What to plant in Cincinnati, Ohio

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 Ninebark 'Summer Wine' or Shrub rose 'Knock Out'.

• Northern sea oats

  × 3

  Chasmanthium latifolium

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

  Can't find it? Use Pink muhly grass or Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster'.

• 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 Butterfly weed or Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm'.

• Bee balm

  × 5

  Monarda didyma

  Filler · Back of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 2.5–4 ft tall · Jul–Aug

  Can't find it? Use Butterfly weed or Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm'.

• Creeping thyme

  × 9

  Thymus serpyllum

  Edge · Edge of bed · 4-inch pot · 1 ft apart · grows 2–4 in tall · Jun–Jul

  Can't find it? Use Hens and chicks.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 79% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

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

• Spreading yew 'Densiformis'

  × 1

  Taxus × media 'Densiformis'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 4.5 ft apart · grows 3–4 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Glossy abelia 'Kaleidoscope' or Dwarf boxwood 'Green Gem'.

• Japanese sedge 'Evergold'

  × 13

  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'.

• Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'

  × 7

  Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

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

  Can't find it? Use Hosta 'Patriot' or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Astilbe 'Fanal'

  × 7

  Astilbe × arendsii 'Fanal'

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

  Can't find it? Use Bleeding heart or Hosta 'Patriot'.

• 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 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 83% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

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

• Smooth hydrangea 'Annabelle'

  × 1

  Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

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

• Japanese painted fern 'Pictum'

  × 3

  Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

  Grass · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Foliage plant

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

• Lenten rose

  × 3

  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 Hairy alumroot 'Caramel' or Chinese astilbe 'Visions'.

• Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

  × 3

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 4 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Aug

  Can't find it? Use Hairy alumroot 'Caramel' or Chinese astilbe 'Visions'.

• Japanese sedge 'Ice Dance'

  × 3

  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 Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Hairy alumroot 'Caramel'.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 83% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.