Modern-Looking Plants for a Contemporary Landscape

These options lend a sleek and architectural look to any garden

When many gardeners hear the word “ modern , ” they often scrunch up their noses like they ’ve suddenly catch a whiff of something foul . It ’s true that many of us classify our landscapes as something other thancontemporary . But even the most traditional of intention can benefit from an infusion of works that one might describe as having a “ New look . ” These plants serve as active elements in a bed , easily becoming a focal point where perhaps one was missing . They can also seamlessly convey a space with a trenchant sense of sophistication . With sleek architectural forms or dour foliage hues , these botanic ingredient give guild to helter-skelter borders or simplicity to a coloration palette that has nonplus out of control . embrace these refreshing plants can serve a staid design fall alive . If you already have a mod domicile or landscape and are looking to fill in some white spaces , the following selections are just what you need . But if you ’re more of a traditionalist in lookup of some perennial that can rest new life into tired bottom and borders , the options below can also do the put-on .

‘Incandesce’ red-hot poker

( Kniphofia‘Incandesce ’ , Zones 6–9 )

Size:3½ fundament marvellous and 2 feet wide-cut

Conditions : Full sun ; moist , well - drain soil

Native range of mountains : South Africa

Red - hot pokersin general look like they are straight out of proscribed space . Their rocket salad - corresponding blooms are unlike almost anything else you ’ll see in the flora world , and for that reason alone they make an excellent plus to any modern landscape . But their overall habit also make them well - fit to an neat , minimalist layer . Long , thin , grasslike blades are hold firmly upright throughout the total time of year and give each individual works a stately look . Then in early to midsummer , uncompromising stems shoot from the al-Qaida of the leaf and explode into bottle - thicket blooms . The color normally lay out from red to orange to bright yellow , although there are a few white cultivars that may appeal to gardener with subtler tastes . ‘ Incandesce ’ sports a more classicKniphofialook with buttery yellow at the base of each bloom and a transition into peach - melba and finally promising orange at the steer . Although violent - red-hot stove poker are anything but subdue , they ’re a perfect option for the adventurous green thumb .

Photo : Jennifer Benner

picture : Carol Collins

Mexican feather grass

( Nassella tenuissima , Zones 7–10 )

Size:1 to 2 base magniloquent and across-the-board

condition : Full sunshine to fond shade ; well - drained grime

Native range : Texas , New Mexico , Mexico , Argentina

When think about advanced - looking plants , we mostly dream of well - structure option with wet silhouette and clean furrow . Mexican feathering grasshas none of these trait , but it is the staring balance to more architectural neighbors . This is a finely textured perennial that is aboriginal to much of the dry , rough slopes of southwest North America . The hairlike blades form a bushy clustering over fourth dimension , bestow undeniable apparent motion to the sharpness of paths , and look specially great when plant in volume ( photograph left ) . In summertime , blonde panicle top the bright unripe cluster and make each plant life take care like it went to the beauty parlour for highlights ( photo the right way ) . This perennial may go dormant during menses of summer drought and resent winter wet , so ensure it is invest in a fleck with first-class drain . Reseeding does occur , so continue argus-eyed .

Black mondo grass

( Ophiopogon planiscapus‘Nigrescens ’ , zone 5b–9 )

Size : 8 to 12 column inch grandiloquent and wide

Conditions : fond shade ; moist , well - drained soil

Native reach : Japan

Nothing prey a minimalist look like dark , and in the flora world there is no more iconic moody - hued specimen thanblack mondo grass . This short , clomp perennial much screams “ contemporary esthetic . ” If you ’re count to highlight the linear sharpness of a terrace or paseo , a passementerie communication channel of this ground cover will do the trick . Each individual industrial plant will flesh out over time to around 8 to 12 inches but will slowly spread to forge a well - comport mat if given some extra space . In midsummer , little pallid violet flowers appear on short stems but are n’t much of a focal gunpoint . rather , it ’s the midnight - colored , rubber - alike blades that make the most poignant impression . If you have black outdoor accessory or the exterior of your home has black trim and/or frame , this is a flora that your layer and margin must have !

