Seating area interest
By: Garden Gate staff
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A colorful show
Give your patio an extra-cozy feel when you bring the garden closer.
The bed in the illustration at left doesn’t just add color to the seating area — it blocks the view of the air conditioner, too. And shade from the nearby plants keeps the unit cool, helping it run more efficiently. Just leave at least 2 ft. around it for maintenance access and air circulation.
Click ahead to find out more about this low-maintenance, butterfly-friendly design.
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French marigold Tagetes patula Durango™ Yellow Type Annual Blooms Yellow flowers from spring to fall Light Full sun Size 10 to 12 in. tall, 6 to 8 in. wide Cold-hardy NA Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
French marigold
Tagetes patula Durango™ Yellow
Type Annual
Blooms Yellow flowers from spring to fall
Light Full sun
Size 10 to 12 in. tall, 6 to 8 in. wide
Cold-hardy NA
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
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Tall sedum Sedum spectabile ‘Neon’ Type Perennial Blooms Pink flowers from summer to fall Light Full sun Size 18 to 24 in. tall and wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Tall sedum
Sedum spectabile ‘Neon’
Type Perennial
Blooms Pink flowers from summer to fall
Light Full sun
Size 18 to 24 in. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
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Shasta daisy Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’ Type Perennial Blooms White blooms in summer Light Full sun to part shade Size 3 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Shasta daisy
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’
Type Perennial
Blooms White blooms in summer
Light Full sun to part shade
Size 3 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
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Switchgrass Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ Type Perennial Blooms Tan flowers from summer to fall Light Full sun Size 48 to 72 in. tall, 24 to 30 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’
Type Perennial
Blooms Tan flowers from summer to fall
Light Full sun
Size 48 to 72 in. tall, 24 to 30 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
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Butterfly bush Buddleja Lo & Behold™ ‘Blue Chip’ Type Shrub Blooms Purple blooms from summer to frost Light Full sun Size 24 to 30 in. tall and wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Butterfly bush
Buddleja Lo & Behold™ ‘Blue Chip’
Type Shrub
Blooms Purple blooms from summer to frost
Light Full sun
Size 24 to 30 in. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
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Salvia Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ Type Perennial Blooms Purple flowers from early summer to fall Light Full sun Size 18 to 20 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Salvia
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Type Perennial
Blooms Purple flowers from early summer to fall
Light Full sun
Size 18 to 20 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
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