Dazzling plant combos

A review of "Designer Plant Combinations: 105 Stunning Gardens Using Six Plants or Fewer," by Scott Calhoun.

from the October 16, 2008 edition

As an experienced gardener, I'm confident in my growing skills but am not so confident in the design department. I always figure I can get anything to grow – at least, until proven otherwise – but I often wonder what to plant with a new grass or perennial so that both look great together.

So I turned to a new book, "Designer Plant Combinations: 105 Stunning Gar­dens Using Six Plants or Fewer," by Scott Calhoun (Storey Publishing, $18.95).

Mr. Calhoun, a garden designer, doesn't overwhelm the reader with large lists of plants. Instead, he focuses on small, attractive groupings that each contain only a handful of plants. Sections are divided by type of plant – perennial partners, masses of grasses, annual acquaintances, accent plant associates, ground cover groupies, and buddies for woodies (trees and shrubs).

I especially liked globe thistle interwoven with a variegated ornamental grass. But actually, I was charmed by almost every garden vignette – there are photos of more than 100 combinations. Some I know I can't grow. Some I know I won't grow. But I admire them all because they worked.

So if, like me, you sometimes have trouble visualizing what plants will work well together, steal a few ideas from "Designer Plant Combinations." Your garden will be livelier for it.