What to plant in Chicago, Illinois

12 × 6 ft · Zone 6b · 6+ hours of sun · Cottage

• Weigela 'Wine & Roses'

  × 1

  Weigela florida 'Alexandra'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 4 ft apart · grows 4–5 ft tall · May–Jun

  Can't find it? Use Shrub rose 'Knock Out' or Shrubby cinquefoil (potentilla) 'Goldfinger'.

• Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'

  × 3

  Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'

  Grass · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Jul–Sep

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

• English lavender 'Hidcote'

  × 7

  Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

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

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

• 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'.

• Angelina stonecrop 'Angelina'

  × 9

  Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'

  Edge · Edge of bed · quart pot · 1 ft apart · grows 3–6 in tall · Jun–Jul

  Can't find it? Use Creeping thyme or Hens and chicks.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 75% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

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

• Glossy abelia 'Kaleidoscope'

  × 3

  Abelia × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'

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

  Can't find it? Use Dwarf boxwood 'Green Gem' or Spreading yew 'Densiformis'.

• Japanese sedge 'Evergold'

  × 14

  Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

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

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

• Lenten rose

  × 7

  Helleborus × hybridus

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

  Can't find it? Use Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost' or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Chinese astilbe 'Visions'

  × 10

  Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

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

  Can't find it? Use Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost' or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Hairy alumroot 'Caramel'

  × 5

  Heuchera villosa 'Caramel'

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

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

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 6b · 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'

  × 12

  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 forest grass 'Aureola' or Japanese painted fern 'Pictum'.

• 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 Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost' or Chinese astilbe 'Visions'.

• Hosta 'Patriot'

  × 5

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

  Can't find it? Use Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost' or Chinese astilbe 'Visions'.

• Coral bells 'Palace Purple'

  × 5

  Heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia 'Palace Purple'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Jun–Jul

  Can't find it? Use Hairy alumroot 'Caramel' or Foamflower.

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.