Blooming Beautiful: Planting for Every Season
Inspired Landscapes’ lead designer Matt Ripley is well known as being at the forefront of impressionist, naturalistic planting design utilizing bold displays of color in projects both grand and contained in scale. Here are some favorite choices that ensure his signature gardens are showcases in all seasons both from an aesthetic and functional perspective, bucking the notion that colorful gardens only thrive in summer months. Consider these exciting options when working with your Sonoma County landscape contractors:
What Flowers Thrive in Sonoma County in Late Winter and Early Spring?
Native Ceanothus and Ribes put on beautiful color displays when most perennials remain dormant.
Ceanothus ‘Anchor Bay’ and ‘Yankee Point’ both thrive in landscape environments providing both pollen and nectar for bee populations at a time when food is scarce. Taller shrub versions of Ceanothus include the incredibly robust Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’, and the unmistakable power of Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ with its tightly packed nearly black foliage and immensely deep blue flowers which stand in contrast to the lighter lilac blues of most Ceanothus.
Non-invasive types of Echium are fantastic choices with a personal favorite being the exotic nature of Echium wildpretti ‘Tower of Jewels’
For those willing to try out annuals, transform your outdoor space with California native Borage (Phacelia viscida), a wonderful choice for its star shaped blue blooms which are highly visited by a wide range of pollinators and serves as a critical food source in the spring. n]California native Chamomile (Chamomila occidentalis), readily spreads through tough soil conditions creating white and yellow carpets that are also beloved by early season pollinators.
What Flowers Bloom the Best in Sonoma County in Early Summer?
Verbena bonariensis, Agastache ‘Purple Haze’ and Digiplexus ‘Illumination Flame’ all serve as show stopping early summer perennials while also attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinating bees and wasps. While none of these are California natives, they are each well adapted to our climate and grow happily in a wide range of soils with low-moderate water needs making them a great addition to make your garden more eco-friendly.
Verbena bonariensis ‘Lolipop’ and Agastache ‘Purple Haze’ are two of the best plants for attracting Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies as their flower shape and color is near perfection for these stunning creatures. They are also unusually long lasting bloomers so long as consistent summer water is applied. One trait that is particularly noteworthy is that if they go through periods of drought and become stressed during a heat wave, they have a marvelous ability to bounce back and produce fresh blooms of established flower clusters due to the way their flowers evolve throughout the year. Having durable blooms can help you build a cost-effective landscape.
What Flowers Bloom the Best in Sonoma County in Late Summer and Fall?
Epilobium canum, Aster ‘Monch’, and Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ are show stopping and consistent performers in late summer Sonoma County gardens. All three possess extreme hardiness, and a willingness to show off in a variety of sun exposure, soil types, and watering conditions. These are another welcome addition to incorporate sustainability into your landscape design.
California native Epilobium canum is a must have in a Sonoma County garden, ‘Schiefellin’s Choice’, ‘Everett’s Choice’, and ‘Catalina’ are cultivars that shine above the rest. Silvery foliage, profuse clusters of red blooms, and ease of care make them a gardener’s dream, not to mention they are quite possibly the favorite food source for hummingbirds.
Aster ‘Monch’ is a tried and true classic blue flower with yellow center disk attracting Painted Lady butterflies and by the droves while the robust and timeless Rudbeckia (also known at Black Eye-Susan) is a bold dash of unmistakable golden yellow whose seed heads serve as a food source for a variety of birds including Gold Finch who perch upon them and feast well into the fall and early winter. Both are popular choices for Sonoma County landscape contractors.
What Flowers Bloom the Best in Sonoma County in Late Fall and Winter?
Lepechinia hastata ‘Baja Pitcher Sage’ is a unique California native that comes into it’s best form late in the fall and carries blooms all the way through winter into spring. Noteworthy for requiring very little water and it’s impressive pointed teal leaves, the blooms emerge in dramatic spires above the foliage with a dark pink to purple hue. The tubular flower are very popular with hummingbirds as well as myself because they are uniquely tasty edible flowers are adorn my winter salads with a peppery floral taste to die for!
Sonoma County’s Floral Scapes
Describing what flowers perform well in Sonoma County landscapes is a topic in which many volumes of books could be written, we are so blessed with ideal growing conditions! I adore designing colorful gardens for my clients as well as structuring them so they serve ecological function for regenerative landscapes providing food and habitat for local fauna to thrive at your property.
Boost Your Blooms with Inspired Landscapes
Are you ready to transform your landscape? Get inspired with Inspired Landscapes! Our team of professional designers and landscapers provide exceptional guidance to help you design a floral landscape that gets the best from every season. Give us a call for a free consultation (707) 395-7474 or contact Inspired Landscapes today to get started.
