Bring Height to the Flower Garden

Balance is important in the garden. A one-dimensional garden is uninteresting and lacks character. A garden space may start out as an empty lot but with a design plan and some hard work, the one-dimensional space becomes a multidimensional ‘Eden‘.

Plants

Pyramidal shaped plants add instant height to the garden and should be incorporated in your plan. EastBrooks has a nice selection of this shape plant.

In the absence of tall plants like trees and bushes, or to fill in the area, giving time for larger plants to grow, vines are a wonderful choice. There are countless varieties of vines to choose from, something to please every gardener.

VINES

• Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
• Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)
• Chayote (Sechium edule) *Edible fruits
• Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
• Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus)
• Red Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
• Twining Snapdragon (Maurandella antirrhiniflora)
• Violet Trumpet Vine (Clytostoma callistegioides)

SHRUBS

• Chinese Mock Orange (Philadelphus purpurascens) 8-10 ft.
• Fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum farreri) 8-10 ft.
• Japanese Aucuba (Aucuba japonica) 4-6 ft. tall *poisonous if ingested
• Pyracantha (Pyracantha sp.) 10 ft. tall
• Slender Deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) 4-6 ft. tall
• Weigela (Weigela coraeensis) 12-15 ft.
• Willowleaf Meadowsweet (Spiraea salicifolia) 4-6 ft. tall
• Winter Barberry (Berberis julianne) 6-8 ft tall *2 inch long thorns

TREES

• Eastern Arborvitae ‘Spiralis’ (Thuja occidentalis) 6-10ft.
• Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) 40 ft. or taller*Pyramidal
• Japanese Pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) 40ft. or taller
• Narrow-leaved Crab Apple (Malus angustifolia) 20-30ft.
• Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea) 20-30ft.
• Sacred Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) 40 ft. or taller *Pyramidal

Plant information can be found at Dave’s Garden Plant Files.

Adding a Berm

A berm or hill of mounded earth adds an attractive element to the landscape, as well as height. It can be planted with ornamental grasses which will catch the breeze before lower growing plants and add a bit of gracefulness to the garden. A waterfall flowing through the grasses to a koi pond below, could give the illusion that the berm is a natural occurrence in the landscape.

Arbors, Trellises, Obelisks and Pergolas

When planting vines for height, they will need something to climb up. Options for vine supports are endless. Arbors, trellises and obelisks are built in several sizes and from many sorts of materials. Natural materials, such as grapevine, bamboo and willow, work well for the informal garden. Other materials used in building these supports are metals like iron and copper and treated wood products.

Arbors are a marvelous choice for perennial vines that grow larger each year. Climbing roses are a good choice for arbors. A well placed arbor can draw the wanderer from one garden space to the next, helping to create ‘rooms’ for all to enjoy.

Trellises can be as simple as a framed lattice panel to train vines upward, strategically placed in flower beds and on the walls of garden sheds or garages.

Obelisks are four-sided structures that are large at the base and taper as they reach skyward. They may have a finial at the top, where the obelisk comes to a point. The garden obelisk is made with open weave to allow vines to twine in, out and around.

Pergolas can dress up a nondescript walkway and have many spots for climbing plants like roses.

Statuary

Another way to add height in the garden is by adding statues. They can be found at local home centers and even national chain department stores.