I need WOW flowers

I am redoing my entire landscape and wondering what in the world to put in it. I'm still new to gardening. Most of the folks on my street have lots of big shrubs but I prefer flowers. I don't like the look of covering all your first floor windows with dark foliage.

I'm in zone 8.

If you have a truly WOW factor flower you could recommend please let me know. If only have a few suggestions, and the time, would you please provide a link from plantscout so I can reference it quickly?

I'm to sure about the daylily business. I know they are a favorite of many and while the blooms look nice in photos the stems seem to lack character....looks more like tall grass. At least the few I've seen at the nurseries. Now asiatics on the other hand have a quite interesting stem. This is just an example of what I mean by WOW factor.

A rose that doesn't get blackspot in Texas, etc....

Someone in Texas mentioned they were going to do Iris's. But again...I know nothing about flowers so.....all help is appreciated!

First of all, is your area HOA-controlled? If it is, I'm sure you're aware that the CC&R's may have some restrictions. Next, you need to decide whether you want a one-time spectacular display (perennials) or a renewing season-long show (annuals). A combination of types in a cottage-garden style has strong appeal but requires lots of attention - deadheading, etc. - for a front yard display.

I've read that bearded iris do not perform at their best in areas of high humidity. They only fare moderately well for me here in San Antonio - nothing like the beauty I enjoyed in the drier atmosphere of southern California. Spuria and Louisiana types might be more adaptable; I should probably try them. Dutch iris (a bulb rather than a rhizome) are early harbingers of spring - glorious for a bit over a week; they come back reliably each year.

I'd suggest a visit to the library to look through some copies of Texas Gardener magazine for ideas. Neil Sperry's magazine is also good, but I no longer subscribe because it seemed to me the emphasis (and certainly the advertising) is almost exclusively on the northern section of the state. Visits to botanical gardens also help visualize size, proportion and color.

Some greenery will help balance and blend the floral colors. Low-growing specimens such as pink skull-cap and mondo grass are good for edging and corners to "tie down" and define the display. Most of all, have fun, and remember - the garden is a place where we're allowed to change our minds!

Yuska,

Well said,

Tir, if you can get to a library or bookstore, this has been my favorite gardening book: http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/767/

It has great pictures, tons of good info, and it is specific to the Houston area. Our realtor gave us a copy when we closed on our house, bless her heart. My copy is falling apart!

Tir, so nice to meet up with you again. Wow flowers for me, that would do well in your area are lilies, asiatics come in a variety of colors, bloom at slightly different times and I have also been told by southerners that the OT lilies do well in your climate, as compared to orientals (these are a cross made between a trumpet lily and an oriental lily). They bloom at different times and don't take up a lot of room, so you can plant many of them. Asiatics tend to multiply a lot faster than the others.
Here's one of my favorite places to order from, already up for the fall season. With liliums, there are a ton of color variations too, so you can stick with a theme or go hog wild on color.
http://www.lilybulb.com/easyasiatics.html
Or check out yesterday's lily thread on blooms.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/749732/

The only roses that I've never had bspot on are the knockouts. I have red and pink. There is also a double red, a blushing, and a rainbow. Carefree sunshine is yellow. There is a double pink and a new yellow one coming out 2008
KOs can get big---seen some around 5ft.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/268/

Multiseasonal bloom, perennial, easy, flowers for zone 8

shasta daisy---the wow here is how nicely the white petals show up infront of brick or greenery. Flowers can also be seen in low light conditions (street lights at night, dawn/dusk)
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/48/

Salvia--the wow here is how dependable, long blooming and perfectly suited for zone 8 they are. Multiple varieties.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/146200/

Canna Lilly-wow--tropical look, amazing leaves. can get tall. likes full sun and moist soil--can be a difficult combo parts of Texas.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/477/

Hardy Hibiscus--huge blooms. Don't look great in winter, especially if its a cold one, comes back in spring. Can get big.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/982/

Flare Hibiscus-red variety
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/40953/

Careful if purchasing Hibiscus, the tropical Hibiscus will likely not come back after winter.

Take a look at the Texassuperstar plants. I feel that the list is more for zone 9, but very helpful list
http://texassuperstar.com/

I know your not looking at shrubs. But rosemary is a great blooming shrub for zone 8. The wow is the combo of great scent and nice blooms.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/170/

edited for spelling







This message was edited Jul 19, 2007 3:57 PM

I must warn you. Dwarf mexican petunia is on the Texassuperstar plant list. It is really nice, but terribly invasive in zone 8. Be sure you really like it. You will have it forever, and you'll be constantly pulling out shoots from the crazy underground root system many meters away from where you planted it (first hand experience)

I second that on the Mexican Petunia. I regret ever planting that stuff. I dug it all up about a year ago and I'll bet there's 20 new plants out there for me to dig up again.

Knockout roses, Belinda's Dream and 'Nearly Wild' roses are good. Look at most antique roses rather than tea hybrids. They hold up to the humidity we experience very well.

Look at Esperanzas (very, very hardy), salvias, butterfly bush, gardenias, hydrangeas, milkweed, jacobinia, porterweed (although it might freeze down), lantana, verbena, liatris, bulbine....gosh, the list is huge!

Thank you to all. So much great info!

Thanks for the link on the book marylyn--what a nice realtor!

Mag, good to see you again to! I appreciate the input on the lilies.

Collin, what a nice list you've composed for me! I appreciate the time and effort that took. I recognize many on the list. :)

Hmmmm plants I should hate (i.e mexican petunia) let me tell you what I'm dealing with on this new plot of land.

