Part of the fun of being a designer is introducing a client to a new plant that surprises them and excites them in a way that helps them forget the pain-in-the-butt fiddly plant that they think they want to grow (just because their mom did). My friend Andrew has recently written a whole book about this very subject. It's called Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?: 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants, and in it he proposes lots of ideas for better alternatives to the standard selection. He is one of my go to guys for plant questions and is one of the most knowledge plant people I know, so I thought I would share with you a recent conversation between the two of us — cause you can always learn something when you eavesdrop on a couple of gardeners.
Rochelle Greayer: Here are my 3 most annoyingly over used plants...what would you tell people to replace them with? Rhododenrons, Arborvitae, Japanese maples.
Andrew Keys: Rhododendrons: if you can grow 'em, you can probably grow mountain laurel, and it's forever one of those underused gems in the landscape. I'd love to see it planted more.
RG: Oh - I always get seduced by the images of Mountain Laurels but then find them to not be as exciting in real life as I expect - (that happens so often!) - I think it's because the flowers are often tucked so deep into the foliage. Any that you can recommend that have the showy factor that I sometimes crave?
AK: I think mountain laurel is definitely a plant that comes into its own after it's planted! My go-to for mountain laurel what's what is Broken Arrow Nursery (pretty local to us in New England, in Connecticut, but also mail-order). Dick Jaynes, its founder, is THE expert on this plant in the U.S. They have a new introduction on their site now called 'Firecracker' that looks like it lives up to its name.
For arborvitae, there's a great tall, narrow cultivar of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) called 'Taylor' I'm a little obsessed with now. Deer tend to look at arborvitae as the best buffet ever, and only go for cedar as an absolute last resort. If all your neighbors are planting arborvitae and you plant 'Taylor', you're probably in the clear. It's better for hot, dry sites too.
RG: I like the look of that one -- adding it to my spring plant buying list!
AK: So Japanese maples: I swing back and forth, but they look so distinct that I find it hard to plant one without having "a Japanese maple garden." Paperbark maple (Acer griseum) is really interesting and underused.
RG: Until you said that I don't think I fully understood my contempt for the Japanese maple. The reality is that I enjoy my own Japanese maple very much and can totally understand why everyone loves them -- but it is one of those plants that really needs to paid special attention to. You can't just slap one in a border and not expect it be the star that it is....and that is where I start to find it annoying. It is so often placed in a way that undermines its quality and specialness. It's one of those plants that just can't help but be a scene stealer, and sometimes scene stealers (who aren't properly managed) can be really annoying.
AK: Yes! That's it exactly. Japanese maples seem to blend so well at first glance, but then I realize I'm finding it hard to pay attention to anything else in the tableau. My top three annoying plants: first is burning bush (Euonymus alatus). People in Massachusetts BEMOAN the fact that it's a banned invasive species now. Plant some blueberries, folks! Or 'Henry's Garnet' itea! They're great too, they'll play much nicer with your other plants, and they don't want to take over the world.
RG: Ha! Burning Bush IS the Twinkie of the garden world -- in that we all knew it wasn't that great from the beginning - in fact they kinda sucked - but now that we can't get it, it's all anyone wants.
AK: Yes! And they seem so benign, until you try to plant something under them, or realize there's an army growing in the woods out back. Second on my list is mophead hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Yeah, I said it — just call me Madonna. I loathe hydrangeas, but only the plain ol' mopheaded kind, especially when there are so many tougher, more interesting hydrangeas to be had: mountain hydrangeas like 'Bluebird; smooth hydrangea cultivars like Invincibelle® Spirit; peegees like Little Lime™ and oakleaf hydrangeas like 'Little Honey'. They all give you that hydrangea fix.
RG: Wait - Madonna doesn't like Hydrangeas? Says who?
AK: Says Madonna! Remember in 2011 when a mic she didn't know was on caught her dissing hydrangeas at the Venice Film Festival? And then she taunted hydrangea fans further with a faux apology? Solidarity, Madge. I'm so over mopheads. Third for me would be hybrid tea roses. I mean, duh. Especially when there are so many great disease-resistant roses to be had these days.
