Perennial Power. Using perennials in combos opens up another world of textures and flower forms. Many more first-year flowering perennials are available now as compared with several years ago, and this opens up additional possibilities for textures, foliage, and flower forms to mix with annuals. Leucanthemum, for example, provides additional options if you’re looking for a daisy.
<<< Senacio Angel Wings is a surprise element tying together the silver-toned artemisia with other blue hues
>>> Artemisia is a
full, textured filler balancing out the leucanthemum & crespedia
Leveling Up Your Display Another look we trialed in the garden this year was the double-decker combo display. We love the added height this gives the combos, and garden visitors liked looking at combos from different angles. Double decker combos could work well in large spaces, in places where you’d like the focal point higher than a pot typically is, and in spaces where you’re trying to create an especially unique look. We encourage our garden visitors to do what we do – go ahead and just try it if you’re curious about novel combinations or display ideas. Some of our favorite combinations of the season came from our ‘surprise’ additions. You might find that you surprise yourself when you try out your own thriller-filler-spiller combinations!
Michael DeBerti is the head grower at Mast Young Plants. Michael holds a BS in Horticulture from Penn State, and in addition to over 35 years of growing experience, is the creative mastermind behind the 200 custom combinations featured at Mast Young Plants’ summer trial gardens.
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