Shaded Areas:
There are several shade loving plants that are both Native and very pretty this time of year.
The Trillium is a white 3 leafed 3 pedaled plant. Trillium grows well in partly shaded conditions. The False Lily of the Valley provides nice texture and little white flowers, this plant does not take walking one. The Deer Fern and Sward fern provide contract to the different shade foliage.
Hotter Rock Gardens:
For the rock garden area ground covers soften the view of the rocks.
Succulents, Irish and Scotch Moss, Snow on the Mountain, Kennewick Ivy, provide showy flowers and form a ground cover. Wholly Time, and Purple Time add fragrance when crushed, and can be used between stepping stones or pavers, in the landscape.
Picks for the Pond: The Water Hawthorn has proved to be on of the best aquatic plants, situated for our climate . As the plant matures the flowers are larger in size. This plant needs to be planted a few inched below the surface of the water a and will proved lovely fragrant flowers from Feb till Aug. then from September to November.
Azola fern is floater, during the fist year in a new pond does an excellent job of providing cover for your fish. In Western Washington 90% of the Azola gets killed of by winter weather. During the second year the fish nibble on the plant keeping it in check and the 2nd winter, freezing weather kills off the remaining Azola plant. Consider Azola a BI-annual in this state.
Hyacinths are also considered pond and bog annuals in the Pacific North west. Along with Frog bit. Frog bit is a floating plant in the immature stage but will become rooted and loose the bladder leaves, growing a different form of leaf looking like Pickerel plant.
Marsh Marigolds are a much welcome first flowers of the spring in your bog areas. This plant sends up numerous flowers first. Then about three weeks later starts sending up leaves!
Hardy Water Lilies give the pond its’ Summer bouquet of pastel flowers, light to deep pink, yellow and white.
Lotus is a knock out plant for patio water features (barrel) and for deeper those with deeper ponds. This fast growing , tremendously hungry plant, sends up large leaves and flowers that rise above the surface of the water by several inches to almost a foot. Lotus should be planted in a container with no holes in the sides or bottom. Growers encourage all the new starts of the Lotus to head for the surface of the pond.(given a chance the lotus will take over your pond). The barrels have to be brought in for the winter to protect the roots from freezing, but in ponds deeper than three feet, the Lotus winters over and hungrily waits for next spring.
The lager varieties of Duck Weed provide cover for fish. A place for the fish to lay eggs and a source of edible plant material that is preferred by Koi, Gold Fish, and Subunkins. If allowed to grow with out the presents of fish the Duck Weed forms large mats of little green leaves. As long as it’s roots are wet it can grow several inches up the bank, and also have roots descending 14 inches down into the water to attach to the mud at the bottom of the pond.
Other very nice annual pond plants:
The following plants are not hardy outdoors in Washington State.
Papyrus both the Egyptian and the dwarf varieties(rush) . Umbrella palm(rush) and Aquatic Bamboo(rush) these four rushes survive well during the long dry summer, but I have had no luck what so ever keeping these alive over winter outside.
Taro is another simi-tropical plant that is spectacular over summer but will not take any winter frosts. This plant has make an excellent house plant over winter receiving much oooh’s and Aaaaah’s . The owners of this plant get it moved outside as early as possible because it has a tendency to take over the whole room being pampered like this.
Scenic Harbor Nursery