RG: Wow - how did I miss that Madonna hydrangea thing??? But really, do you actually know anyone planting hybrid tea roses these days?
AK: It's shocking, isn't it? But it's true.
RG: I'm sick of a few other things, like Lime Green Potato Vine in Containers — even though I love chartreuse. What would you do instead?
AK: Why not try 'Tiger Eyes' sumac instead? It's a great container plant.
RG: Love that! Would I have to move it out of the container later - won't it get big?
AK: Keep it on the dry side and in part shade (it'll be more chartreuse in shade too), in a large container, and it'll be a long time before you do. And even then, you could divide off a bit to reboot your container.
RG: Are you a grass guy or do you think there are better options than a lawn?
AK: I'm not not a grass guy, but is there anything more high-maintenance? I hate mowing the lawn. There are so many better options out there now. The only reason I haven't replaced my whole lawn is that removing it is no picnic either, and other yard tasks have had to take priority.
RG: I have to admit -- I get weird satisfaction out of making perfect patterns with the mower. Am I the only one who takes great joy in this? I just wish those lines weren't so ephemeral. But I feel lucky that I live in a place where my lawn requires nothing other than the mowing — no watering, and I don't treat it with anything and it is as fine as I like it (which isn't exactly bowling lawn perfection). Mowing I can handle (I really do find it meditative)… its the other stuff I loathe. If I lived somewhere that required all this, I'd have to give it up.
AK: I think a lot of people enjoy mowing, and that's a good thing, as long as their lawn isn't environmentally detrimental, like you said. The chores that come with gardening should be able to be fun somehow. If you find they never are, I'm all for looking at ways to nix them altogether.
RG: And what is your favorite plant-y thing right now?
AK: My favorite plant-y thing right now, since it's winter, is plotting and planning for the year ahead. What new stuff will I plant? How should I rearrange things? My garden may always be a living canvas that's never finished, but I like it that way.
RG: Yeah, me too.
(Images: Andrew Keys)
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It's good to see alternatives pushed more, but I wish everyone would just plant native plants and leave off all these invasives and non-natives that don't belong here and half the time can't survive without extensive care and extra watering. If I ever get to own a house, I want a yard filled with native plants (not grass, unless it naturally can grow there without watering it).
Too bad you can't grow the Texas Mountain Laurel. It's blooming everywhere in Austin right now.
I found this conversation entirely condescending. Who cares, as long as you're putting your hands in the dirt and enjoying the process? (And obviously not planting bamboo or kudzu!)
"Burning bush IS the twinkie of the garden world."
Love that statement! It's so true.
We hired a landscape architect last fall & will get planting & moving things around soon. Well, in 1-2 months as we are in MA & it's currently snowing :)
If you were to plant only natives, you have to define what "native" is because there are a lot of plants that have been bred to grow places that they normally wouldn't. For instance, does it just have to be a North American native to be "native"? Or does it have to grow within 10 miles of where you live historically? And how historical are you willing to go? Would you be unwilling to grow pepper plants because they entered North America a few hundred years ago? What about hybrids that normally wouldn't occur in nature but fit within the other criteria (e.g., native, historic orchids in Florida that have been hybridized)?
I didn't know the landscape design world was a bitchy as the rest of the design world. Eye opening.
It can be worse.
Okay, so I'm glad I'm not the only one. This was like listening in on a conversation between garden snobs. I didn't know half of what they were talking about but you can be assured I wouldn't feel encouraged to cultivate my novice green thumb with them lurking around.
I want the time back that I spent reading halfway through this. Did it get any better toward the end?
I'm fine with some hybrids (orchids are typically not something you plant in your yard and risk becoming invasive, after all) and some non-natives that have been here for such a long time, but all the things we currently import just because they're pretty are the ones to rail against. Mostly I'm talking about trees, bushes, and ground cover plants here. Planting something that grows in your area naturally, that wasn't brought here or bred to grow here, is a lot better for the environment and water conservation.
