These classic plants will give your garden a timeless feel

In many aspects of our lives, we encounter various things that are considered to be classic. They could be anything from cars to music. My interpretation of a classic is something that passes through multiple generations remaining admired.

I had a birthday this past week. I was reflecting back to all of the birthdays I have celebrated while working at a garden store; the number is greater than 40. During my reflection, I was thinking about the plants that have always been popular throughout this time. I thought I would share my favorites with you this week.

The one I thought of first were lilacs. I think they jumped to the head of my informal list because they are all coming into bloom at this time of the year. A lilac is a shrub that will bring a strong fragrance that you will smell throughout the yard. They bloom when the windows are usually open and if they are in the right location the fragrance can fill the house too.

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Over the years there have been a lot of newer varieties of lilacs introduced, however, as a classic, I would refer to the old-fashioned, common lilac. These are a shrub that gets quite large. These days there are also many dwarf selections that provide the fragrance without taking up too much room.

The next plant on my list of classics is peonies. These flowers are perennials that grow from tubers. They started coming out of the ground a few weeks ago and now they are starting to develop their flower buds. Peonies produce large flowers that are also fragrant and there are many varieties to choose from.

Peonies do best when planted in the full sun and are very susceptible to powdery mildew in our humid summers. You can spray to control the mildew although it is a cosmetic problem that doesn’t hurt the health of the plants. Realistically, you can cut infected foliage back and the plants will be fine.

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Clematis are another classic. This vining plant is frequently seen throughout many neighborhoods growing upon mailboxes and trellises. Clematis produces large flowers in several different colors, purple being the most common. These are usually a very reliable older variety called Jackmani. Some Clematis have a stronger fragrance than others.

Clematis will grow best in the full sun; however, the roots like to be shaded. This is easy to accomplish by planting some lower-growing perennials around the base of where they are planted.

On my list of classic plants, I feel obligated to include hostas. Many people may disagree with me because a big bed full of hostas can also be a salad bar for deer. This is a very valid concern. For those where deer might not be a problem, hostas are one of the most reliable plants you can grow in all kinds of shade.

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The list of hostas is very long, as they come in all sizes, small, medium and large. There is a variety called Empress Wu that will grow 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. With the right variety, you can fill a large area in the shade with just a few plants. Once growing, they are very low maintenance.

I think this list would be incomplete without a type of tree. I think every yard needs a dogwood because when they bloom, you know spring is here to stay. They bloom when a lot of schools have proms, leading to generations of pictures being taken of the cute couples in front of the dogwood tree.

Dogwoods grow best planted around bigger trees that can shade them in the summer. They can grow out in the yard on their own. What is most important for dogwoods to thrive is good soil. They do well in older neighborhoods with good soil.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Classic plants for a timeless garden: Lilacs, hostas, peonies and more