Planting a Colorful Palette Year-Round Is as Easy as 1-2-3!
If you’re just getting started with home landscaping, one of the most exciting—but sometimes overwhelming—parts of the process is choosing the right plant palette. Which colors and textures will complement each other? How can you ensure your plants are spaced correctly so they don’t outgrow their spot in a few years? Designing a garden that shines and thrives for years to come takes thought and planning.
That’s why we’re thrilled to share a new partnership that makes it easier than ever: Southern Living® Plant Collection and Plant By Number have teamed up to create stunning, easy-to-install landscapes—taking the guesswork out of garden design and setting you up for success!
We kicked off the partnership by transforming this Tennessee yard from a ho-hum blank canvas into a dynamic new focal point rich in color, structure, and year-round appeal. The homeowner wanted a garden that would provide four seasons of beauty… and wasn’t an ordeal to install and maintain. Plant By Number and Southern Living® Plant Collection partnered to create this “Evergreen Structure” design that uses multi-hued evergreens and blooming perennial accents to craft a vibrant, lush landscape.
Jubilation™ Gardenia, Platinum Beauty® Lomandra, and Pink Moody Blues™ Veronica pack a punch of color when planted in multiples.
Step 1: Designing the Evergreen Structure Palette
The bold “Evergreen Structure” plant palette anchoring this design offers continuous interest throughout the seasons. By blending four-season foliage picks with a few bursts of warm-season color, the garden bed draws the eye, becoming a focal point for the yard:
- Jubilation™ Gardenia – A fragrant, evergreen shrub that provides structure and glossy green foliage year-round, with white blooms in late spring and summer.
- Fire Chief™ Arborvitae – The centerpiece in this design, this feathery-textured evergreen shifts from bright green to fiery red hues in cooler months.
- Purple Daydream® Dwarf Loropetalum – A striking evergreen with deep purple foliage and bright pink fringe-like blooms.
- Platinum Beauty® Lomandra – A graceful, drought-tolerant grass with fine silver-green blades that add movement and texture.
- ‘Orange Rocket’ Barberry – A vertical-growing shrub with vibrant orange-red foliage that turns deeper in fall.
- Moody Blues™ Veronica in Pink – A pollinator-friendly perennial that delivers spikes of pink flowers through summer and fall, perfect for cut flower gardens.
This mix is the perfect recipe for a garden bed brimming with color, contrast, and texture!
Step 2: Preparing the Space
With a design finalized on a Plant By Number printed-to-scale Garden Map, it was easy to visualize the layout in the yard by simply laying the landscape fabric Garden Map on the ground. The Map ensures everything fits perfectly before any soil is disturbed.
Each number on the Map corresponds with a Southern Living® Plant from the design plan. Ideal placements for solar lamps and irrigation lines are also noted on the Map for optional installation. Next, the border was marked with chalk, and the area was prepped by trimming grass and removing weeds. Because this space had dense clay soil, it was amended and enriched with organic compost.
Step 3: Planting with Precision
Once the space was ready, the Garden Map was overlaid. Each plant’s designated placement was clearly marked to allow space for the plant to reach its full mature size. This way, nothing will be crowded out in the coming years. From there, installation was as easy as cutting, digging, and planting!
Fire Chief™ Arborvitae shines in this beautiful, Southern summer-ready landscape!
Step 4: Finishing Touches
To complete any garden bed transformation, applying a layer of mulch is essential, helping to retain moisture and suppress weeds. The result? A lush, colorful, and thriving garden bed that will provide year-round interest with minimal maintenance.
With a palette of low-on-maintenance, high-on-style plants, this Tennessee yard is now a show-stopping example of how thoughtful plant selection and an innovative planting system can bring a space to life.
Are you ready to transform your landscape? Shop our exclusive collection of Southern Living® Plant Collection x Plant By Number plans now, including this Evergreen Structure Design!