+1 on natives. As for what qualifies, most "experts" I've spoken to are fine with cultivars and aren't too bothered by planting something that doesn't necessarily come from that specific region as long as it isn't invasive or problematic. I mix natives with herbs and some non-invasive exotics. I sowed native seeds this fall and fingers crossed that they come up. I'm really not good with starting from seed. Fortunately there's a fantastic native nursery nearby and the owners are incredibly helpful.
I'm fairly anti-grass, for the most part. We have it in the back, as we eventually have other plans for the area. We had to regrade so I seeded some low water eco grass, mainly to keep the mud at bay. Last fall I seeded some Pearl's Premium in a small patch in the front. I'm using it as a ground cover/mulch to keep the weeds at bay. It's about 8" high, thick and lush and dark green. I like the way it looks as is, so I may or may not take the weed-whacker to it in the spring then see what it does.
Tiger eye sumac is gorgeous and I would NEVER plant it anywhere again. The suckering is out of control. Very invasive. Very pretty throughout the seasons, too!
I agree with RB Johson and others about the tone of this conversation. It reminded me of an interaction I recently had with a landscape architect whom I hired to walk around my yard (full of perennial beds) and give me some advice on a few problem areas. I struggled to remember the name of a bush I was considering planting in a certain spot, and after describing it, I said something along the lines of "It's pretty popular - I've seen it in a lot of gardens." At which point the landscape architect, who was a really lovely woman, opened her eyes wide and said "Then why would you want to plant it?" I was a bit surprised by that attitude but see now that it might be the norm.
arborvitae & hostas - deer salad bar ;)
my garden is FULL of sentimental plantings and I wouldn't have it any other way! to be reminded through nature of your childhood home and/or your deceased parents is a wonderful thing. my mother was a talented gardener and to choose plants "because they fill our collective memory" is a WONDERFUL way to honor her. I'm disappointed in you today, AT! a ridiculous article.
Jez, I'd never let these people near my garden. What attitude with so little information passed on.
Simple advice: Don't plant invasives, look for natives (but know what natives actually make sense for your yard - is your yard dry and hot? if the land used to be a shady swamp, those natives aren't for you), plant what you can take care of, and plant what you like.
And given the number of cultivars of Japanese maples out there, overused? Are you kidding? If you don't want the same bloodgood that all your neighbours have, pick one of the dozens or hundreds (depending on where you live) other cultivars that are sold in your area. If you have the right conditions for one and you like them, plant away.
I absolutely love opinionated people (probably because I am one myself) and people with a lot of personality, but strong opinions should be well-reasoned and served up with wit and humor. Which I don't see in this smug little interview. Having an attitude is not an effective substitute for having a lot of personality. They're not interchangeable. And irreverence isn't inherently funny. It also sounds like they think they're just so discerning, bitching about people who plant "hybrid tea roses" and whatnot, which is just silly. I get what they're trying to set themselves apart from, but people (and gardens) with real style are not about ticking boxes and slavishly following trends.
I have a meduim brown thumb. between site conditions and the hours i work, plus tearing up the front yard 3 times due to utility issues i have had the chance to re-do my 13 x 17 yard a few times.
no grass,instead i planted several different ground covers to see what would take in my site. bluestone perennials is a wonderful source. some are fragrant, others evergreen. anyway, great alternative. they have a few pre-planned gardens for borders and whatnot, and a very knowlegeable staff if you call with questions
if you are a snacky sort, try the folks at edible landscaping for plants that are both attractive and yummy. again, a wonderful staff.
your local garden club is also a great source. advice, cuttings, thinnings, commiseration. happy digging
Invasive species are the second biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss.
It is environmentally irresponsible of nurseries to sell invasive plants. Not all non-native plants are invasive. Invasive means they have the ability to spread, and out-compete native plants and take over. If you plant it in your garden, it spreads to natural ecosystems (through wind or on car tires or on your shoes etc) and can be extremely detrimental. The US spends billions of dollars a year trying to manage invasive species. Do your research first, and try to plant native plants, or at least non-native plants that aren't considered invasive.
