Impact is created in many different ways in the garden. Sometimes you get impact from a single plant that has an interesting form or stunning color. Other times you get visual impact from grouping several of the same plants together. These masses are eye-catching and lend a much-needed movement to the landscape. Not every plant is cut out for massing, however. It can’t be too big, or too overbearing. And, generally, a good massing plant puts on a show during several seasons; one-hit wonders need not apply. Find out some of our favorite plants for grouping in this episode, including some bulletproof perennials and a few dwarf shrubs. In expert testimony, we’ve got a Midwest designer to weigh in with some of his favorite plants for massing. Did someone say “pollinator magnets”?

Expert testimony: Austin Eischeid, owner and principal designer at Austin Eischeid Garden Design in Chicago.

DANIELLE’S PLANTS

Jelly Bean^® blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘ZF06-179’, Zones 4–8)

‘Yellow Wonder’ alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca ‘Yellow Wonder’, Zones 2–9)

‘Serendipity’ allium (Allium ‘Serendipity’, Zones 4–8)

European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum, Zones 4–7)

STEVE’S PLANTS

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 4–7)

‘Wee One’ lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Wee One’, Zones 5–9)

Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zones 3–8)

‘Bertram Anderson’ lungwort (Pulmonaria longifolia ‘Bertram Anderson’, Zones 3–8)

Plant pictures

Plants from this week’s expert testimony