Photo : Kerry Ann Moore

Parry’s agave

( Agave paryii , Zones 7–10 )

Size:1½ to 2 foot tall and 2 to 3 foot wide

Conditions : Full sun ; well - drained soil

Native chain : Southwestern United States , northerly Mexico

Let ’s present fact : Anyagaveis a estimable candidate for a modern garden . American aloe are arguably the most architectural plants in all of horticulture . The genus offers up an regalia of various size and colors , and there are some metal money that will even be stalwart into Zone 5 . Although some century plant get several feet marvelous , it ’s easier to incorporate a smaller selection like Parry ’s agave into a mixed edge or substructure planting ( photo left ) . This is a perennial that shape a tight symmetrical little potato of blue - green foliage , topped with black spine ( photo decent ) . Each foliage can accomplish over a infantry long in time . This plant is an instant focal point and will draw visitors in off the street if given the prospect . It ’s not rare for pups ( suckering off - sets ) to form at the base of the rosette . These can be removed and transfer elsewhere or left in situation to form an agave colony . Like most desert natives , Parry ’s century plant hates too much moisture ; if exposed to any sorting of standing water ( over the winter or otherwise ) , it will die .

Photo : Steve Aitken

Photo: Danielle Sherry

Photo : Michelle Gervais

‘Sparkling Burgundy’ pineapple lily

( Eucomis comosa‘Sparkling Burgundy ’ , Zones 6 - 9 )

weather : Full Dominicus ; moist , well - drained soil

Most contemporary gardens do n’t have a great deal of frothy efflorescence . flora that fit into the overall look of a minimalist landscape have subtle blooms , or ones that are architectural . Both can be said about the efflorescence ofpineapple lily . One of the best cultivar out there is ‘ Sparkling Burgundy ’ , which features a glob of strap - similar linear , wavy - edged , sinister purple leaves that spread stiffly up and outward ( photo left ) . From each russet scab , a thick , over-embellished - recognise flower stalk rises to about 2 feet tall in mid to late summer before giving way to a dull , cylindrical raceme . Each baton is replete with tiny starlike flowers and is topped by a green tuft that resembles a Ananas comosus ( pic right ) . The blossom last for up to 8 week . This is a plant whose habit and blossoms both could be described as innovative .

Kniphofia ‘Incandesce’

Photo: Danielle Sherry

Narrow-leaf yucca

( Yucca harrimaniae , Zones 5–9 )

Size:1 to 1½ animal foot tall and wide

Conditions : Full sun ; dry ground

Mexican feather grass

Photo: Jennifer Benner

aboriginal range : Southwestern United States

If you like the spiky , proportionate smell of agaves but survive in a cooler emplacement , then ayuccais just what the doctor ordered . The genus feature every imaginable size and leafage type , but narrow - leaf yucca has both a sharp silhouette and exceptional texture . plant form a tight rosette and can grow singularly ; if leave ungoverned , they form clusters over time ( picture unexpended ) . Each pick develops a short bole , which can be break for a palm - Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree tone if that suits your fancy . The foliage lie of straight , narrow , green blade with brown edge that are adorned with curly white filaments ( exposure right ) . Does narrow - folio yucca look like a hairy century plant ? Yes . Is it fabulous all the same ? Yes . Two - foot - marvellous stems form in summertime and become cover in blanched bell prime . They are pollinated by white-hot yucca moths . In the eve , the bloom draw in the female moths that feed on the ambrosia , then amass the pollen into a ball . The moths will then transfer that orchis to the next flower , which ensures dressing and seed establishment . plant a narrow - leafage yucca check you ’ll have a advanced feel to your garden , and you ’ll be entertained by the wonders of nature . What more could you need ?

Mexican feather grass

Photo: Carol Collins

For more on modernistic gardens , gohere .

determine out thismodern planting plan .

Danielle Sherryis the executive editor program .

Black mondo grass

Photo: Michelle Gervais

Fine Gardening Recommended product

The Crevice Garden : How to make the perfect home for plants from rocky places

hunky-dory horticulture get a charge for items purchase through links on this internet site , admit Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Parry’s Agave

Photo: Kerry Ann Moore

Razor - Back Potato / Refuse Hook

Get our latest steer , how - to articles , and instructional videos beam to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Parry’s Agave

Photo: Kerry Ann Moore

3 Takes on a Contemporary Backyard

A Garden Planting Plan That Utilizes Adaptable Plants

A Stunning Modern Landscape Design for a Contemporary Home

Join Fine Gardening for a free engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a celebrated industrial plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental proficient manager …

When I distinguish a picky George Sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I have a go at it I was in trouble . With a delightful color practice …

When we only prioritize flora we want over plant our landscape needs , each time of year is filled with a never - end list of chores : pruning , pinching , tearing , treating , rectify , and fertilizing , with …

‘Sparkling Burgundy’ pineapple lily

Photo: Steve Aitken

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bomb by a brace …