# Perennial Garden Plan — Zone 6b, Partial Shade

Designing a low-maintenance perennial border for the north side of the house. Gets 4-5 hours of filtered sun. Soil is clay-heavy, pH 6.2.

## Design Principles

- **Bloom succession**: Something flowering every month, April through October
- **Native-first**: 70%+ native species for pollinator support
- **Low water**: No irrigation after establishment year
- **Layered heights**: Tall background → medium midground → low edging

## Plant List

### Background (36-48")

| Plant | Bloom | Color | Notes |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| *Actaea racemosa* (Black Cohosh) | Jul-Aug | White | Deer resistant, native |
| *Eupatorium purpureum* (Joe Pye Weed) | Aug-Sep | Mauve | Butterfly magnet |
| *Aruncus dioicus* (Goatsbeard) | Jun-Jul | Cream | Astilbe-like, tough |

### Midground (18-30")

| Plant | Bloom | Color | Notes |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| *Heuchera villosa* (Coral Bells) | Jun-Aug | White | Foliage interest, native |
| *Astilbe chinensis* (Pumila) | Aug-Sep | Lilac | Tolerates dry shade |
| *Polygonatum odoratum* (Solomon's Seal) | May-Jun | White | Architectural |
| *Geranium maculatum* (Wild Geranium) | May-Jun | Pink | Native groundcover |

### Edging (6-12")

| Plant | Bloom | Color | Notes |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| *Tiarella cordifolia* (Foamflower) | Apr-May | White | Evergreen, spreader |
| *Chrysogonum virginianum* (Green-and-Gold) | Apr-Oct | Yellow | Long bloom |
| *Carex pensylvanica* (Penn Sedge) | — | — | Native grass substitute |

## Soil Prep

1. Sheet mulch with cardboard over existing lawn (fall)
2. Top with 4" leaf mold compost
3. Let settle through winter
4. Plant in spring after last frost (~May 10)

## Year 1 Maintenance

- Water deeply 1x/week if no rain
- Mulch 2-3" with shredded leaves
- No fertilizer needed — compost is sufficient
- Cut back perennials in late winter, not fall (winter interest + overwintering insects)