*small patch of mexican petunia in back
* 3 vines of stuff
*4 sago palms
*a very sharp spiney palm (haven't read the tag on that yet)
*2 palm phoenix (SHARP!)
*1 dinky rose with tons of blackspot
*4 asparagus ferns
*foxtail ferns (not a fan but at least these aren't dangerous!)
*small patches of bermuda grass mixed with MOSTLY augustine, thank goodness

and a host of other small plants all done in a hodge podge fashion.

I appreciate that the owners were into gardening (though obviously they didn't know about Dave's---ha) as there are many nice permanent beds to work with. Overall I am thrilled I don't have any overgrown shrubs to pluck out. And at least you can sell large mature plants so that's a plus.

Thanks for the help!

Sounds like they were going for a zone 9b tropical look in z8. Difficult to pull off.

TNN - if you're just a little north of Houston, you're probably on the line between zones 8 and 9. Lot's of things can grow, for instance, in the Woodlands, that might not do so well as in the Huntsville area.

TNN, I read your threads about where to move, etc, etc, etd.
Since you have made your decision & moved, would you please let us know where?
Knolan lives w-sw of me & I am west of the Woodlands but not in.
If we knew your location, we could give you more detailed info!!
I work @ a wholesale nursery & would be glad to get you any plants you need that are not COMMON! The Farm where I work, doesn't grow anything COMMON!!!
:~)

Smockette works at the BESTEST place ever to get plants.

TNN....are you coming to the swap on Saturday? (babies are welcome).

You go, Kristi!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got your Fireman's Cap today! Had to hide it for the windy rains we had @ the Farm today.

Bringing it home tomorrow! Had tire PROBLEMS today!!! Murphy's Law & it always happens to me!

TNN, if you will dmail me your addy, I will mail you a catalog or you can go to our website, Treesearchfarms.com.

Our Company motto is "If it is common, we don't grow it!"

LMK
I hate for DGers to pay retail, if I can get it for you wholesale!!!
& that is a fact!
:~)

Oh, how exciting! Now the front yard doesn't have to be jealous of the back yard anymore. I can't thank you enough! BTW - the one in the backyard just finished blooming. Such a lovely tree.

I HATE car trouble with a passion. Can't figure out what's worse, car problems or fire ants.

OK, Smockette, at the risk of sounding greedy, can I get another fireman's cap? I'd like to get another for my momma.

Smockette,

So sorry I didn't tell, I'm on the NW side. I am amazed to hear that it varies so much zone wise inside Houston! WOW!

So far their current "tropical" scheme is alive and well.

Should I worry about growing "uncommon" plants since I'm a beginner?

You know I think I am definately leaning towards some roses and asiatics. For the rest I'm not sure!

Knolan,

No swaps for me yet. Since we are still new in the house we've got a ton of projects going all at once. I know TERRIBLE idea. But we are finally on the cusp of wrapping up some. Thank goodness. Hoping to be less busy this fall so I can re-do my landscape. :)

I realized that all the plants I recommended were for sun or mostly sun.

Here is a link on growing shade tolerant and shade flowers and plants in the Houston area.
The link contains multiple links to other threads on the same subject.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/719649/

I have filtered sun in front with some parts of day it being full sun. Good thing to point out! Thank you!




Does anyone know the ONE NUMBER to call for having your utilities marked in the yard? There are so many phone/electric providers otherwise you'd have to call all of them I'd think. Someone told me there is one number but I can't find it.

Ahhh, the 811 number.

http://www.commongroundalliance.com/Template.cfm?Section=811_Program&Tem

Smockette
Was the nursery lady here correct? Does the firemans cap have thorns?

Anne

The one, soon to be two, that I am bringing Kristi, do.

Thank you collin!!!!

http://www.call811.com/about-us/default.aspx

Angelonia is doing well for me. It's sometimes called Summer Snapdragon.

I got two large mixed containers at Houston Garden Center at their 1/2 price sale a couple months ago.

Lots of colorful flower spikes in pink, white, lavender and purple, approx. 2' x 2' clumps.

If you scroll down a bit there's a pretty good pic of what it looks like here:

http://www.millhollownursery.com/plantpix.html

We have some Peggy Martin roses that are healthy, green and seem to be indestructible.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/PeggyMartinrose.html

http://petalsfromthepast.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=381

Also hydrangea has beautiful long lasting blooms for shady areas.

TNN - those 'uncommon' plants are some of the easiest to grow. A lot of them are natives for our area and are drought tolerant (like that seems even remotely important right now) that you just don't see at your regular garden center. The franchise garden centers will often sell a lot of stuff that really does not do well here but they'll sell it anyway. Of course, there's a lot of good stuff there too. Smockette's place provides to the 'creme de la creme' nurseries like the Arbor Gate and the Enchanted Forest.

You're gonna have a blast redesigning everything.

Doesn't native mean invasive in it's very design?

Believe me, I am no expert. I'm just going on what I've heard.

LOL. I've never heard that before. No, native does not mean invasive. Oh, Josephine......where are you? Native just means something that has naturalized to the area and has adapted well to the environment. I'm sure there's a better explanation.

Native means it was growing here b4 man moved into the area. How bout that for a definition?
All that we sell, has been proven to thrive in this area, or we don't grow it. Not all are natives but alot are.
We are known as the strange little nursery in SE Texas by the Green Industry. I take 'strange' in this way to be a very nice compliment!
And BTW, the Farm is also in NW, TNN.

Thank you both!

There is another nursery in Houston Croweiii highly recommends but I've not ventured out to any nurseries just yet. Still planning.

Smock: Might you sell gingko trees?