What to plant in Raleigh, North Carolina

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

• 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 Gardenia 'Frostproof' or Chinese fringe flower 'Purple Diamond'.

• 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 Pink muhly grass or Northern sea oats.

• Meadow sage 'May Night'

  × 7

  Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'

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

  Can't find it? Use Siberian iris 'Caesar's Brother' 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'.

• Two-row stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood'

  × 9

  Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'

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

  Can't find it? Use Cheddar pinks 'Firewitch' or 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 8a · 2–4 hours of sun · Classic

• Oakleaf hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers'

  × 1

  Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'

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

  Can't find it? Use Smooth hydrangea 'Annabelle'.

• 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 Bleeding heart or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Cast iron plant

  × 5

  Aspidistra elatior

  Filler · Back of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Bleeding heart or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Mondo grass

  × 16

  Ophiopogon japonicus

  Edge · Edge of bed · quart pot · 0.8 ft apart · grows 6–9 in tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Cranesbill 'Biokovo' or Foamflower.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 86% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

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

• Dwarf yaupon holly 'Nana'

  × 2

  Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'

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

  Can't find it? Use Gold dust aucuba 'Variegata' or Soft Caress mahonia 'Soft Caress'.

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

• Bleeding heart

  × 5

  Lamprocapnos spectabilis

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

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

• Cast iron plant

  × 5

  Aspidistra elatior

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

  Can't find it? Use Hosta 'Patriot' or Hosta 'Sum and Substance'.

• Dwarf mondo grass 'Nana'

  × 17

  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 90% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.