White blooms take a strong lead in a landscape design by Kip Nordstrom, garden designer and owner of Hearth n’ Soul (Lake Oswego, Oregon). PHOTO COURTESY OF HEARTH N' SOUL

PART 1 OF 2

Visions of white: A series on white blooming This month: Perennials, groundcovers, bulbs, , edbiles and Hydrangeas June: Woody trees and shrubs

Visions of white These white-blooming plants brighten up landscapes

BY TRACY ILENE MILLER

LOOMS COME IN ALL variations of color and hue, inescapable, including a calming, healing effect. but there is a special place for white blooms in a garden “It certainly can be considered Zen,” said P. Annie Kirk, or landscape. owner and landscape designer at Red Bird Restorative Gardens B“White goes with everything,” said Justin Hancock, senior (Woodburn, Oregon). director of marketing at Monrovia Nursery (multiple growing loca- Given the broad range of white-blooming plants, from annuals tions, including Dayton, Oregon). “It blends with soft colors, cools to vines and even trees, in this Part 1 of a two-part article, we focus down hot colors and it’s an all-around ideal color.” here on nearly half of the top-quality plants growers and designers White blooms can also be important as architectural ele- named as strong selections — and why. ments and for drawing attention to sunlight in both lighted and shady areas. Perennials, groundcovers “I like to use white blooms for specific contrast or captur- As the foundation of any garden, white blooming perennials ing backlight,” said Roxy Olsson, a landscape designer at retailer offer long-term consistency and bloom. Farmington Gardens (Beaverton, Oregon). Planted in front of a Eschscholzia californica ‘Alba’ (white California poppy) has window, looking from inside to outside, they two growth spurts, reseeds itself, is appreci- can capture light in the evening glow, and for ated by native bees, pairs well with blue darker spaces in the garden, white blooms fescue and is extremely drought tolerant, promote interest. according to Olsson. Many white blooming plants also offer For its architectural height and structure fragrance and food for insects and birds and — highlighting the middle and back of the can extend seasonal interest, often as the garden bed — she uses the 1–2 foot dwarf first in late winter and early spring. Lupinus ‘Gallery White’ (lupine). It mixes While white in the garden is sometimes well with other flowers like poppies, and overlooked, Hancock said, designers and Chamaemelum nobile ‘Flore Pleno’. bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love it. growers agreed it has a multifunction that is PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOMING NURSERY Taking a little more sun, the

DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2020 15 Visions of white

Phlox paniculata ‘David’ Cimicifuga ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOMING NURSERY PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOMING NURSERY

