What plant can't you live without?

What plant/flower/shrub/tree can't you live without?
Please share which ones and the reason.

I think for me it's Daylilies, they were the first flowers I planted here and the anchor for my gardens

Right now I'd say dwarf mondo grass. I have been using it a lot as a ground cover for small spaces but when planted in mass it can also make a nice living border. I also like it because it is easy to care for, looks clean and neat, and I can buy flats of it for relatively little money.

I love how mondo looks en masse

For me, it's the iris....have always planted them, it's the first flower I remember from my Grandma's garden.....she grew a lot of flowers, so they had to make quite an impression.....

Seems these days I cannot live without weeds!

Weeds or weed, victor? I know a lot of people around these parts that would say the latter.

Those days are over. ^_^

And, of course, I never inhaled.

Jen, you shocked me! You know my answer is the same as yours . :) DL's because of the color palette...if they came in blue it would be perfect! They come in different heights, sizes of the bloom, solids, with eyes, edges and polychrome.
Also, you can have them bloom early June into Oct. if you choose them right.
This one was taken today. ^_^

Tough question - has changed over the years. Probably JM's.

I love spring bulbs, all of them Winter is over and the ground is waking up. They are the first flowers that remind us of what is to come.

I have to go with daylilies too. I love the variety of colors and shapes and sizes. I can't say I have any blooming now though, so as in most things, I still have a lot to learn, and I know where to go to to get educated!! :). Ooops, I take that back...I do have a stella blooming still.

Iris, of course. When I was a child the neighbor behind us had his entire backyard filled with iris plants, 40ft space. I grow other plants, but not to be without the iris, from the tiny bulbus ones in the spring & on throught the summer as the different types bloom.

I would have been surprised if you said anything else, Iris

How come?

Oh Dear, Tomatoes. Hanging head. Not 89 plants again!!!

I have a love-hate relationship with my Brugmansias.

Love--because when they are in bloom, and perfume my yard--it seems so special.
because, seems no one around here has them--so I hold on to mine, take cuttings,
propagate them and share them Wait! This is a pain to do as well!

Hate--because I have to prune them and take them into my small basement for the winter.
drag the big pots down and try to fit 4 of them in a small, tight corner.
because they blow over in high winds--no matter the pot size (unless dug in).
because I no longer am "in love" with this exotic plant....as I was the first years I had them.

Here is my favorite bloomer--the "Dr. Seuss". Tops in fragrance! This was taken earlier this month.
They always put on the best show when the weather cools down.

Gita

If I am allowed a second plant I cannot live without---
It is my "Kopper King Hibiscus". Too bad I cannot propagate it. It makes no seeds....
Trying this year by a small root division--will see next summer if it grows.
Right now the small root is buried in a pot with just dirt showing.

Gita

Both are beauties!

jm's here too, have always loved dogwoods too although for all season's it is jm's hands down. hope to get a new one this weekend:)

And my new best favorite for Fall is phlox....including the purple ones you gave me last year at your RU, Bill. The short Flash series (I got coral, white, purple and pink this year) has added a lot of lasting color in my gardens this fall. I also bought "Chattahoochee" short phlox for Spring. Looking forward to seeing its first bloom in the Spring.

Cindy likes that phlox too louise - may have to move some to other places here

You don't want mine back, do you? :)

I planted Louisiana phlox...creeper...this year.....pretty blue color.

Nice! I like blue in the Spring! Does it spread quickly, Marilyn?

Have no idea, Louise....this was the first year I planted it, & it flowered! Couldn't figure out what was blue in that part of the garden!

Evergreens win for me. No other looks so consistently good. My latest favorite is Chamaecyparis Ferngold, but Thuja Rheingold is right up there too.

Louise you have any problems with powedery mildew on your phlox?

Jen, i do have PM problems on some - especially this year when I didn't keep up with the copper fungicide. If I keep up with it, it is manageable.

My necessary plant would be peonies. All shapes, colors and types. They envold one's senses. I have both heirlooms and modern ones, but no matter what, they're timeless.

I just wish they'd last longer....or rebloom....

I know (sigh). That's why I have to have a lot--so they have different bloom dates, and I can also cut some in bud to keep in the fridge for later. And the other members of the garden chorus have to sing when it's their turn. My other favorite is magnolia, yet another that is too fleeting in bloom time.

'Rocky's Eye' on a rebloom, picture taken 10/1/11

'Siloam Ury Winniford' on rebloom 9/28/11

Very pretty! I hope I have some reblooms next year when my DLs have settled in to their new garden location.

Rosemary - I love the peonies too, but like Celeste, i wish their blooms weren't so short-lived. I think a vase of peony blooms is as pretty as you can get.

Rocky's Eye has caught my eye!

good one, Marilyn!! It's caught mine too! Love that shade of pink!

JMs are definitely at the top of my list, although I don't have as many as "some people" here :) I'd also have to add hostas and astilbe because they are really the unifying plants in my garden.

Did I mention that I am very fond of lillies of the valley?