After more than thirty years of designing and building gardens throughout Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Sonoma Counties, Details Landscape Art has developed a list of favorite plants that seem to appear repeatedly in our landscape designs. While every garden is unique, certain plants consistently stand out for their beauty, versatility, reliability, and performance.
The following are some of these plants and the reasons we continue to use them year after year.
Favorite Plants for Shade Gardens
Hydrangea ‘Enchantress’
Hydrangeas are among our favorite plants for afternoon shade. ‘Enchantress’ produces large blue mophead flowers during the summer months, bringing vibrant color to areas where many spring-blooming shrubs have already finished flowering.
Favorite plants – hydrangea ‘Enchantress’
The combination of large leaves and dramatic flowers makes hydrangeas a standout feature in any shade garden.
Sarcococca ruscifolia
This evergreen shrub is one of the hidden gems of the garden. Tiny white flowers appear in winter and produce an amazingly sweet fragrance. Bright red berries follow the blooms, adding additional seasonal interest.
Sarcococca is also highly deer resistant and thrives in deep shade.
Favorite Plants – Flowering
Rosa ‘Iceberg’
White Iceberg roses have been a staple of our gardens for many years. Their bright white flowers contrast beautifully with darker foliage colors and bloom continuously from spring through fall.
Favorite plants – Rosa ‘Iceberg’
We frequently combine Iceberg roses with Japanese maples, lavender, and burgundy foliage plants for dramatic color contrast.
Salvia greggii
Few perennials bloom as reliably as Salvia greggii. Available in several colors, this hardy perennial flowers from spring through late fall with minimal maintenance.
Its long bloom season makes it one of our favorites for adding color to sunny gardens.
Lavandula ‘Provence’
Lavender offers fragrance, texture, deer resistance, and beautiful purple flowers. We especially like ‘Provence’ for its soft texture and ability to thrive in Sonoma County’s Mediterranean climate.
Favorite Plants for Texture
Pennisetum orientale
Ornamental grasses bring movement and texture to the garden, and Pennisetum orientale is one of our favorites. Its soft, feathery flower heads sway gracefully in the breeze and provide contrast to shrubs, perennials, and hardscape features.
Favorite plants – Pennisetum orientalis
Lomandra ‘Breeze’
Lomandra is one of the most versatile plants we use. This evergreen grass-like plant performs well in both sun and partial shade and provides year-round structure and texture.
Favorite plants – Lomandra ‘Breeze’
We frequently use Lomandra among boulders, dry creek beds, and modern landscape designs.
Favorite Plants for Color Contrast
Berberis ‘Rose Glow’
The burgundy foliage of ‘Rose Glow’ creates dramatic contrast against gold, silver, and green foliage plants. The subtle pink variegation in the leaves adds additional interest.
Favorite plants – Berberis ‘Roseglow’
Berberis ‘Concorde’
One of the darkest foliage plants available, ‘Concorde’ provides almost black-purple leaves that create striking contrast throughout the landscape.
Favorite Trees
Japanese Maples
No list of favorite plants would be complete without Japanese maples.
Whether upright or weeping, green or burgundy, Japanese maples provide beauty throughout the seasons. Spring foliage, summer texture, spectacular fall color, and elegant winter branching all contribute to their popularity.
Favorite plants – Japanese maples
Japanese maples are among the most beautiful small trees available for Sonoma County gardens.
Favorite Plants – Groundcovers
Myoporum parvifolium ‘Putah Creek’
This low-growing evergreen groundcover creates a lush carpet of bright green foliage and produces white flowers throughout the summer.
It spreads quickly, requires relatively little maintenance, and serves as an excellent alternative to traditional lawns in many situations.
Why These Are Our Favorite Plants
While there are thousands of wonderful plants available, these selections have earned their place on our list through years of proven performance.
Some provide color. Others contribute texture, fragrance, seasonal interest, or reliability. Together they help create the beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that have become the hallmark of Details Landscape Art.
Every garden is different, but many of our favorites continue to find their way into the gardens we design because they simply perform exceptionally well in Sonoma County conditions.
At Details Landscape Art, we believe great gardens begin with great plant selection. Choosing the right plants is one of the most important steps in creating a landscape that remains beautiful for years to come.