A Pretty Late Season Border Idea with Kniphofia, Monkshood and Grasses

Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Summer Borders, Fall Borders

Enjoy a glowing and colorful garden in late summer or fall. Combine the crimson flower spikes of Kniphofia rooperi (Red Hot Poker), the azure-blue spires of Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' (Monkshood), and the long-lasting, fragrant blooms of Rose 'Sally Holmes' with the graceful Miscanthus sinensis 'Yakushima Dwarf' (Maiden Grass).

Complement this planting with Euonymus planipes (Spindle Tree), a large, deciduous shrub noted for its most dramatic fall foliage and very ornamental berries. Glistening in the late season, these easy-to-grow plants will enlighten your garden for weeks.

Most plants are top performers and have been awarded prestigious awards. Fairly easy to replicate, this plant combination will make your neighbors envious. Enjoy!

Garden Information

Hardiness	6 - 8
Heat Zones	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Late), Fall
Maintenance	Average
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Loam
Soil pH	Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Informal and Cottage

Plants In This Garden

Kniphofia rooperi (Red Hot Poker)

Kniphofia rooperi is one of the most distinctive kniphofias with its large, egg-shaped, bright red flowers fading to yellow, held over a broad and high foliage. This tall, late-flowering perennial from South Africa is one of the highlights of the late summer to early fall border.

Hardiness	6 - 9
Heat Zones	4 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Late), Fall
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Miscanthus sinensis 'Yakushima Dwarf' (Chinese Silver Grass)

Compact and good-looking! Its fine-textured foliage, which consists of arching, silvery-green leaves borne on short, upright stems, creates an exquisite fountain shape that stands out beautifully and sways gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening any landscapes.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Heat Zones	1 - 9
Plant type	Ornamental Grasses
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' (Monkshood)

Blooming later than most Aconitum species, award-winning Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii'(Monkshood) is an erect, tuberous perennial with dense spires of rich azure-blue flowers in early to mid-fall.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Heat Zones	3 - 8
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Fall
Height	2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Rosa 'Sally Holmes' (Climbing Rose)

Providing a charming display that is a feast for the eyes, award-winning Rosa ‘Sally Holmes’ is a vigorous, climbing rose with generous clusters of fragrant, single (4-8 petals), creamy white flowers, and pink-peach buds.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Heat Zones	3 - 9
Plant type	Climbers, Roses
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height	6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m)
Spread	3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)

Euonymus planipes (Spindle Tree)

Noted for its most dramatic foliage and very ornamental berries, Euonymus planipes (Spindle Tree) is a large, deciduous shrub that is invaluable in the fall and winter garden. Its foliage of huge, ovate, mid-green leaves turns to vibrant crimson-to-ruby red in early fall, making the whole plant glow with color. In late spring, a profusion of tiny, star-shaped, greenish flowers appear before being replaced by masses of large, lobed, crimson-pink fruits that mature during the fall.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Heat Zones	5 - 9
Plant type	Shrubs
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Summer (Late), Fall
Height	8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m)
Spread	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas

Rosa (Rose) Miscanthus (Maiden Grass) Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker) Euonymus Aconitum (Monkshood)

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Aster amellus ‘King George’ (Italian Aster)

Kniphofia ‘Percy’s Pride’ (Red Hot Poker)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Silberspinne’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Rosa Strawberry Hill (English Rose)

Learn About These Genera

Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.