With a variety of bloom times, textures, and wildlife appeal, this combination provides year-round interest, while supporting pollinators and minimizing water usage.
A garden featuring Delosperma (Ice Plant), Nepeta (Catmint), Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-Needle Beardtongue), and Artemisia schmidtiana (Wormwood) provides an elegant combination of color, texture, and resilience. This garden is ideal for sunny, dry locations, offering year-round interest with minimal care.
Delosperma (Ice Plant) is a hardy succulent native to South Africa, known for its striking, daisy-like flowers in shades of orange, pink, and purple. It blooms from late spring to late summer and provides vibrant ground cover. Its drought tolerance and deer resistance make it an excellent choice for rock gardens or sunny borders.
Nepeta (Catmint), native to parts of Europe and Asia, adds a continuous show of blue or lavender flowers from late spring to early fall. Its aromatic foliage deters deer, and it thrives in dry, sunny conditions. Nepeta is a magnet for pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and its long blooming period ensures steady garden activity.
Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-Needle Beardtongue), a native of the southwestern United States, offers vibrant red tubular flowers from early to late summer. Its compact form and needle-like foliage provide texture, while its flowers attract hummingbirds. Penstemon is both drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, thriving in well-drained soils.
Artemisia schmidtiana (Silver Mound) enhances the garden with its finely textured, silvery foliage throughout the growing season. While it doesn’t bloom significantly, its soft, silver-green leaves provide a striking contrast to more vibrant plants. Artemisia is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, ideal for low-maintenance landscapes.
This garden excels in dry, sunny locations, with minimal water needs and excellent resistance to deer. Maintenance is straightforward: Delosperma and Penstemon benefit from occasional deadheading, Nepeta can be trimmed after blooming to encourage more flowers, and Artemisia requires little care other than pruning to maintain its shape.
Pests and diseases are rarely an issue for these hardy plants, making this garden a long-lasting, eco-friendly option that supports pollinators while requiring minimal upkeep.
| Hardiness |
6 - 7 |
|---|---|
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
6 - 7 |
|---|---|
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage |
Recreate this garden. Specify the percentages you would like to have of each plant and input the dimensions of your garden space.We'll give you a shopping list so you know how many plants you need.
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-needle Beardtongue) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' (Wormwood) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' (Catmint) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' (Ice Plant) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
