Breaking some of the more common rules-such as spacing properly, sticking to a single color scheme, and separating sun and shade plants-can create a truly unique and personalized garden. David Ellis shares how to break the rules in Fine Gardening issue #156. As a bonus, here are the plant identifications included in his article.

1. Euphorbia (Euphorbia cv., USDA Hardiness Zones 3–11)
2. Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis cv., Zones 4–8)
3. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea cv., Zones 4–8)
4. ‘Little Honey’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Little Honey’, Zones 5–9)
5. ‘Royal Star’ star magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’, Zones 5–9)
6. [vine on arbor background] ‘Moonlight’ Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’, Zones 6–9)

1. Mother of thousands (Saxifraga stolonifera, Zones 6–9)
2. Farfugium (Farfugium japonicum, Zones 7–10)
3. ‘Red Dragon’ knotweed (Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’, Zones 5–9)
4. ‘Zhuzhou’ fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Zhuzhou’, Zones 8–9)
5. ‘Ayesha’ hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ayesha’, Zones 5–9)
6. ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ boxleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’, Zones 6–9)
7. ‘Needlepoint’ English ivy (Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’, Zones 5–11)

1. Winter daphne (Daphne odora, Zones 7–9)
2. ‘Ryusen’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’, Zones 5–8)
3. Paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha, Zones 6–10)
4. ‘Ogon’ winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata ‘Ogon’, Zones 5–8)

1. ‘Oriental Limelight’ artemisia (Artemisia vulgaris ‘Oriental Limelight’, Zones 3–11)
2. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea cv., USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8)
3. Variegated potato vine (Solanum jasminoides ‘Variegata’, Zones 9–11)
4. Honeysuckle (Lonicera cv., Zones 3–10)
5. Passionflower (Passiflora cv., Zones 6–11)
6. Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria, Zones 3–8)

1. ‘Toyama-nishiki’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Toyama-nishiki’, Zones 5–8)
2. ‘Summer Skies’ delphinium (Delphinium ‘Summer Skies’, Zones 2–9)
3. ‘Newport Pink’ dianthus (Dianthus barbatus ‘Newport Pink’, Zones 3–9)

1. ‘Moonlight’ Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’, Zones 6–9)
2. Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria, Zones 7–11)