What to plant in Charlotte, North Carolina

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

• Glossy abelia 'Kaleidoscope'

  × 1

  Abelia × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'

  Structure · Middle of bed · 3-gallon pot · 3 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Jun–Sep

  Can't find it? Use Gardenia 'Frostproof'.

• Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster'

  × 3

  Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

  Grass · Back of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 4–5 ft tall · Jun–Jul

  Can't find it? Use Pink muhly grass or Northern sea oats.

• Blue false indigo

  × 3

  Baptisia australis

  Filler · Back of bed · 1-gallon pot · 3.5 ft apart · grows 3–4 ft tall · May–Jun

  Can't find it? Use Bee balm or Shasta daisy 'Becky'.

• Lavandin 'Phenomenal'

  × 3

  Lavandula × intermedia 'Phenomenal'

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2.5 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Jun–Aug

  Can't find it? Use Bee balm or Shasta daisy 'Becky'.

• Creeping phlox

  × 3

  Phlox subulata

  Edge · Edge of bed · quart pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 3–6 in tall · Apr–May

  Can't find it? Use Hens and chicks or Cheddar pinks 'Firewitch'.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 89% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

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

• 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 Gold dust aucuba 'Variegata'.

• Japanese sedge 'Evergold'

  × 14

  Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

  Grass · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1 ft apart · grows 0.75–1 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Japanese painted fern 'Pictum' or Japanese forest grass 'Aureola'.

• African iris

  × 5

  Dietes iridioides

  Filler · Back 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 Hairy alumroot 'Caramel'.

• Hosta 'Patriot'

  × 5

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Jul–Aug

  Can't find it? Use Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Hairy alumroot 'Caramel'.

• Dwarf mondo grass 'Nana'

  × 18

  Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 4-inch pot · 0.5 ft apart · grows 2–4 in tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Blue star creeper.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 91% 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

• Japanese sedge 'Evergold'

  × 14

  Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

  Grass · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1 ft apart · grows 0.75–1 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Japanese painted fern 'Pictum' or Japanese forest grass 'Aureola'.

• Hairy alumroot 'Caramel'

  × 7

  Heuchera villosa 'Caramel'

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

  Can't find it? Use Lenten rose or Astilbe 'Fanal'.

• Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'

  × 7

  Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

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

  Can't find it? Use Lenten rose or Astilbe 'Fanal'.

• Dwarf mondo grass 'Nana'

  × 20

  Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 4-inch pot · 0.5 ft apart · grows 2–4 in tall · Foliage plant

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 82% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.