Yeah, was hoping that'd intrigue many :D
My yard could use some help. It've got some issue areas. I have a mostly-partly shaded front yard because of 2 sweetgum trees. I had the red caladiums out for reasons of height, long-season bloomers and color. Found out you have to dig all your caladium bulbs UP every 2 years-split them-in order for them to sprout again. I'm certainly not of the thinking that you plant a garden and forget it but the idea of pulling up hundreds of bulbs every 2 years and then repeat doesn't suit me.
That said the yard needs something new. I had hoped that both for it's form and long-blooming color I could use canna's but shoot they won't fair well under the shade of the sweetgums (where I had caladiums circling the base).
Any other suggestions for this area?
Also, suggestions for low long-season flowering plants that can take our heat and also mostly sun all day? I have BOTH types of spots to contend with in my front yard :).
I don't mind annuals if I can't get something that is a perennial. I would like a JM to plant in a very shady spot with something circling the base of that.
I heard huchera's don't fair well here in Houston (?).
LOVE Vinca's and will surely get some more of those.
LOVE the crisp sturdy form of canna's but don't have a full sun spot as of yet to put those. Already have some foxtail ferns (hoping now for something with color) and some plumbago's.
Was going for a red-white-bloom scheme because I have a Colonial, thought it was appropriate.
Can anyone help me go from all ears to green thumbs please????
Anyone want my yard?
for your sunny area--duranta is a good option. It has a white variety with green leaves and also variegated leaves.
for your shady area--red salvia is an option(has lots of varieties) and some will stay as perennial if you have mild winter or reseed. sweet alyssum(white) stays as perennial for me on my patio.
thank you on the salvia.
speaking of.....
I saw a blue bloomed one--called "black and blue" that said it was an annual?! Really? It was such a huge speciman, seems sad to see it not last.
yes. In my area, salvias won't do well unless they are in full shade too.
have you had any thoughts of Hostas for your shady area? Houtuynia(sp ?)/chameleon plant makes a nice colorful groundcover under the shade of trees as well.
you'd be surprised how well most cannas can grow in part sun....
there is a variegated variety called 'stuttgart' (beautiful green & cream leaves and salmon blooms), that actually prefer part sun to prevent sunburn on the leaves but as with many other cannas they like lots of water/pond. They are a tall variety.
Not sure how different your climate is than ours in New Braunfels, other than more humid, but I have had great luck with Salvia greggii's and Salvia coccinea's in direct sun. Again, so many colors to choose from. Salvia farinacaea (sp?) also does well in the sun and heat. All three of these Salvias bloom pretty much non-stop and are perennal. I even have blooms during the winter. Although the coccinea's did die back to the ground this winter, since it was colder than usual. Before planting Salvia Black and Blue, you might want to do some research on how it does in your area. Some folks hate it because it is invasive in their neck of the woods. Knockout roses, also do well in direct sun here. Love the fact that you don't have to deadhead and spray them like you do lot's of other roses. You don't even have to trim them if you don't want to. My Rainbow Knockout is a non-stop bloomer, even during the winter. Shasta daisies provide year round green and the beautiful white blooms for a pretty lengthy period, but not all summer. Again, those would be direct sun. I have White Knight and it does so well I have given much away. I don't have much shade at my place, so others will have to give you suggestions for that. Happy planting!
Tonya
How about Turk's Cap for shade or partial shade? Not sure about mildew in your area but Monarda might work for part shade also. Have you tried any online guides for your area, other than here.
Part shade plants: turks cap, zexmenia, cedar sage, mist flower
Sun and low: scull cap (pink or purple), gallardia
I don't know about the rain or humidity but those grow like crazy with almost no effort for me and have a long bloom time.
Cheryl
You could take off a few of the lower sweetgum limbs to get closer to partial than full shade.
Lantana is happy with shade, and I think would bloom all summer there. (It stops in the driest parts here.) It is more mass-y than crisp and sturdy. The native variety has some yellow, but they've bred up some that are all red. Prune it to a size and shape you like.
Larkspur, if you could allow for some blue in your colonial scheme. (They start blooming super early, too, before things like vinca. Some verbena might be nice for late winter/early spring, too,) Red betony and cedar sage are some other possibilities under the tree. Missouri violets if you could allow for purple. Oooh! Camellias.
Do you have a photo?