Since when did suggesting you know something about a plant before you stick it in your yard become snobbery?
@ the comment "Who cares, as long as you're putting your hands in the dirt and enjoying the process?" No one is saying (especially not in the above interview) that you shouldn't enjoy the process - but it does actually matter what you "stick in the ground". Many plants sold in big box and local garden centers are highly invasive or are not disease resistant and contribute to many environmental problems, and choke out our native species when they escape from backyards into our woods and prairies.
A lot of nurseries stock a lot of plants that are popular or profitable, but the nurserymen can generally recommend the ones that will do best in your area and in the microclimate of your garden. It's worth paying for a garden consult even if the master gardener is condescending for suggestions specific to your garden conditions.
Sheesh, touchy today. I don't get offended at people in a profession having strong opinions about said profession. How is this any different from any other discussion about food or interior design that has been posted on AT a million times?
I wholeheartedly support the planting of natives, but not all natives are easy care. Right plant in right place.
I clicked on this because I am always looking for inspiration for my garden but this is just tedious - full of catty attitude and not even well written.
Just spend some time on the garden web landscape forums. It's definitely worse.
ditto
I'm a zone 5 gardener and I will not baby any plant. If it's not hardy here, then onto the compost pile it goes. You'd think that would limit my choices, but it doesn't.
I have more than a half acre filled with hardy perennial beauties from all over and it's pretty low maintenance. A little weeding now and then is all my gardens require. It's a great way to be outside and a conversation starter with the neighbors when they come looking for plant advice. Right now it's covered with 6-12 inches of snow, but I can still dream of the future.
Mosaicwench.... I'd like to see pictures... without the snow, of course. It sounds like great inspiration. I'm gardening zone 4 and have herds of hungry deer and I require a large greenspace (a rather unruly lawn at this point) and no plantings against the house for fire safety. So many strikes against me but I do keep trying.....
Another advantage to planting natives is that they actually work with the local ecosystem. You can provide local bugs, birds, butterflies, etc. with the plants they need. Two good books to check out - Michael Pollan's early book about gardening Second Nature and a book called Noah's Garden, both of which talk about the constant tension between gardening and letting go, using natives and making vegetable gardens, etc. I like very much the approach Pollan ultimately took, planting vegetables, herbs and some beloved ornamentals (non-invasive) closest to his house, then transitioning into all native plants until the garden disappeared into the woods.
I plant a mix of natives and non-invasive non-local plants that are known to do well in our area. I have found both at big box stores and the local nurseries. Most of those stores have also stopped selling the worst invasive species including English Ivy. The best information on local are resources specific to your area. Out county has an excellent web site with pictures to browse and there is also a native plant society. NWF offers backyard habitat information on their web site and through programs throughout the country.
I have had very good luck planting a few fruits and vegetables close to my house and then putting natives in the areas further out and in the shady areas. I have native fruit most of the year and the wildlife mostly leaves my plants alone. Now if I could teach my lab not to eat the berries. I have also found that dog fur, mixed into plants will keep a lot of wildlife away. It has protected my strawberries from everything but the lab.
Very pretty, but please note mountain laurel is very poisonous. As a child I lost a pet goat to wild mountain laurel in New England.
Yeah, it was a little catty, but I had to laugh a bit at the burning bush comments, because it is everywhere around here and honestly not that good looking of a plant. Anyway, this was worth the read to discover the Taylor Red Cedar as a nice substitute for arborvitae when you have deer. Seems a bit obscure though, so I may not be able to get it for the privacy screen I'm planting this year.
This post really needs photos of ALL mentioned species.
As an apartment dweller, I'd love the chance or space or permanence to even dream of planting trees, or shrubberies, or taking out the lawn to put in anything else.
That Texas Mountain Laurel is my favorite too!
Most often a garden is a highly emotional affair. As a garden designer it's your job first to identify your client's actual needs and wishes and then to design a garden along those lines in accordance with the surrounding landscape, the building, the budget etc. It's not your job to impose your personal preferences on your client, regardless how trendy your preferences are.
