I posted a thread asking for suggestions of what to plant in my front yard in Curb Appeal. (http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/580212/) I would very grateful if some of you that live in this area and know what will really grow here would take a look and see if you have any good ideas.
Thank you!!! :-)
~ Marylyn
I would LOVE some suggestions!!
Marilyn, did they not answer you in Curb Appeal? I tried posting there once and didn't get much response.
I just posted it there about half an hour ago, so it's too soon to say how much of a response I'm going to get. I just foresee a lot of folks suggesting lupines or peonies and was hoping to get some of you to look at it, too. :-)
I have a small landscape company- I generally suggest avoiding those things that will become so big and over powering in years to come. Often some of what you see is the what the builder put in- cheap and will grow w/o much effort by home owner.
I am sorry that I didn't read enough to find out if you have full, partial w/ morning or afternoon sun, etc. What I like to suggest, because of color and because they are really pretty indestructable Lorepetalum (Plum Delight is one that has dark purple/burgandy leaves as well as the hot pink fringe/flower) can be trimmed to hedge type or let go. Also like Gardenias, mainly they are pretty much care free. Cigar plant/cigarette plant comes in orange but also there is a tricolor cuphea with pink and purple flowers. Bulbine is another good choice, although the colors would not necessarily be the best if you are aiming for pink/purples. but would look good w/ cross vine. If you have enough shade Turks cap is nice and there is a pink and white variety that would look good w/ those pinks/purples. If you have enough sun Phillipine Violet is pretty and comes in both white and purple. Also if there is enough shade hardy orchids are nice. If you have enough sun Plumbago comes in both blue and white. White is a nice contrast plant to add- it can really make the other colors pop. Trailing purple lantana looks good in cooler months. Hope this helps.
Also guara aka pink butterflies is good for full sun, dry or my favorite Clerodendrum Ugandanese/blue butterflies good for part sun- mine was planted in shade but refused to stay and now lives in full sun. Kids like that one, actually everyone does. Let me know if I am way off base and I will try to give you some more ideas that are more on track w/ what you are hoping to achieve.
I have a gaura ('cherry brandy') that I love...it's been in a pot since I got it last year, I'm looking forward to putting it in the ground after I move. As for sunny shrubs, I saw on curb appeal that someone had suggested dwarf junipers. I dunno if this appeals to you or whatever, but last year when I wanted some kind of hardy evergreen, instead of doing juniper or boxwood or whatever, I bought a bunch of different types of rosemary and planted those. I love it-they're green and bushy and tough, and now I have rosemary all the time for cooking.
She has a Rosemary that is behind the left Laurel toward the door.
Whoops, missed that! My bad.
Clerodendrum Ugandanese is in full sun for me and is big (9' tall and at least 6' wide). Mine blooms like crazy all summer long and is also a favorite of mine. Cigar plant (cuphea) requires more water than most folks think down here; but I wouldn't want to be without it either.
Thanks for all of your suggestions! I have mostly shade, so full sun plants are out. I LOVE my rosemary!! I hadn't thought of putting more of them out front... Hmm.. :-)
We had some lorepetalum in the beds behind the mountain laurels and we loved the color, but we were having to prune them all the time because they wanted to be BIG and we didn't have any more room for BIG. We have a long blank fence in the back yard and are thinking of getting some more lorepetalum and some more Bridal Wreath spirea and putting them against the fence. We like both bushes, just not in the front yard.
Pink Turk's Cap sounds wonderful!! I'll have to look for that. I need to go shopping. Is anyone interested in a Joshua's Native Plants road trip??
~ Marylyn
Marilyn, I have a similar problem in my front yard. I'm trying holly fern, hostas, split-leaved philodendron, columbine, dwarf Burford (sp) Holly, oxalis, daffodils, leucojum, pigeon berry. Texas betony is one I'm going to add this spring and maybe a mist plant. The split leaved philodendron does very well on very little water. It grows under the eave of the house in a spot that I rarely water and does great. The hydrangeas are an experiment (a gift from Hazel).:) Also the holly ferns. The hardy begonias she has do well in shade, but probably need more water that the other stuff you've got.
BTW I copied this from the Curb Appeal forum, just in case you're watching that one too. And I had another idea, can you establish balance and bring everything together just by repeating a certain color or do you have to actually repeat plants?
I have Holly Ferns and really like them. They are in the shade and look very lush. Got them at Houston Garden Center about this time last year. I never covered them this winter and they showed no effects from the one really cold night we had. Yucca-Do has some neat plants that are for the shade. I just received my order with Alstroemeria Psittacena Variegata. It stays compact, but has a nice leaf color. Other great thing about them is that the plants are already tried and true in our climate since they are in Hempstead.
I am struggling with some of the same issues, but my beds are in the back. Still looking for a nice (not gigantic or invasive) vine that will take almost full shade. Preferably not ivy. A bloom would be nice too.
Shuggins, yes I planted an alstromeria this year in a raised bed because I was told it was invasive. And I forgot about salvia guarantica. I planted 3 of those. My house is limestone, and I am addicted to purple and can't wait to see them bloom!
And if you ever find a nice, but not huge vine that blooms and is not invasive and grows in the shade I would love to know about it. LOL I've been looking for one too.