Ideas for Planting Along a Driveway

Drivers need to see clearly in a driveway.

When planting along a driveway, gardeners look for privacy, an attractive blooming border or landscape distinction to call attention to the property. Consider three things when planning driveway landscaping--the home's design, plants suitable for the site and the driver's need for a clear view and maneuverability.

Privacy in a Driveway

A compact hedge gives driveway privacy.

If houses are built close together, landscaping between driveways is a good way to create privacy. To separate one driveway from another consider planting evergreen trees. They will stay green in the winter and provide a screen. Evergreen trees will grow slowly but will be low maintenance. Hedges also are a good choice. They should be dense and compact to provide privacy, but they do need maintenance and trimming. Choices to consider are: brush cherry (Syzygium paniculatum), sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) and Rhaphiolepis "Majestic Beauty." Climbing vines such as bougainvillea, wisteria and honeysuckle can also provide seclusion, but such vines need to be anchored to hard-scape such as wood, stone or stucco.

Colorful Blooming Border

Freeway daisies are hardy.

If the purpose for driveway planting is for color, consider annual or continuously blooming plants in colors that complement the home. Different types of lavender and sage in hues of violet, lilac and blue harmonize well with a Mediterranean or southwest-style home. A border of zinnias or marigolds offer jolts of color and are low maintenance. A plant from the daisy family will do quite well for a colorful driveway addition. Osteospermum fruticosum is referred to in California as "the freeway daisy," because of its hardiness and ability to grow on the side of highways.

Distinction Along the Drive

Succulents are sturdy and add interest.

Try a sprinkling of colored gravel, anchored with larger rocks and planted with succulents and cacti, for a low-maintenance driveway planting. Ground cover or creeping succulents will fill in the spaces and add color and texture. Elijah blue fescue (Festuca glauca), a small-mounding grass, will look at home in this type of landscape. It is slow growing and does not require cutting. Ornamental grasses are also a good choice for distinction alongside the drive. Consider giant burgundy fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.) that produces a grass with a deep burgundy blades and burgundy plumes. Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) also adds drama to the drive with its changing colors. In spring, the stem is green but over the summer it dries to a pale yellow, then in autumn a light burgundy plume appears. This grass reaches a height of about 5 feet and provides movement and texture to the driveway landscape.

References

• Purdue University Extension: Hedges
• Sunset: Privacy, with plants
• Sunset: Designing a perfect covered patio
• WSU Whatcom County Extension: African Daisy