Your top 3

What are your top 3 most favorite garden plants and why?

My garden is 2 years old and I'm still learning what works for me and what doesn't. Right now my top 3 favs are red turks cap, passiflora incarnata, and veronica 'pacific ocean'.

All three of these have survived, thrived, and blooming heavily. All of this with minimal care, even through our brutal heat and draught.

Survived and even thrived: Zexmenia, non-stop flowers; Pink scullcap, keeps flowering all summer; Blackfoot daisy, flowers all summer.
All 3 had no issues with the heat and looked nice all summer. Zexmenia and Blackfoot daisy are slow to start in the spring but once they are blooming it doesn't end til frost.
C

Just 3????

Turk's Cap
Rock Rose
Blackfoot Daisy
Pink Skullcap
Passionvine

I could go on.... LOL

I agree with what everyone has suggested so far, but if I really could only pick 3:

Lantana
Rose of Sharon
Salvia greggii



Carla

Flame acanthus, salvia greggi, Russian sage all do well for me. But the greggi that was in full sun suffered this summer. It was amazing what a differance a few hours of shade did , even in the morning.

Yes,!now the greggii is blooming so hard, it takes my breath away. I agree with all above. Some of the winners for me was coral nymph sage, shrimp plant and batface cuphea. They loved the heat. The shrimp was in part shade so maybe that helped.

My top three would have to be tecoma stans(yellowbells)in full sun,Turk's cap in the shade and pink skullcap everywhere it was planted. Especially the yellowbells.This year it grew to reach the roof gutters after being cut to the ground after the freezes last winter. I've lost at least as much stuff this summer as I did after the hard freezes last winter...it's time to really re-think some choices I've made, unless I'm willing to replant every year....I'm taking note of everyone else's winners....great thread!

Mine would be Evergreen Wisteria has been blooming continuous since spring, Pokeweed also continuous, and Summer Poinsettia. They are still going strong.

ilovejesus99~ Are you going to any of the RUs? I still owe you those Byz.Glad bulbs ;)

I just love Evergreen Wisteria!! I don't know why I don't have any though LOL

My Truck blew a head gasket so I won't be going much of anywhere :( I did spend 5 days at Smockettes this week. She came and got me and brought me back home. It is 75 miles one way. I had a really great time.

I knew you did not forget :) I have a lot of seeds on my Evergreen Wisteria if you would like some. It is beautiful. After the seeds are ready I will try starting some cuttings and see if they take. Once mine was established it blooms (even after cut drastically back this spring) from Spring and is still going. Any advice trying to root some cuttings?

Sweet Autumn Clematis followed by All Day lillies then Zinnias all of these plants stand up to very harsh conditions of course the zinnia is annual but s o easy to save the seeds

I find daylillies hard to keep alive in the heat without a lot of water. Whats the secret? I would add skeleton leaf golden eye if you can find it. You simply can't kill this plant and it blooms most of the season.

Sorry you couldn't come today. No I did not forget ;) I will get them in the mail to you soon then. I would love to try some of the evergreen wisteria seeds. I have not ever tried to root any but I have read that it can be difficult. Best of luck to you.

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I found some skeleton leaf goldeneye last week, but didn't buy it :( I thought it sounded familiar but I couldn't think of why or what it would look like in bloom. I'll remember that one from now on.

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I feel very blessed. Most of the plants everyone has listed here so far I have starts of growing in my yard right now. Most of which I have gotten from fellow DG friends :) I can't wait to see them at their fullest in all their glory. The ones I don't have yet I will be looking into.

This message was edited Oct 16, 2011 6:53 PM

Catz what will you be looking for besides the Evergreen Wisteria seeds? Maybe I have some. I do have Wild Poinsettia seeds also if you would like some. Can you tell me when the Byzantine Glads start showing green? I wish I had a vehicle so I could go dig up some red spider lilies. I guess there is next year if the property is not used for something.

Love, love, love this list! I had not heard of pink skullcap, so decided to check it out. It sounded great, so decided to look for seeds -- they can not be found!

So you sweet Texans that happen to have this growing happily in your beds, have you checked for seeds? If you find some, would be willing to share?

This was not a good year for me, but 3 favorites. . . hm-m-m-m

My miniature vitex tree bloomed all summer, without my assistance, as did the crepe myrtles -- granted they did beg for a drink several times.
Vinca looks great now, looked dehydrated most of the summer, but it survived with some water. And the purple caster bean in the same bed looks awesome now.

With this information, I plan to create a new garden. Thanks!

The seeds for pink skullcap are incredibly tiny and somewhat difficult to collect. I've successfully grown some from see, though. I'll keep an eye out for seeds and try to get some for you.

ok, I went and got a couple of pink skullcap plants since so many folks were putting it top three. I have very high expectations!!

Don't overwater them!

Thanks Stephanie!

I won't hold my breath waiting, but I will be hoping for great eyesight and nimble fingers to collect.

I'm hoping to collect some of my vinca seeds. I think I've discovered their seed pods, now to just remember to keep checking for ripeness. . . the things we gardeners do for a new plant. Whew!