Robin Parsons and Heather Tuckman Design Entryway Makeovers
Two landscape designers, Robin Parsons and Heather Tuckman, transform an awkward home entrance into a spectacular space using distinct planting and hardscape approaches.
Robin Parsons, a landscape designer from Medina, Washington, reimagined an awkward home entrance by adding architectural hardscape elements and textured shade plants.
A Front Entry Upgrade That Adds Drama and Definition
- ‘Lemon-Lime’ heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica ‘Lemon-Lime’, Zones 6-9)
- ‘Coraljade’ sedum (Sedum‘Coraljade’, Zones 3-9)
- ‘Sun King’ aralia (Aralia cordata‘Sun King’, Zones 3-9)
- ‘Quicksilver’ hebe (Veronica pimeleoides‘Quicksilver’, Zones 7b-10)
- Sombrero®Salsa red coneflower (Echinacea‘Balsomsed’, Zones 4-9)
- Variegated English ivy (Hedera helix ‘Variegata’, Zones 4-11)
- ‘Elizabeth Red Foliage’ rhododendron (Rhododendron‘Elizabeth Red Foliage’, Zones 6-9)
- Golden full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum‘Aureum’, Zones 5-9)
- Golden hardy fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica‘Aurea’, Zones 7-10)
- Frostkiss®series hellebore (Helleborus×iburgensiscv., Zones 5-8)
- ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata‘Soft Caress’, Zones 7-9)
- ‘Unique’ rhododendron (Rhododendron‘Unique’, Zones 6-9)
- Thick-flowered rhododendron (Rhododendron pachysanthum, Zones 6-9)
- Witch hazel (Hamameliscv., Zones 4-9)
- ‘Coraljade’ sedum (Sedum‘Coraljade’, Zones 3-9)
- ‘Glacier Blue’ euphorbia (Euphorbia characias‘Glacier Blue’, Zones 7-10)
- Golden hardy fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica‘Aurea’, Zones 7-10)
- Keystone Kopper®coleus (Coleus scutellarioides‘UF09-8-87’, Zones 10-11)
- ‘Lemon-Lime’ heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica* ‘Lemon-Lime’, Zones 6-9)
- Blutopia®bacopa (Sutera cordata‘PAS430727’, Zones 9b-11)
- ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’, Zones 9-11)
- ‘Brunette’ bugbane (Actaea simplex‘Brunette’, Zones 3-8)
- Tiny Tuff Stuff ™mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata‘MAKD’, Zones 4-9)
- ‘Unryu’ camellia (Camellia japonica‘Unryu’, Zones 7-9)
- ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata‘Soft Caress’, Zones 7-9)
- Tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum, Zones 5-8)
- ‘Spider’s Web’ Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica‘Spider’s Web’, Zones 7-10)
Bold and fine textures contrast to draw attention to the front door
- Red Rooster Buchanan’s sedge (Carex buchananii‘Red Rooster’, Zones 7-9)
- Corsican stonecrop (Sedum dasyphyllum, Zones 5-9)
- ‘Night Embers’ sedum (Sedum‘Night Embers’, Zones 3-9)
- Wheels of Wonder®Limoncello ice plant (Delosperma‘Wow312’, Zones 6-9)
- Dwarf Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens‘Nana’, Zones 4-9)
- ‘Amazon Mist’ sedge (Carex comans‘Amazon Mist’, Zones 6-9)
- ‘Cotswold Queen’ mullein (Verbascum‘Cotswold Queen’, Zones 5-9)
- Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus, Zones 5-8)
- ‘Amazon Mist’ sedge (Carex comans‘Amazon Mist’, Zones 6-9)
Trees, shrubs, perennials, and container plants all work together to roll out the front carpet toward the front entrance
- Full moon maple (Acer shirasawanumcv., Zones 5-9)
- Bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies‘Nidiformis’, Zones 3-7)
- Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis, Zones 4-8)
- ‘Dazzleberry’ sedum (Sedum‘Dazzleberry’, Zones 4-9)
- ‘Party Time Lime’ coleus (Coleus scutellarioides‘Party Time Lime’, Zones 10-11)
- ‘Brilliance’ autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora‘Brilliance’, Zones 5-8)
- Legend of the Small®bottlebrush (Fothergilla×intermedia‘NCFI1’, Zones 5-9)
