that aren't the common fare at the big box stores. I have limited full sun but tons of partial shade and I want color, fragrance and something different. I am growing hellebores, climbing hydrangeas, camellias, sweetshrubs, mahonias, olive tea plants and my first meyer lemon as well as tomatoes, herbs and rosemary. A few cyclamen, hostas and ligularia, several lilies, freesia, echineca and one gardenia. I'm ready for something to add to the existing beds and one new lasagna bed that should be ready in April or so that does get half day sun.
Any and all suggestions of tried and "true" welcome. Come on, let me know what has been tried and what has worked-or not worked for you.
Color and/or fragrance are what I'm looking for.
Thanks-Jan
I want your ideas for plants that grow (8b-9a)
I would start off with Brugmansias, in your area they sometimes bloom all year. Next I would go with Gingers, there are several types and many will bloom all year also. I would next go for Banana Shrubs, it 's an evergreen in the Magnolia family, very fragrant. Mock Orange also has several varieties that are fragrant and blooms look like Dogwoods. If you go to any swaps from Dave's there are lots of Brugs and Gingers being traded back and forth.
How about some native Columbines? the are beautiful and easy to grow.
Golden Columbine, http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AQCH
and Eastern Red Columbine, http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AQCA
Josephine.
Yeah, lots of good native large shrubs/small trees that would thrive. The neat thing about building them into your landscape is that they attract more native animals, who bring along all sorts of new seeds and surprises. And alas, aren't the "common fare" at the chain nurseries.
red buckeye
beauty berry (lots of colors)
roughleaf dogwood
strawberry bush (if you have enough moisture)
some hibiscus or rosemallow are ok in the shade
sweetspire
native azalea (ok, they won't look so uncommon)
I hope this doesn't post twice. My computer timed out so I apologize if it does.
My first suggestion would be Antique Roses or Old Garden Roses. You will find some will tolerate some shade, many are highly fragrant, no spray and disease resistant. Just a few: The Fairy (packed with tiny light pink flowers May to fall), Zepherine Druhin - a mannerly climber and Marie Daly a beautiful pink and great fragrance. Climbing Pinkie, too!
Also, something unique which can be grown from seed are Anemone. I fell in love with them 2 years ago and am growing more this year. Not fragrant but flowers, nice foliage and like some protection from our hot Texas sun.
What about oakleaf hydrangea?
Daylily?? Not your big box store kind but the beauties found on-line? Some great prices and any color you could ever want with some being more tolerant of partial sun and some fragrant. I have some great sources if you need any ideas.
ENJOY!
Mindy
I didn't see Turk's Cap Malva listed here - unusual, bright, reliable:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56887/
Nor did I see Flowering Quince:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/909/
Or Salvias (my all time favorites) ('Lady in Red' and 'May Night' but I also love 'Hot Lips' and 'Black & Blue')
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31636/
Oh! And I love my Hydrangea 'Lady in Red'
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/86255/
OOH! And for lots of fun and deserves 'front row seating'
Bat-faced Cuphea:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2033/
And for something really different and delightfully scented
Artemisia (Wormwood)
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/841/
All perfect for xeriscaping.
The Salvia is a self-seeder; the others perennials.
Enjoy!
This message was edited Mar 27, 2011 10:30 PM
This message was edited Mar 27, 2011 10:32 PM
A huge thank you to all!!! I am currently looking online for the banna shrub--thanks sooo much for this suggestion. I think this is a great plant! I'd never heard of it before>found one supplier but they are out of stock so---the search is on).
And Turk's cap---I admire this weekly at a friends house in the summer. How could I miss this option?
I had thought about flowering quince several times but I'm not sure that I want to use my limited sun. I put in kerria several weeks ago and I think I may be able to place a flowering quince behind/or in that area. Any favorites? The kerria will bloom yellow later than the quince.
I absolutely love the batface cuphea. Will have to research a bit more to see if they can take our humidity but what a cool plant!!!
THANKS so much for the suggestions! I love you people. It's great that there is a place to pick the brains of so many....
Jan
The batface grows well over in Magnolia, dau has one across the side of an arbor, across from the coral vine, does well when the voles let it, various sages available now, lemon balm-tho it has no flowers is aromatic, I always loved the phlox and stock and balsams for fragrance...
Jan!!! I know where you can get your Banana Shrub!! I'm getting another one in May!
Have you ever been to Hope Farms? It's on 1484 just off 105 (near Cut 'n Shoot).
Her sale is every weekend in May. You must go!!!! You will find all kinds of wonderful things you just can't get in most nurseries.
In fact, we bought a purple Porterweed there that I just love!!!!
I had the Batface in Benbrook, so I know it'll thrive here. Funny, after I wrote that to you, I searched for my limited seeds for it. I've never tried it from seed, but since I had to leave my plant in the ground there.... it's what I have for now.
Does anyone know where I can find a tri-color Sweet Potato Vine?
Oh yes, I'd almost forgot about my Coral Vine (are you referring to Rose of Montana?) ~ Jen, I have some seeds for that one if you want to try it. Mine are just now coming up - yea!!
and a couple of added thoughts... I used to love to walk through my garden every morning and run my hands over different plants with scented foilage. I'd quickly raise my hand to my face, close my eyes and breathe deeply. I honestly think this was my own brand of aromatherpy. I started with my Rosemary right by my back door, then my Pineapple Sage, wander over to my oregano, my Thai Basil, my Yarrow, then even common Spearmint (which I MUCH prefer over Peppermint), and then to my gorgeous double peach rose (I never found out the true name of it)..... ahhhhhhh..... I know those are rather common place, but even if you just planted them here and there... what a nice treat for you.
note to self: go find some Pineapple Sage, Thai Basil and create your aromatherapy path again ;-)
deep breath, oh yes, yummmm
kenboy!
they were asking about you on the E. Texas RU thread...
are you going?
we've never met, but i just saw your name here and wanted to let you know.
(not trying to hijack the thread--just hoping kenboy is still watching this one)
My absolute favorite native wildflower...chocolate daisy. It's a pretty daisy all by itself, but smells like a cup of cocoa. YUM. I'm so lucky to have them in my backyard on their very own. :)
Indeed you are lucky, I planted some seeds this winter ans some have germinated. Did i get them from you?
Josephine.
Josephine, I don't think you did. It's only a small patch of them this year for me too. :( I am going to harvest the seeds this year to share later, since I missed out on the anemone and I'm not sure if blue-eyed grass sets seed or not.
You should go to Grower's Outlet in Willis..he carried Texas Perennials...Jeanne
http://www.growersoutletinwillis.com/
don't think I ever saw blue eyed grass set seed
Many thanks to Cajun. I went to Hope Farms today and bought a wagon load of stuff I didn't know I needed ;) I did find the pineapple shrub. How cool is this thing? She had lots of unusual plants as well as tons of daylillies. What I REALLY like tho' was that I got to see growing plants I had wondered about, read about and the mental picture wasn't always right -imagine.
She also has some terrific hydrangeas beds (which she wasn't selling) but I have put in maybe a dozen in the last three years and while this spring has been perfect for them, I had almost resigned myself to smaller bushes.....NOT SO- it can be done here and I have seen the proof.
Am still stalking the batface and a light pink turk's cap.
Thanks to all who gave me such great suggestions.
Jan
LOL Jan! I hear ya.... I met a friend up there last Sunday just b/c she'd never been. I had NO intention of buying ANYTHING. I scraped together cash from my car and bought the Haight Ashbury Hibiscus, a cool double Coneflower, a Bengal Tiger Canna, and some variegated something I didn't even need LOL Sheesh THEN we stopped by this local grower I know on 105 and bought an awesome white Texas Star Hibiscus (VERY large and cool! $8)
I'm hopeless.
Oh, where did I get my batface? I want to say either Lowe's or Home Depot--someplace I didn't expect it.
All of my plants will be edible.
Pineapple Guava: evergreen shurb, edible flowers and fruits, very drought tolerant, cold hardy to 10F.
Maypop Passionfruit: Aggressive vine, insanely beautiful flowers, large fruit, perennial, cold hardy to -10F
Asian Pear: attractive flowers, drought tolerant, heavy yields of crispy Pears like are more similar to Apples.
Black Beauty Muscadine: Huge attractive grapes. Needs well drained soil and male pollinator. ISONS.
Miho and Seto Satsuma: Drought tolerant, cold hardy to 14F, needs well drained soil.
Opal or Lila Avocado: Needs very well drained soil, hardy to 17F.
Strawberry Guava: Grows anywhere. Hardy to 22F.
Blackberries: thornless
Capulin Cherry: heat loving Cherry with smaller fruit, cold hardy to 16F
Pomegranates: cold hardy from 10F-15F
Figs: cold hardy from 5F-20F
Che/Melon Tree/Strawberry tree: Large pink fruit, cross of Fig and Mulberry in taste.
Mulberry: large crops of Blackberry type fruit. Illinois Everybearing is good choice.
Asian Persimmons: Fuyu or Jiro for fresh eating non-astringent