My front entryway is shaded from the east and west by maple trees at either end, which shade in the morning and evening. It is on the south side of the house, which shades from the north. However, from approximately noon to 4:00PM, it receives the full midday sun. It has been a challenge finding something that will survive both extremes. Shade lovers wilt in the midday sun, and sun lovers don't get enough sun to satisfy them. Any ideas for plantings that would do well in these conditions?
Problem area;shade alt/w midday sun
Hi distraction - It depends on the type of plants you're looking for. Do you want flowering perinnials or shrubs, etc??? My thought was nandinas - but not knowing for sure what will do well in your area, it's hard to recommend plants. My general thought is to get evergreen, tough, shrubs that don't care much where they are.....Indian hawthorn, nandinas, some pittosporums, conifers are what pop into mind. What have you tried already??? I used to live in Dallas so that's what I'm basing my list on.
Hi Adelaide
We are at the breakoff between zone 5b and 6a
I am not too particular (started planting flowers this year because I was becoming "rootbound" in my easy chair watching tv) What I am mainly after is fresh air, sunshine and exercise--but would like to be successful. Besides, once bitten, I am hooked.
If I could have exactly what I wanted, it would be old fashioned, nostalgic types of flowers. I have some primrose and lavendar in containers that I need to set in that area to see how they do, but they are happy where they are and I hate to disturb them :(
Currently there is mountain sage--evidently not enough sun, they are not flourishing. Liatris, wormwood, cupid's dart surviving but droop in the hot sun. Lillies have bloomed, and paperwhites did well after starting indoors.
You have mentioned some vaieties that I am not familiar with, will do my homework
Thanks for your input.
I have almost the exact same condition and orientation of trees and house here in Dallas, and I find that Turk's Cap and salvia do well, as does verbena. Lantana in some positions in the garden also thrives -- the sun they get at midday is enough (here in Texas, anyway) to keep them bloom happy even though they get shade the rest of the day. I also do well with snapdragons and lavender. They go dormant in the high heat of summer but are very happy and abundant in spring and fall. Sweet potato vines and lamb's ear have also done well.
That said, I should also add that the garden does get some slant-range filtered sun in late afternoon -- not much, but some -- and that may be enough to make the difference. Not sure.
No where in particular to post so I will follow Susannah's with.....
Have you ever seen the purple sweet potato vine bloom? I have had both the lime green (Margarita) and the purple for the last three years. They spread all over the place but never have I observed a bloom....until today. Have a purple in and old granite pot that about equals a gallon size. It has two of the most beautiful blue blooms. I will post pictures tomorrow.
I have an area that is similar. This is what is doing well in my area
lamium
catmint (most varieties do well)
alpine strawberries
bishop's weed
sage
a shade tolerant rose (I have Lavender Lassie)
columbines
chives
oreganos
lemon balm (can be invasive)
clematis
I would recommend keeping your lavender in full sun. Generally they like drier conditions, full sun, free draining soil. The other recommendations look like definite good alternatives - all depends on the look you want, what you can find at your nursery and lots and lots of trial and error!!! Good luck!! Do you often see temps above 85?
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Yes, we frequently have temps over 85. In fact, have already had some days in the 90 degree range. Oftentimes, have a "ring of fire" that sets up over us in the summer. Stretches of days over 100, and no rain. (Rain all around us in neighboring states, but none here).
I'm afraid part of my problem is lack of patience. I have "Jack and the Beanstalk" syndrome. Want to plant something and wake up the next day to find it stretching to the skies. :)
Ha! You're not far off in the beanstalk theory!! Vines generally grow very quickly and there are quite some tough ones out there!!!!! lol!! Good luck and let us know what you've found! kh
LouC,
Did you post your pictures of blooming sweet potato vine somewhere else? I was looking forward to seeing them. I didn't know they would bloom. They are beautiful plants even without blooms.
Would they satisfy my "beanstalk" theory? :)
I didn't have much luck growing potato vine in the middle of summer in Dallas - too hot in the mid-day sun. They do grow quickly and I know they are a favorite in the more northern states. (I visited Chicago and they are a staple in almost every mixed container!). Of course it doesn't have the extended heat that the South does. That said, they are worth a try. They may be happier in Autumn though.
Just had a random thought: why not herbs?? Basil, some sages/salvias, thyme do well or maybe try some chili plants. I had a lemon scented, varigated, creeping thyme that was just beautiful around my pond and it didn't seem to care about any of the weather conditions! Geraniums or pelargoniums are pretty tough too.....ok I'll stop now.......