I follow the blogs of both Rochelle and Andrew, and they are both incredibly thoughtful, interested, and knowledgeable plant nerds (see for yourself: Studio G Landscape Blog and Garden Smackdown). The nerd part is important: plants are what they've worked with, what they study, and what they pay attention to, and what they love! So whereas a lot of people on AT may have strong opinions on Eames, or granite countertops, or the use of the color turquoise -- that's plants for these two. So a lot of it is aesthetic preference. And it's fine! I hate cacti and knockout roses.
I think what they're trying to share here is the knowledge that many popular plants are actually not all that fun to live with. People with less plant experience may not look at a gorgeous new arborvitae and picture it with bagworms all over it and full of rust-colored branches, but that's the likely future. Really, check out Andrew's book, Why Grow That When You Can Grow This. I got it for Christmas and keep it on my bedside table now. You don't have to agree with everything in it to gain valuable information to help you live with and nurture the plant you choose, even if it is a rhododendron (which I love!).
One more thing, I saw on Rochelle's blog this morning that this post is from emails exchanged between she and Andrew. Of course it's going to be opinionated and familiar -- they're dorking out!
I don't think either of them would judge someone for filling their beds with mophead hydrangeas and having a lawn, but these are theirl opinions, gathered from personal study and experience.
Loved the garden banter. Thanks for encouraging people to think outside of the gardening box! It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
Loved the garden banter. Thanks for encouraging people to think outside of the gardening box! It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
I think people may be upset because this ain't the sandbox in terms of gardening conversations. I follow both Rochelle and Andrew's lines of thinking, and agree regarding my own garden and landscaping principles.
If you're looking for an introduction to a field, sitting in on a conversation with passionate experts would probably leave you feeling like you were in over your head, no matter the field. I appreciate the knowledge and experience that both of these individuals have had in regards to working with plants and clients' experiences, and the fact they are bringing something fresh to the table instead of "Top 10 Easy-Peasy 18 months flowering period No-Maintenance Shrubs for your Landscape!!!1!1"
I don't like any of the suggestions. A little pedestrian for me.
I only landscape every year with edible plants. Grow them, and when plants die off use the plants for composting. I am thinking of adding some berries.
Can we get a Portlandia sketch based on these two?
I clicked on this excited to get some fresh ideas and tips for my very first garden. Instead I learned that I am apparently some kind of idiot because I want to try both a rhododendron AND a Japanese maple.
Angry,
A native plant is one that was endemic to the region prior to colonization, and are great because they are adapted to the climate and ecosystem of the area and so require very little care and prove resources for native fauna. Exotics are usually fine, as long as they're non-invasive! I keep a garden of native perennials and annual food plants, because the food plants benefit from crop rotation!
"It's not your job to impose your personal preferences on your client, regardless how trendy your preferences are."
Well said. Imho, the HIGHEST PRAISE a designer could ever receive is that once the job is complete, there's no evidence he was ever there. Meaning...the design (whether exterior or interior) is such a reflection of the owner's personal tastes/needs that no one would ever suspect a designer was involved.
I have attempted twice to consult a 'designer' - once for an interior mental block of mine & once for landscaping. Both times, I backed out after visiting their installations. (References came to me by word-of-mouth from folks I knew well, so an onsite visit was easy). Both projects had the designer's name stamped all over it and reflected nothing of the owners' personalities or tastes. Not what I'm after so I'll keep plowing on, flyng by the seat of my pants if you will. Perhaps eventually, I'll stumble upon something that makes my heart sing.
Personally I thought it was an amusing post, but don't let others dictate to you what's 'in' or 'out'. Plants hold strong meaning to many who have learned to garden with family - I tend to ask for plants from family and friends gardens as gifts. They mean more than anything else.
I Love Japanese Maples but they will not grow up here in Wisconsin so I keep an regular old apple tree trimmed to look like one. People stop to look at it and take pictures. Even though the tree is 30 years old I can pick all the apples from the ground.