Rustic Look Offers Options

Rustic landscaping relies heavily on native plants. But old-fashioned perennials blend easily with the natives for a garden that looks like it’s been growing nearly untended for years.

Following are suggestions from area specialty nurseries for plants ideal in rustic yards:

Daylilies survive very harsh winters and scorching summer days with aplomb.

They spread easily and can be divided regularly. The problem will be containing them to one spot. Pandora’s Box is one of the older varieties, common to Victorian-era cottage gardens.

Perennial cornflower blooms on and off throughout the summer.

Columbines grow wild in the forest and will easily adapt to backyard gardens. They bloom in a variety of colors and spread easily and rapidly.

Oriental poppies are staples in cottage gardens. They bloom in June in reds, oranges and pinks and are winter hardy throughout this area. Iceland poppies, repeat bloomers each summer, are also popular, and hardy in exposed areas.

Lupine blooms blue as a wildflower throughout the West. However, choose cultivated plants, which grow much larger and produce tall spikes thick with flowers that range from white to deep purple.

Dwarf and Siberian iris will forgive almost any amount of neglect and grow to more than 3 feet tall. They aren’t fussy, but they do need dividing every few years.

Lilacs enjoy immense popularity in this, the Lilac City. But they bloom in colors other than purple. A very hardy variety from Canada blooms pink, and of course, there are white varieties, too.

Peonies have a reputation for being difficult should you want to transplant them. The myth is that once planted, they stay in that spot for life. However, nursery owners say that’s not the case. They can be transplanted any time they are dormant, meaning early spring and in the fall. Don’t plant them too deep; they need the near-zero temperatures for vigorous blooming in June.

Herbs of all varieties have a place in rustic landscaping. Savvy gardeners use them for texture - such as the crinkled leaves of lemon balm, bushy oregano, lacy French parsley or spiky lavenders. Sage grows with variegated hues, and sweet woodruff spreads quickly underneath conifers for dainty white blossoms in the spring.