This fall, plant the best of the best
CLAYTON, CA (Oct. 20, 2024) — Each year, a few plants stand out as being the most sought after in the nursery. We refer to these plants as “front yard worthy.”
This includes plants that are exceptional bloomers and possess longevity of leaves and/or flowers. These types of plants add to your curb appeal.
Here’s a list of this year’s most sought-after shrubs, trees and perennials:
Salvia Mystic Spires. Hands down the most sought-after perennial of this growing season, and it’s with good reason. Salvia Mystic Spires stood up to all the summer had to offer. Extensive heat and brutal sun did not obstruct this heavy-blooming perennial from wowing the landscape. Salvia Mystic Spires will mature to 3-4 feet tall and about half as wide. Basil-shaped, dark green leaves lead the way to the plant’s 6- to 8-inch long spires of dark blue. Flowers start to appear in mid to late April, and with deadheading, you can expect to still be enjoying flowers throughout October. This perennial is successfully planted in masses, installed throughout a riverbed or rock borders, used along retaining walls, or planted near spring-blooming ornamental trees like Purple Pony Flowering Plums or Redbud trees. Salvia Mystic Spires is also greatly used as the thriller (centerpiece) of a combination planter.
Acacia Cousin Itt. A fun name for this tough-as-nails evergreen. Weeping dark green stems of long willow-shaped leaflets can reach 3-4 feet tall and sometime 4-5 feet wide. Cousin Itt will grow wide before it puts on the height. If you give it room to spread, you can expect the height of this evergreen to be slightly less. However, if you control your Cousin Itt’s spread, your plant will grow taller. Cousin Itt is very water-wise and requires little to no fertilizer. The thin leaves make it incredibly heat and sun tolerant. It’s one of those shrubs that prefers to be installed from fall through spring. It doesn’t like summer planting. This acacia has no flower, so those sensitive to acacia flower pollen have no need to worry about allergies.
Desert Palo Verde. The tree in the most demand this season. This deciduous tree has a bright green trunk and branches. Tiny oval leaves line their thin stems. This tree is fast growing and looks almost hazy from a distance. In late spring, tiny, butter yellow flowers take over the tree. The Desert Palo Verde is best planted in its natural, multi-trunk shape. Young trees need early shaping for balance, and since the branches are thin, it is totally possible for the homeowner to do the early maintenance. You’ll need to leave some room for the Desert Palo Verde to grow. This tree will quickly reach heights of 15 feet tall and wide. It’s full-sun tolerant and loves well-drained soil, so use a grainy planting mix or a succulent-cactus type soil.
Lomandra Platinum Beauty. Easily the most sought-after grass-like plant the past two seasons. This grass is variegated cream and green. It is tidy, evergreen and super easy to grow. Since it’s been around for a bit, we do know that it can grow wider than the label reads. Allow 5 feet of spread for this grass, which alone will try to spread 3 feet wide. Lomandra looks great as a singular focal planting or in a mass along a fence or property line.
Fall planting is finally in full swing, and most plants are happy to be installed as long as the evening temperatures don’t dip too far into the 40s.
You can contact Nicole Hackett with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.
Read more Garden Girl columns.
Nicole Hackett
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com