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Perennials to go with PJM rhododendron

16 years ago

I bought a PJM rhody to go in my long, shady, east-facing border because I really like the fall color. This border gets a few hours of morning sun and then shade filtered through decidious trees.

I think the flowers are magenta. What colors go well with magenta? What would look good with the PJM when it's blooming and also when it's not? I already have Phlox 'Rosalind' toward the front of that area where it gets more sun. It's sort of magenta too. Also some magenta dianthus along the edge of the area.

Thanks for any ideas!

VG

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Comments (5)

david_5311
16 years ago
Brunnera macrophylla is an easy keeper, lovely clounds of true blue flowers which would bloom at the same time as PJM. You could use any of the variegated cultivars (Jack Frost is certainly good) but the straight species is an underused and excellent garden plant. All of these earn their keep as attractive groundcovers which would provide a good base for the rhodie. Add to this the white flowered form of the big bleeding heart (D. spectabilis 'Alba') and I bet that would make a great composition.

I have a PJM dwarf underplanted with Ajuga 'Caitlin's Giant', which is my favorite ajuga. The ajuga probably flowers too late to coincide with the rhodie, but the rich glossy blackish foliage provides a really lovely base for the rhodie as well. This plant also looks great with Lamistrum 'Herman's Pride'

Any number of epimediums coincide with bloom time for this rhododendron and would also be great ground covers through the season. I think magenta looks great tempered by an acid or soft yellow. How about E. perralchicum 'Froenleiten', or the common neosulphureum. Epimediums, in general, are great underplanting plants for all kinds of rhodies and give interest to the bases of these plants, which can look kinda leggy.

And add some ferns and hostas, lemon yellow daffodils and/or dark purple tulips, and you are good to go! Am sun and afternoon shade will suit most of those just fine.
vegangirl
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, David! Your word pictures are lovely and give me inspiration.

What color hosta foliage do you suggest? I just bought an August Moon and two Guacamoles today. Would either or both of them work?

So I could add some lemon yellow daylilies for later when the other magenta flowers are blooming?

I don't have a lot of color sense, as you might have guessed:-)
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Thanks gardengal48 for that suggestion about mixing it up a bit. You know, I really never even thought about doing that, but you are right, it would give the border a much more attractive appearance during different times of the year. The only restriction is that the border is somewhat narrow, only about 3 feet wide extending around the patio about 35 feet long. We haven't completed the surface portion of the patio yet, but right now it is a half circle that extends out 15 additional feet from our existing cement patio which is about a 13' x 25' area. The extension is on the top of a retaining wall so it is a fixed area. (You already saw pictures of it on a "shrubs" thread I posted earlier with the "killer view"). We are going to put pieces of flagstone on the extension part with groundcover in between the pieces and we purchased a 3 tier fountain to install when it's completed. So, the more I think of it, the more I like the idea of mixing a few shorter shrubs with a few taller (4-5') skinny conifers and even some low border type annuals or perennials in front. And, you are right about the PJM Rhodies and the bees, that it would not be a problem during the early spring. What are some of the broadleaf evergreens and dwarf conifers that you would recommend? As I said, I do have irrigation for that spot and the soil and drainage are excellent. Thanks for all your help. Analzying it like this makes me feel confident it's going to turn out right!
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"And in general large leaved things should be at the front of plantings, rather than the back." I wouldn't worry about this at all - it's not a concept you are going to find emphasized in any landscape design text :-) What you want to create is just the effect of some textural contrast so the two in proximity - the PJM staggered slight in front and to the side - should achieve that effect by virtue of the different foliage sizes (and shapes).
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vegangirl
Original Author
16 years ago
I just realized that the label says PJM Rhododendron 'Landmark'!
david_5311
16 years ago
Any color hosta will work. The rhododendron after bloom is basically green. So you could choose a gold/green color scheme, or use a variegated hosta, or.... Depends what else you want to plant. If you use a variegated Brunnera like Jack Frost, I would not use a gold hosta near it. Choose a hosta with some white or cram variegation, or a blusih hosta, or just plain green.

One side benefit of some hostas is that they will develop some gold fall color at the same time the rhodie gets some fall color.

If it were me, I would be trying mainly to plant a spring vignette with strong plants that maintain a presence with good foliage through the season. Those are the plants I was describing in my first response to your post.
vegangirl
Original Author
16 years ago
David, thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. I'm saving this thread so I won't lose it

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