I figured out what it is I don't like! Most city houses aren't equipped with a nice old-fashioned front porch across the house. THAT would be my ideal shade. Then I'd have trees much further out, more towards the street than center of lawn, which casts shade on almost every part making the front of house look dark and keeping any sort of blooms at bay!
I will try to post a blaise picture today----the most recent one I've already loaded up.
These ideas are FABULOUS, thank you DGers. I'd forgotten turks cap---love that.
Hosta---had thought of those---was given poor reviews on them for the Houston area :( but may try them all the same. I've had some not like vinca's and they are incredible for me!
And btw, I passed a house in another neighborhood close and had to stop and GAWK the place was STUNNING. They kept the plantings symmetrical (which I guess would be the issue I really need to focus on with this formal Colonial---and NOT limited color) but they had TONS of color. Seriously, the plants all looked stunning. I am totally taking pictures as my inspiration today and will post that. If anyone can ID some of the plants then better for me :D
I may have to be nosy and inquire of the owner about their garden *have never done that*!
I don't know about Houston but I am growing hostas in the one part shade area in my yard that holds a little water. They are attacked by slugs but I don't think humidity would be an issue as I grew them in MI? Mine do ok in the heat with shade.
C
If you try the duranta, make sure you have room for it. Mine got 12 feet tall the first year it was planted and about 8 feet across. It froze to the ground this past winter, but came back from the roots. It's already about 4 feet tall this season.
Crow
LOL! Tir_Na_Nog I have (pounded on door and asked about other's gardens)! Most experiences have been delightful! I always figure the worst that can happen is if they slam the door in my face and turn the sprinkler system on me (happened once when I went to welcome a new neighbor and ask about her new garden accross the street from my old house up north--can't imagine why I wanted to move =D)!
Goodness! She must have been growing something she shouldn't have been!
Yeah, definitely ask. That's very cool that you found one that so jumps out at you. I'm sure they'd be happy to hear a compliment.
Newton'sthirdlaw....if you'll sprinkle Epsom salts around your hostas (as well as other plants too) the slugs will leave them alone. ;)
You guys are great :)
So no Duranta for me hehe. :) That's HUGE!
Wow, terri---what a rude neighbor! Whenever we've moved we always go around to visit neighbors but most ppl aren't that hospitable to visit the newbie :(. I was surprised, the move from San Antonio to Houston was surprising. In our old neighborhood everyone did their own lawn and gardening. Moved to Houston and virtually everyone has a landscape crew out there (even in this economy) with trimmers, mowers and blowers. It gets loud during the day (more wet = more mowing I guess) and so you never catch neighbors out in the yards. I miss that.
Im north of you and my Blk and blue saliva is a pernenial salvia so it should be okay in your area too...
realbirdlady and Tir_Na_Nog, yes it was a very weird neighborhood. The old timers were very nice. This was an old, established neighborhood and many folks in that town grew up wanting to someday live in that neighborhood. We moved to that area from FL and just stumbled onto the house right when the children who had inherited the house decided they wanted to sell, sell, sell. It was old and needed a lot of work. But some of the younger folks in the neighborhood felt that we didn't belong there, they had dibbs first, and they didn't mind telling us or our kids about it. Some actually even harrased the sellers about it. Who knew! One of the reasons I now live smack in the middle of 75 acres. Now I can see the neighbors coming. I always tell DH I now have plenty of time to take aim if I want to =D!
Tir_Na_Nog, elephant ears might fit in somewhere. There are various forms, shapes and sizes and would lend some texture and structure to your landscape.
Are elephant ears also caladiums or different?
blkraven, I looked up black and blue salvia in pf and whew some reviews claim it is invasive by runners. :(
there was a post on it and theres 2 kinds.. mine has grown but hasnt spread so Im very happy with it and the hummers love it! check this out then decide...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1095519/
This message was edited May 28, 2010 5:21 PM
Caladiums and Elephant Ears are different.
I've been wanting some Elephant Ears so I've been checking around and here is one that looks kind of cool. http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/06668.html
There are different types and sizes and shapes. But definitely for the back of the border!
Hey Terri,
I have the Coffee Cups and they are AWESOME! Believe it or not, I actually have them in full afternoon sun and they do great. I have had them since May of 2009 and they made it thru this past winter as well. It froze back to the ground but now the plant is even bigger than before. Another thing I like about them is that they are clumping instead of spreading. Hope this helps.
Oh yes! Thank you very much, BrandonSivek! I want some even more now!
Hmmmm......I must plant the last few plants from my recent Bluestone buy and then.....Off to Plant Delights!