Unbridled COLOR Combos

PAIR A BRIGHT-LEAVED MAIN CHARACTER WITH EQUALLY BOLD COMPANIONS FOR LASTING DRAMA IN THE GARDEN

- MAX J. EBER

Ninebarks have received ample attention from hybridizers, resulting in main-character cultivars in a slew of foliage hues and overall dimensions.

Landscape looks a little...flat? A little too green on green on green? Break it up with bright colors! Don't be afraid to use bold strokes of color in your borders, especially with foliage. Instead of concentrating on a favorite flower color, incorporate different leaf and stem hues across multiple plants. This nearly always creates a multiseasonal landscape that's interesting outside of bloom time, which, let's face it, for most plants is most of the year.

Here are some boldly colored favorites and easy, equally vibrant companions to inspire your creativity. This is just a sampling of bright and dramatic offerings, so remember, most foliage mutations in plants fall into four distinct categories: blue-green, maroon, yellow and variegated. Simply sprinkle something out of these four categories among your favorite greens, and you'll never miss. Fair warning: You may need some sunglasses.

Summer Wine, a sizable purple-toned ninebark

Combo #1

MAIN PLAYER: Ninebark

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius; USDA Zones 3–8) is a shaggy-barked, fine-leaved eastern native shrub with a spreading, fountain-like habit. Upright pom-poms of blush-white flowers bloom along the stems in spring, followed by dangling orange-tan seed pods. Vigorous and easy to propagate by stem layering, this shrub prefers moist conditions, yet it adapts to most soil types and even tolerates drought once established. It has benefited from several breeding programs focused on foliage color.