2–2½ feet Physostegia virginiana ‘Miss July and lasts into October. It is Nordstrom’s Manners’ (obedient ) will grow sum- favorite white-. “It always mer to early fall in moist soil and works has something happening for months on as a good cut . “It is adaptable, but end,” she said. not drought-tolerant,” Olsson said. “It Although she uses a lot of white pansies likes periodic wetness.” for customers who want a winter container Lewisia cotyledon ‘Alba’ (white bitter- garden, she turns to Helleborus niger ‘HGC root) blooms in winter and different times Jacob’ (Christmas rose) for its months-long of year, Olsson said. This 6-inch native suc- blooms from November through February. culent is meant for well-drained situations, She later transfers it into the summer including pots. garden for permanent planting. That, or Leucanthemum ‘Shortstop’ (Shortstop™ Helleborus niger ‘HGC Josef Lemper’, which Shasta daisy) hits the nostalgia trend, accord- is interchangeable because both cultivars ing to Hancock. It’s easy to grow, resistant to perform strongly. some fungi, and has a long bloom time for Kirk is also a fan of ‘Jacob’ for its a daisy. It is a smaller 1–2 foot size for con- longevity and because the flower heads face tainer or garden growing, and attracts pol- up. “You do need to be mindful of expo- linators. Hancock also believes the evergreen, sure; too hot will burn it; too moist, it will 1–2 feet Agapanthus ‘Double Diamond’ fail,” she said. does not get the attention it deserves, partly For trouble-free flowers, Grace because the genus is synonymous with laven- Dinsdale, founder and owner at Blooming der blue. “But it is fun, with double flowers, Nursery (Cornelius, Oregon), points to a little showier, a little more compact, good Gaura ‘So White’ (Wand Flower), one of her for urban spaces and a longer bloom, so nursery’s bestsellers. “This one is 18 inches, more bloom for enjoyment,” he said. a good medium height,” she said. She likes it A more recent addition to her white better than the more recently released shorter blooming repertoire, Fuchsia magellanica versions. “It provides more utility in combi- ‘Hawkshead’ is perfect for part-shade nation pots and in the front of the border.” situations that need easy care, said Kip Also in the border, Phlox paniculata Nordstrom, garden designer and owner of ‘David’ is a standout 3-foot-tall variety with Hearth n’ Soul (Lake Oswego, Oregon). a rounded dome of florets. Dinsdale recom- She called it an “outstanding” evergreen mends it for moist areas, and considers it one performer with consistent blooms from of the cleanest phlox she’s found. “It has a summer through late fall on a hardy, fast- wonderfully billowy element that looks good growing 4 foot by 4 foot plant that needs with everything, even if next to something consistent moisture. spiky.” It’s fragrant, needs limited deadhead- Another tried-and-true plant is ing, blooms July through September and is a Hosta plantaginea ‘Venus’, according to good cut flower. Nordstrom. With “gorgeous” and fragrant Another fragrant flower, Cimicifuga double-flowers on a compact 20-inch ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ (Bugbane), loves by 35-inch plant, it is good for covering moisture and has tall, white, narrow 4–5 shady ground. foot flowers and feathery, dark-colored foli- Sometimes Nordstrom wants to tidy the age. Mostly people include it for the foliage 3–7 foot Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s because there’s not a huge display, according root), but she doesn’t dare because the bees to Dinsdale. “But, it is good for cut flowers, (and other pollinators) love it. “It only deer resistant, attracts birds and bees, and blooms once in the summer, but they last at blooms summer into fall.” least a month,” she said. Dropping back to the ground, Gardeners much watch Anemone × Chamaemelum nobile ‘Flore Pleno’ (double- hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ carefully because flowered Roman chamomile) bears one-inch it will naturalize and spread, but the “stun- wide bold flowers with finer foliage than ning” 2–5 foot tall plant that blooms in late the annual Matricaria chamomilla used for

16 APRIL 2020 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM Triteleia hyacinthina PHOTO COURTESY OF FARMINGTON GARDENS making tea. “Planted as a lawn, it needs to be mown before it’s in full bloom,” Dinsdale said. Maintenance keeps it from becoming rangy, but it is easy to care for in hot, dry and sunny locations. At 18-inches in a shady area, Beesia del- tophylla (false bugbane) has evergreen leaves, and small stacks of white blooms like Heuchera, according to Kirk. But, the leaves Broadacres North Farm Store stay on longer. In a medium-wet area, she 9400 St. Paul Highway, Aurora, OR 97002 20160 Main Street, St. Paul, OR 97137 might pair it with Astilbe and Sarcococca 503-633-4562 503-633-4281 spp. (sweet box), variegated Hosta and fern Home of the St. Paul Rodeo or Fragraria for a woodland feel. “The sweetness of Sarcococca, which is blooming right now, is that you step out- side and you ask, ‘What is that phenomenal smell?’” Kirk said.

Bulbs Leucojum aestivum (summer snow- flake) actually flowers in late spring, natural- izes beautifully, and is one of Kirk’s favorites — white with a touch of green, providing more than one look.And Galanthus nivalis (snow drops), at 5–7 inches, appears in just about every one of her designs because the white in the flowers is particularly reflective, Our team has the knowledge and experience beautiful and bright. to assist you in making sound decisions. Triteleia hyacinthina (white brodiaea) is a lily reminiscent of agapanthus in flower www.marionag.com shape but on a smaller scale. “It fantastic when planted in clusters,” Olsson said. • Custom Blending • Nutrition Programs When it bends back and forth, it gives a • Dry Fertilizer • Pest Management sense of movement and character. The bulb • Liquid Fertilizer • Testing & Analysis is also a food crop of First Nations people of the Willamette Valley. • Organic Fertilizer • Seed Cleaning • Lime & Dolomite • Sand Blasting Vines Application • Paint Shop Schizophragma elliptifolium ‘MonHart’ (Lacy Hearts™ hydrangea ), with its Marion Ag Service is proud to partner ™ gray-green heart-shaped leaves with white with Harrell’s, LLC to bring you Polyon controlled release fertilizer edges, answers the trend toward variegated foliage. It bears white lacecap flowers in the summer, according to Hancock. For adding privacy or covering an old wall, it’s a beauti- ful backdrop all summer long, and also tol- erates some shade. Holboellia brachyandra ‘HWJ1023’ (Heavenly Ascent® Holboellia) has rich green evergreen foliage and deeply fragrant, waxy white flowers that, when pol- Get the longevity you pay for linated, produce ornamental fruit. It is not self-clinging and needs support for its

DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2020 17 Visions of white

Sesamum indicum Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Zebra’ Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bombshell’ PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIE ARTHUR PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOMING NURSERY PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOMING NURSERY

up-to-20-foot size. “It’s on the bigger size, white flowers, and works as a screen or excuse to trim the shrub, she said. but won’t get like wisteria,” Handcock said. architectural element when attached to an Arthur also mentions the reliable As far as Kirk is concerned, nothing arbor or fence. bloomer (even in cold climates) Hydrangea beats Clematis armandii (Evergreen clematis) Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa (arugula) is arborescens ‘Annabelle’ (smooth hydran- — its fragrance, its showiness and masses of practical to grow because it is edible, accord- gea), which is adaptable nationwide. It is a star-shaped flowers. ing to Arthur. A spicy deterrent for browsing rounded and somewhat compact 3–5 feet, mammals, the flowers are beautiful when with blooms in early summer and sometimes Edibles they bolt in spring, providing nectar for pol- again in fall. “Every human being should grow sesa- linators at a time when it is scarce. Nordstrom said ‘Annabelle’ is particu- me once,” said Brie Arthur, garden designer, larly good for those sun-shade locations horticulturist and author out of Raleigh- Hydrangea in the garden, because a half-day of sun Durham, North Carolina. “It’s like a white On any list of white blooming plants, is the cure for it flopping over. She uses foxglove that blooms all summer.” It’s a rising to the top is hydrangea, of which ‘Annabelle’ for its compactness as well as robust plant, pollinator friendly, and “would there are dozens of varieties. Arthur is the newer varieties ‘Bombshell’ and ‘Bobo’. be a fantastic plant for garden centers to partial to the hardy Hydrangea paniculata “Everyone doesn’t have room to put big grow and sell a small amount.” ‘Bokrathirteen’ SWEET SUMMER, a smaller hydrangeas in,” Nordstrom said. The small- Lagenaria siceraria (cucuzzi squash) variety at 6½ feet, bursting with large, green er ones work nicely even placed on both is one of Arthur’s favorite squash plants to blooms that mature into white with strong sides of a pathway. grow for not only the fruit but also the white stems that are good for cuttings. She uses Hancock said Monrovia’s Candy flowers that open at night. Trichosanthes it to stud her Christmas tree with flow- Apple™ Hydrangea, at 4 –4½ feet, is a cucumerina (snake gourd) also has giant ers. Culling the stems for this use is a great much smaller version of ‘Limelight’. It fits into smaller gardens, blooms on newer wood, requires no pruning like H. macro- phylla, offers season-long interest and is a good cut flower. The drama of contrasting colors is on display with H. macrophylla ‘Zebra’, a mop- head variety that is 3–4 feet high and wide, with sparkling white blooms on black stems. “The juxtaposition of the black and white makes it a knockout,” Dinsdale said. She calls it “lustrous” at the nursery. Another compact grower, H. quercifolia 503-434-5525 ‘Pee Wee’, is multifunctional, according to 1726 SW Highway 18, McMinnville, OR 97218 • www.dstakemill.com Kirk. “It attracts wildlife and has blooms that I can use in my home dried or not, and I can leave it for cover for the bushtits, while • Shipping Materials enjoying that sort of russet color that the - Pallet repair boards, shipping gates, flowers turn,” she said. “When that jade leaf tilt sticks. starts to turn in fall, stand back for orange, • Custom Assembly red and burgundy colors.” - Shipping racks, bare root Given the great number of white crates and nursery pallets. blooming plants, no one article can include • Planting Stakes them all. Check back, in the June issue of - Multiple sizes available Digger, when we continue to review the • Treated Lumber top performers, and trend-setters, and focus - Multiple sizes available exclusively in Part 2 on woody plants.

Tracy Ilene Miller is a freelance writer and editor who covers several topics, Lumber Products for All Nursery Needs including gardening. She can be reached at [email protected].

18 APRIL 2020 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM