I like those pencil holly plants. They are so nicely shaped. Just a thought.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sky Pencil

If you really want M. 'Jacob Cline' put it at the other end of the bed--no problem. You may find, however, that monardas are fairly thuggish, and they may demand more ground than you want them to have.

As for evergreen plants, you might look at something like Picea globa globosa, a handsome, blue needled, globe shaped spruce--not cheap, however. If your soil is acid enough, kalmias (Mt. Laurels) can take full sun if the area doesn't get too dry. If it isn't acid, look at Arctostaphylos x coloradensis, a broadleafed evergreen for full sun that can handle alkaline soil. High Country Gardens introduced it, and Lazy S's also carries it. Also, grasses would provide some interest through the winter as would Sedum "Autumn Joy', and the combo of grasses and sedums is a good one for all seasons--the textures really complement each other.

what about grasses? There are many tall (4-6 feet) cultivars of miscanthus that have 3 1/2 seasons of interest including winter. Their only ugly time is when old stems are cut back in April.

Also consider flowering shrubs like Dwarf Korean Lilac, Serviceberries, or how about Japanese maple 'Emperor' which can take full sun. All of these give you 4 seasons of interest.

Thank you so much for everyone that responded, I know that my original post was a lot to read :)

echinaceamaniac: The holly was a great idea but the Sky Pencil is not hardy in my Zone 5B.

laceyvail: Thanks for the advice on the Jacobs Cline. I wanted to put something in there that was red so the hummingbirds would be drawn to the area. I have heard they can be thuggish, but I love Bee Balm.

I absolutely love the Arctostaphylos x coloradensis and will probably add that to the front garden I am trying to build too.

The problem is I was looking for something evergreen that would provide a little more height (about 5 ft).

The Sedum looks perfect also (I never thought of that).

felisa: Thank you for your suggestions. The Dwarf Korean Lilac is pretty, but not evergreen and I cannot plant Serviceberries because I have very large Junipers out by the road that host Apple Cedar Rust.

Would grasses look OK with Bee Balm, Yellow Honeysuckle and Coneflowers (white and purple)?? I cannot picture them in the garden. I am not very good at gardening and blending unless I can visually see things.

I also need something that will give a little more height to balance out the trellis I put up for my honeysuckle (since the dog-eared fence is shorter than the trellis).

Again, thanks for the suggestions, I am going to use a few of them :)

Any more would be appreciated. :)

What about some hollies?

I'm not too familar with your zone, but I love my hollies. There are various sizes to choose from and most take either sun or shade. A plus is their rich evergreen foliage and bright red berries in the winter. Birds love those berries.

How about Degroots Spire arborvitae? They are evergreen, narrow and ultimately about 6-9 feet high.

gardengirl has good idea. degroots spire is a very useful and inexp conifer. unlike the globe spruce, it doesn't get too wide .makes a good narrow hedge.(which i think is what is best for a bed only 8' in depth.) you could insert some golden arbovitae in the hedge- for interest- choosing a narrower variety. if you can't find degroot's spire, the more common Smargd or Emerald Green- stays fairly narrow and can be kept down in height though it wants to be much bigger than de g's spire. variegated miscanthus-ornamental grasses -are also a great idea, but i would put them in front of the conifers so their foliage and plumes play off the green background. miscanthus strictus and miscanthus variegata would go well w/ your planting. you need to space them a bit away from the conifers( not right up against them) so as not to block too much light. conifers need a lot of sun so they don't develop dead spots from being shaded out.(that goes for not planting perennials too close to them as well.)

for me in z.5 i treat those sky pencil ilex as an annual,
a handsome short green accent column that dies w/ winter.
learned that the hard way.

i would also suggest you insert some blue/purple plants for good color balance. platycodon, agastache, salvia may night. and think about foliage presence after flowering- like siberian iris and peonies.- that gives some visual counterpoint to the habit of the monarda and echinacea.
best,
mindy

Thanks so much for the suggestions for the newbiee here :)

Everyone has been so very wonderful in helping me with decisions. I want my little perennial garden to look its best. I knew that I needed a few evergreens for winter interest, I just feel that no garden here in Illinois should be without these. A bare spot in winter just does not look right in a flower bed. Now I have some evergreens to choose from.

Mindy: Do you think that blue/purple plants would work OK with the Raspberry Wine Bee Balm, the Marshalls Delight Bee Balm (Medium Pink) and the John Clayton Honeysuckle (Yellow)?

I know, I have OCD!!! :)

Attached is the area that the plantings are going to be in, it is an older picture. I cannot upload a newer picture because my new puppies ate my camera cord that plugs into the computer.

But since then I have added a (sort of) retaining wall from preformed blocks I purchased from Menards....looks real nice, goes from 1 to 5 bricks high because the land slopes down.

For a visual, the John Clayton Honeysuckle Trellis sits on the left side in the middle facing out towards the right. You can get an idea of how the dog-eared fence is shorter than the trellis.....looks very unbalanced right now.

Thanks all!!!!

{{gwi:220908}}

Another narrow evergreen that may also work is Buxus 'Green Tower'. Its on my list of plants to look for to add to my perennial border. Buxuses with "green" in their names are typically hardy for at least Z5. I haven't seen it yet in local nurseries.

I also just picked up a dwarf golden yew (Taxus 'Aurescens' a/k/a nana aurea) to beef up the perennial bed a bit. Its a slow spreader though, not vertical.

Regarding winter interest in perennial beds, although that's a fine goal, its not mine. I have up until now been okay with the fact that the long perennial border is just not much of a winter interest item. Fortunately, I have lots of evergreens nearby to satisfy green urges in the winter. My current interest in adding evergreens to this border is mainly for the purpose of structure and form. I am hoping that a few carefully placed shrubs will add some depth and form to the mass of green that is my perennial border. On the other hand, a couple of lonely evergreens and a couple of grasses in my 50' border may look lonely in the winter. time will tell.

Wendy...I have been looking for Green Tower for about a year. If I see one, I will give a holler and hope you will too. :-) I have read some negative experiences with the Holly Sky Pencil like that they are very slow to grow. I may try them if I can't find the Green Tower.

I am trying to add more evergreens to the garden, but my problem continues to be shade in the root zone of maple trees. I have already used Hollies and Taxus, but they are slow and slower. [g]

pm2

yes definitely ppl/bl w/ pink/wine/magenta/white/yellow color families.
mindy

Thanks Mindy for the color combination help :)

Thanks to everyone who took the time to help me find what I needed. It is very much appreciated.

I think I decided on a boxwood called Green Mountain.

I will be looking for plants (flowering) that I like to go with the ones I already have :)

Have a great day!!!

Green Mountain is a nice plant. I have one that is a couple of years old. It would be a nice contrast and background with your looser plantings. Mine is about 3' T and 1' Wide. I consider mine at the "cute" stage. Are you aware Green Mtn does get quite large eventually? There is one at a local botanic garden that I visit that is at least 4'W and 8'T.

I think it is a real slow grower though so depending on your timeline, mature size may not matter. That bed may evolve over time to shrubs. Or that bed may be large enough to handle that size. Its hard to tell from here.

Hi Wendy,

I looked thru all the Boxwoods online last night on different sites and they listed the Green Mountain as only getting 4-5 ft. tall.

OMG, now I don't know what to do....

go for it. it will be many years before it matters. and they are move-able and prune-able.

Perhaps the 8' I've seen was mislabelled. it happens.

Joe Pye Weed; mine are about 5 ft tall -- pink flowers.

Hollyhocks -- tall

Buxus 'Graham Blandy' might also be an option.

Would a structural element work for you for height?
a statue, a tutour, a fountain? Even a simple bench looks photo-perfect in winter with snow piled on it.

I have a lot of evergreens in my yard, but my favorite winter structure is the twisted form of Harry Lauders Walking Stick. Also love the form of tall grasses laden with snow. One hangs over a large rock fountain, and is so beautiful.
So much to think about. Pondy

Pondy: I know, so very much to think about. I thought about a structure, the only thing I could come up with was one of those little windmills. A bench will be sitting in the bed in late fall, winter and very early spring before the flowers arrive. I am putting a pond in the bed that is in front of my deck so thanks for the grasses suggestion!!

Gracie01: So sorry but I wanted to find something evergreen, but those suggestions are great!!

Kailleanm: Graham Blandy is an excellent choice, but not hardy here.

I just finally went ahead and decided to plant an Thuja Emerald Green. Only gets 10-15' tall and can be topped and pruned lightly since I do not want it to get quite that tall.

Everyone here is so very great!! I appreciate all the help :)

The flower design is killing me though. I purchased some black and blue Salvia (such a deep color, but a cool dark blue) for the hummers and don't know how to work it into the garden with the plants I already have on hand. I know that blues were mentioned to put with my colors. But it just to me would not be appealing next to my Raspberry Wine Bee Balm and Purple Magnus & White Swan Coneflowers. I think it would go well with the John Clayton (Yellow) Honeysuckle I have though.

I wish I had more experience will all of this or if I could just find that perfect picture somewhere in a book, magazine.......