Years ago, having a nice home meant having a regularly mowed lawn with little to no plants or trees. Now-a-days, more people want individuality, functionality, and creativity with their landscape. The best kind of plants have long bloom times, distinctive qualities, and are considered low maintenance. If you would like to know what to plant in your yard for maximum curb appeal, continue reading for the top performing plants that grow well in most St. Louis yards.
- Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are a flowering plant that blooms between June and October. They have bright blossoms and come in different colors. Coneflowers are resilient perennials and need at least partial sunlight to thrive. There are many varieties to choose from including several Missouri native plants. A variation of coneflowers provides long-lasting color and adds a pop of color to existing garden beds.
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little Bluestem is an ornamental grass that provides seasonal changing beauty including winter garden interest. It has a unique blue tint in spring and summer, and purple-bronze flowers and foliage in fall and winter. Little Bluestem is generally used in rain garden designs or to provide low-maintenance interest to sunny areas. What’s even better? It only needs to be cut back once a year, either in winter or early spring!
- Green Giant Arborvitae
Although these evergreen trees do not originate from Missouri, they are popular and very functional. Green Giants offer wonderful winter interest and are great for natural privacy and wind screening. It is a great choice to use between yard spaces and patio or pool areas to provide privacy between neighbors. Green Giants are narrow and therefore fit into most yard spaces that need a bigger tree that will not lose all its leaves during the winter. They also grow well in most soil conditions.
- Aster
Asters are considered a keystone perennial plant because they are one of the last wildflowers to bloom in St. Louis. They are a great option if you want to bring vibrant colors to your gardens. Their colorful blooms show up in late fall, providing spectacular contrast to fall foliage with their bright purple and blue flowers, and last well into winter. Aromatic Asters are native to Missouri and liven up any garden with their vivid flowers. They grow well in partially sunny, full sun outdoor areas.
- Coral Bell a.k.a. Alumroot (Heuchera)
Cora Bells are like Coneflowers. They are a versatile plant that comes in many varieties and colors. Heuchera Americana is native to Missouri and can be found in other popular varieties in purple, red, green, pink, and more. They grow best in spaces with plenty of sun to partial shade. It is also low-maintenance and provides impressive foliage.
- Spicebush
The Spicebush offers amazing fall foliage and small red fruit that birds are attracted to. It is a native plant that is important to the Swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillar feeds on the leaves. It is also great to plant alongside a border or in a large garden bed. The Spicebush does need semi-shade to full sun.
These are only some of the vast selections of plants and trees you can choose from to spruce up your landscape. Some other amazing plants for the St. Louis area include American Beautyberry, Red Buckeye, Eastern Redbud, Butterfly Bush, Pawpaw, Milkweed, Creeping Phlox, and Heliopsis. Keep in mind that soil and sun conditions have a major impact on how well a plant grows. Plants generally look best when they are planted in mass or grouped together with other plants. Choose plants based on color, bloom time, appearance, or benefits to wildlife to design an outdoor sanctuary you will enjoy spending time in.
If you need ideas on what to plant and where, look no further than Bluegrass Landscape and Snow Management. Call us today at (314) 770-2828 so we can get started.
