Spring Planting Combinations

Gardening in a mountain climate can be a challenge. Frosts in June, little rainfall and almost no humidity, cold nights and hot days – the weather can be as confusing to the garden as it is to the gardener. One of the keys to a successful high-altitude garden (or any garden, for that matter) is to think about the bloom times. Ensuring that there is color in parts of the garden at all times of the growing season makes for a more successful and enjoyable outdoor living environment.

March Snows bring April Bulbs

In the mountains, spring bulbs start blooming in April and continue blooming through June. The occasional crocus can be seen popping through the snow in mid-March, however, the daffodils, try as they might, are foiled by wet spring snowstorms and do not bloom en masse until mid-April. Tulips follow suit, and depending upon their location, can remain in bloom well into June.

Early-Bird Perennials

Brunnera, or Siberian Bugloss, is a favorite early perennial. With its large violet-shaped leaves and tiny, bright blue florets, it is a harbinger of spring for any mountain garden. Some varieties of Brunnera have variegated silver and green leaf patterns, adding textural interest to an early spring landscape.

Euphorbia, grown for its colorful bracts (the leaves surrounding the actual insignificant flower), provide a compact and showy yellow foliage in early spring. Euphorbia loves the sun; the more sun it gets, the more full and showy it can be. Also packing a bright punch of yellow or orange in the early spring is the Trollius, or globeflower. These tight balls of color sit atop long stems, like orbs shining in the sun.

Anemone sylvestris, or snowdrop anemone, spreads quickly, lacing the garden with soft off-white blossoms. The groundcover Galium odoratum, more commonly known as Sweet Woodruff, is also a favorite for partial shade. Its bright white star-like flowers top an attractive green foliage, forming a nice carpet under aspen trees or shrubs. Finally, these combinations would not be complete without the addition of Alliums. Planted as bulbs in the fall, these tall purple balls float above the garden, contrasting nicely with the yellows, whites, and blues of the Brunnera, Euphorbia and sweet woodruff.

Dicentra, or bleeding heart, is a joy for every gardener. That joy is often short-lived however, because the delicate branching pattern of the plant can be destroyed by the smallest late spring snowstorm. If planted, ensure that it can be protected easily should a stray snowflake land on it.

Late Spring Color

As the soft colors of spring fade, the variegated leaves of the Hosta unfurl, taking over the garden with their complimentary colors and textures. Other plants stretch toward the sun and warmth, rendering the garden a sea of green leaves itching to burst into color.

Centaurea montana, or mountain bluet, is extremely hardy in high mountain gardens. A relative of the bachelor button, its flowers are round and blue. Its color is most showy when planted next to plants with gray-green foliage such as Achemilla mollis, or lady’s mantle, or an Artemesia.

Late spring is also the beginning of columbine season. In sunny conditions, columbines can spread, taking over entire garden beds. Aquilegia colorado, with its delicate purple and white blossoms, is very similar to the native Colorado columbine, and a good choice for any mountain garden. Geranium “Johnson’s Blue” is a compact geranium with bright blue flowers. Given the right conditions of partial sun/shade, these plants can infill areas of a garden in one season, providing a colorful border from mid-June through July.

Many mountain gardeners yearn for masses of peonies in their spring gardens. In fact, given the right conditions – sun and space – peonies can thrive in high-altitude gardens. Planting them in protected environments, such as against walls or in sunny corners, can only help to insure their survival.

Horticultural Design

Obviously, these plant suggestions make up just one season in the garden. Ensuring that there is room left over in the garden for perennials to complete the rest of the growing cycle is the challenge. In all cases, consider design principles in conjunctions with horticultural influences and planting relationships. The end result will be an aesthetically pleasing botanical paradise.