Go ahead, throw a garden party … for yourself! This corner bed ensures that every time you enter or leave your house, you’ll be greeted with bright, boisterous blooms.
The house serves as a backdrop so the eye stays on plants. Even better, plants in a self-contained bed like this can grow to their full potential because they have no competition from trees, shrubs, or turf.
In the Mix
This flowerbed includes a mix of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, and tender canna bulbs that can either be treated as annuals or overwintered in the garage in cold climates. The splashy foliage of Tropicana cannas makes a fine backdrop even when they’re not in bloom. Meanwhile, the orange hues of celosia and hybrid coneflower pair well with the purple spikes of ‘May Night’ salvia.
Carpet Bugleweed
A chocolate-leaf variety of carpet bugleweed adds low-maintenance contrast to the front of the bed. The drought-tolerant ground cover will spread slowly to fill any gaps available when annuals die off in winter.
Marigolds
The orange blooms of marigolds are a bright and dependable addition to this corner flowerbed. They’ll keep going all summer if you pluck the dead blooms. Let a few go to seed in fall to sow a new crop next year.
Red-leaf Hibiscus
The maroon palm-shape leaves could pass for those of Japanese maple. Along with attractive foliage, red-leaf hibiscus offers an upright, bushy habit. Reaching 3 to 5 feet, it’s the perfect size for adding some height and contrast to a flowerbed without overpowering it.
Licorice Plant
The silvery green foliage of this well-behaved annual balances the bright oranges and pinks. Licorice plant grows in mounds but the branches tend to extend themselves several feet in either direction. The result is a pleasing natural look where the downy-covered foliage intermingles with companion plants.
Lantana
A tough, resilient shrub, lantana is grown as an annual in cold climates. The colorful yellow, pink, and orange flowers go well with the overall color scheme of this flowerbed. With continuous blooms and a modest size, lantana is a welcome addition.