We do well with sweet potato vine here in my Dallas neighborhood all summer, but mostly in the shade and part/shade. Not full sun, certainly, but I do use it a lot to soften the edges of beds where it's shady. And a lot in containers. Though it's touted as an annual here, in some mild winters it will overwinter and come back strong in the spring -- a little fiscal bonus!
We're seeing a new and very pretty variegated sweet potato vine that is less familiar to me -- pale green, white, and pink, with a slightly different texture to the leaf -- I have it in containers now and am interested to see if it's just as hardy in the summer as the green and purple have been. Very nice color and texture for container gardening.
Entinded (sp) to take pictures today but the Drs. visit went over time. By the time I got home it was raining again and the blossoms were gone. I have excellent luck with the purple leaf and Margarita (lime) vines. They seem to grow most anywhere they get a chance. If a piece breaks off it just takes root wherever. Been thinking that maybe the reason for the unexpected bloom was...tada....Epsom Salt.....have sprinkled a hand full on anything that couldn't get away before I got to it. ES is known to encourage blooms on a lot of plants....why not sweet potato vine. I have two different vines that are new to me this year. Both of them are variegated as Susannah describes but they haven't been as vigorous....probably due to the moonsoon. As for growing SPV in the sun, just check out the various beds in commercial sites.....full sun...lots of concrete...lots of carbon monoxide and seem to be covering the world.
Monsoon is right. If the sun comes out and stays out for a few days, we should have some seriously enthusiastic -- even giddy -- gardens after all this rain.
OK, you Texans, rub it in about all your rain. :)
Surrounding areas here have had lots of rain earlier this month--even flooding in upstate, but here mostly just pop-up showers. Gound is hard under foot.
After much careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the only sure thing I can count on growing here is rocks and poison oak. And I already have a good start on both!
Seriously, I saw the tri-color sweet potato vine at a local nursery this morning. It is very pretty. May have to find a place for it somewhere. It would be an annual here.
A friend is going to share some of her lamb's ear.
Also need to look at things like soil condition and watering schedule--may simply be a matter of needing to water more to correct my problem.
Is epsom salts good for all plants? My dad used to put in on his tomatoes. He swore by it, but had't heard of using it for flowers, etc.
Am off--to weed, feed and water. If you could send some of that rain this way, would be beholden to ya.
Texas Gardening: Epsom Salts Well, I don't know how to do a link.
This thread discusses ES from top to bottom.
Also go to WWW.epsomsalts.org
I, too, have hard clay soil and this is the first rain that made any difference in 5 years. The lakes have been dried to the point of unbelief. For sometime all of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has been on water rationing. Mean to say as the kids phrase "we feel your pain". For my totally shaded front bed I have amended it thoroughly with the MG garden soil. Expensive initially but worth it. I have very large elephant ear and medium size. This last two weeks have filled in with Everlasting Hydrangea. Also planted one banana this year. The elephant ears have flourished even in a drought. Some got so large they have been divided in 3-4 more each. Once they are established they are great. They die down completely after first frost but come right back in the spring. My, my I'm just as windy today as I was yesterday.
Purple sweet potato vine blooming again. Two new blooms today. Still think it is the Epsom Salt. All other things are equal to previous growing conditions.
another picture
I'll be doggoned. I was expecting some little, hard to see flowers. That is a significant flower. Sweet potato vine is periennial in your growing zone, isn't it?
Wonder if it would bloom for us here in 5b where it is an annual? So you suppose if we would use Epsom salts it would bloom in one growing season for us? Might be fun to find out.
Thanks for sharing, that's pretty.
Actually the PV dies first frost. I have never left it alone to see if it would come back. This one will go in the ground soon so I will mulch this fall and see what happens. I have grown them for at least 3 years and see them everywhere.....never, ever saw a bloom before. First spring to fall into the Epsom Salt barrel..lol. I was plenty shocked when I saw the bloom. Hope it continues.
If the winter isn't too harsh, PV comes back here in Dallas. I lost all mine this past winter, but the winter before (2005-2006) was mild enough that about half mine came back -- and wasn't I surprised spring 2006!
But when it freezes, it has a nasty look indeed. Very moribund. Think lettuce in the freezer. A bounceback in the spring, when it happens, is a nice little yay! life! moment.