Southern Gardening

A creative way to add interest to any planting is to combine plants having different colors and textures. Let’s take a look at some really good combinations to use in your garden. I really like the contrasting colors of these plants next to each other in the landscape. The flowers of Double Cherry Improved Zahara zinnia are beautiful. The fully double flowers range from deep magenta and mature to a pale pastel cherry pink. Purple Flash ornamental pepper is one of the showiest available. The purple and white variegated leaves are easily seen from across the garden.

I’m always amazed at the ability of rock climbers to scurry up the side of a mountain. But just as amazing are some of the climbing plants that we can grow in our gardens. Evergreen wisteria, also known as Millettia reticulata, is a great climbing plant. This wisteria is well-behaved; not as aggressive and invasive as our native wisteria. But the flowers are very similar to the showy, purple wild varieties. This plant will mature gracefully, and develop interesting, yet beautiful, twisted an gnarly trunks.