- Little Henry®Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica‘Sprich’, Zones 5-9)
- Fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia, Zones 7-9)
- ‘Brilliance’ autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora‘Brilliance’, Zones 5-8)
- False shamrock (Oxalis triangularis, Zones 8-11)
- Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea,Zones 4-8)
- Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia, Zones 9-11)
- Twisted eastern white pine (Pinus strobus‘Torulosa’, Zones 3-8)
- ‘Curly Tops’ threadleaf chamaecyparis (Chamaecyparis pisifera‘Curly Tops’, Zones 4-8)
- ‘Winter Gem’ boxwood (Buxus microphyllavar.japonica‘Winter Gem’, Zones 5-9)
- ‘Center Glow’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius‘Center Glow’, Zones 3-7)
The following plants may be considered invasive in some areas. Please check with your state or province’s regulations.
An Entrance That Announces Itself with Added Curb Appeal
Heather Tuckman, a landscape designer from Southeastern Pennsylvania, restructured the area in front of her home and added dense bedding plants to solve structural problems and make the entryway to the house more accessible.
- ‘Red Rooster’ Buchanan’s sedge (Carex buchananii‘Red Rooster’, Zones 7-9)
- Corsican stonecrop (Sedum dasyphyllum, Zones 5-9)
- ‘Night Embers’ sedum (Sedum‘Night Embers’, Zones 3-9)
- Wheels of Wonder®Limoncello ice plant (Delosperma‘Wow312’, Zones 6-9)
- Dwarf Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens‘Nana’, Zones 4-9)
- ‘Amazon Mist’ sedge (Carex comans‘Amazon Mist’, Zones 6-9)
- ‘Cotswold Queen’ mullein (Verbascum‘Cotswold Queen’, Zones 5-9)
- Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus, Zones 5-8)
- ‘Amazon Mist’ sedge (Carex comans‘Amazon Mist’, Zones 6-9)
Trees, shrubs, perennials, and container plants all work together to roll out the front carpet toward the front entrance
- Full moon maple (Acer shirasawanumcv., Zones 5-9)
- Bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies‘Nidiformis’, Zones 3-7)
- Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis, Zones 4-8)
- ‘Dazzleberry’ sedum (Sedum‘Dazzleberry’, Zones 4-9)
- ‘Party Time Lime’ coleus (Coleus scutellarioides‘Party Time Lime’, Zones 10-11)
- ‘Brilliance’ autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora‘Brilliance’, Zones 5-8)
- Legend of the Small®bottlebrush (Fothergilla×intermedia‘NCFI1’, Zones 5-9)
- Little Henry®Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica‘Sprich’, Zones 5-9)
- Fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia, Zones 7-9)
- ‘Brilliance’ autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora‘Brilliance’, Zones 5-8)
- False shamrock (Oxalis triangularis, Zones 8-11)
- Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea,Zones 4-8)
- Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia, Zones 9-11)
- Twisted eastern white pine (Pinus strobus‘Torulosa’, Zones 3-8)
- ‘Curly Tops’ threadleaf chamaecyparis (Chamaecyparis pisifera‘Curly Tops’, Zones 4-8)
- ‘Winter Gem’ boxwood (Buxus microphyllavar.japonica‘Winter Gem’, Zones 5-9)
- ‘Center Glow’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius‘Center Glow’, Zones 3-7)
The following plants may be considered invasive in some areas. Please check with your state or province’s regulations.
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Subscribe to Fine Gardening Magazine.
See More Planting Plans.
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Fine Gardening Recommended Products.
The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener, 30th Anniversary Edition.
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
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