate blue flowers that rise to 18” in the early spring and summer. For a magnificent textural effect, layer the bold leaves of Brunnera with more delicate foliage types in the garden.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.43.11 AM.png

Chasmanthium latifolium - Northern Sea Oats

Northern Sea Oats create a tall, vivid backdrop in the shade of the landscape and will tolerate a variety of growing conditions. The “oat-like” cascading seedheads bring unique texture and winter structure, making them an ideal choice for year-round interest.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.43.18 AM.png

Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta' - Ribbon Grass

The wide, variegated leaves of Ribbon Grass provide the garden with interesting foliage contrasts. It grows in wide clumps to 2-4 feet tall and tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. Attractive white seed heads bloom mid-summer.

Screen Shot 2020-06-29 at 11.43.27 AM.png
 

Subscribe

Sign up with your email address to receive monthly blog posts.

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!
tags: plants, plant selection, colorado plants, shade plants, sun plants
categories: Plant Selection
Monday 06.29.20
Posted by Guest User
 
TOF_logo_type_White.png

Address: PO Box 387, Mead, CO 80542
Phone: 303.246.6946

SITEMAP
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS & CONDITIONS

LANDSCAPE FEATURES
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
COMMERCIAL GARDENS
ABOUT
BLOG
CONTACT

Residential & Commercial Landscaping Firm working in Boulder, Denver, and surrounding areas.