What to plant in Baltimore, Maryland

12 × 6 ft · Zone 8a · 6+ hours of sun · Cottage

• Gardenia 'Frostproof'

  × 4

  Gardenia jasminoides 'Frostproof'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 2.5 ft apart · grows 3–4 ft tall · May–Jun

  Can't find it? Use Chinese fringe flower 'Purple Diamond' or Glossy abelia 'Kaleidoscope'.

• Pink muhly grass

  × 3

  Muhlenbergia capillaris

  Grass · Back of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2.5 ft apart · grows 2.5–3.5 ft tall · Sep–Nov

  Can't find it? Use Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster' or Northern sea oats.

• Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun'

  × 10

  Gaillardia × grandiflora 'Arizona Sun'

  Filler · Front of bed · quart pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 0.5–1 ft tall · Jun–Oct

  Can't find it? Use Spike speedwell 'Royal Candles'.

• Siberian iris 'Caesar's Brother'

  × 7

  Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother'

  Filler · Back of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 2.5–3 ft tall · May–Jun

  Can't find it? Use English lavender 'Hidcote' or Blue false indigo.

• Cheddar pinks 'Firewitch'

  × 16

  Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch'

  Edge · Edge of bed · quart pot · 0.8 ft apart · grows 6–9 in tall · May–Jun

  Can't find it? Use Lamb's ear 'Helen von Stein' or Evergreen candytuft 'Purity'.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 92% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

12 × 6 ft · Zone 8a · 2–4 hours of sun · Classic

• Sasanqua camellia 'Shishi Gashira'

  × 1

  Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 4.5 ft apart · grows 3–5 ft tall · Oct–Dec

  Can't find it? Use Chinese fringe flower 'Purple Diamond' or Gold dust aucuba 'Variegata'.

• Autumn fern

  × 7

  Dryopteris erythrosora

  Grass · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 1.5–2 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Japanese forest grass 'Aureola' or Lilyturf 'Big Blue' (invasive in North Carolina: don't plant it there).

• Chinese astilbe 'Visions'

  × 10

  Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

  Filler · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Jul–Aug

  Can't find it? Use Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'.

• African iris

  × 5

  Dietes iridioides

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Mar–Oct

  Can't find it? Use Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'.

• Japanese sedge 'Ice Dance'

  × 5

  Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 0.75–1 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Mondo grass or Variegated lilyturf 'Variegata' (invasive in North Carolina: don't plant it there).

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 87% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

12 × 6 ft · Zone 8a · Under 2 hours of sun · Classic

• Smooth hydrangea 'Annabelle'

  × 2

  Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 3.5 ft apart · grows 3–5 ft tall · Jun–Aug

• Lilyturf 'Big Blue'

  × 14

  Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'

  Grass · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Aug–Sep

  Listed as invasive in North Carolina in our table. Don't plant it there.

  Can't find it? Use Japanese painted fern 'Pictum' or Holly fern (invasive in Hawaii, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas: don't plant it there).

• Lenten rose

  × 7

  Helleborus × hybridus

  Filler · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Feb–Apr

  Can't find it? Use Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'.

• Chinese astilbe 'Visions'

  × 10

  Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

  Filler · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Jul–Aug

  Can't find it? Use Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'.

• Japanese sedge 'Ice Dance'

  × 5

  Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 0.75–1 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Mondo grass or Coral bells 'Palace Purple'.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 85% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.