Mom has her new flower bed all ready and is looking for something that will bloom all year. It must be something that doesn't get too tall. Anything fit this description?
Kim
need suggestions for an all-year bloomer
I can't think of anything that will bloom all year in zone 8, Salvia gregii, might come close, otherwise I think it would have to be a tropical, and I think it gets too cold in her zone for that, but maybe someone will come up with something.
Josephine.
Salvia greggi is the only thing I can think of. Oxalis blooms for most of the year down here. It goes dormant in July and August if it's blazing hot like normal, and it will freeze but it comes back in spring. I'm talking about the old fashioned oxalis, not one of the new hybrids. If she's coming to the RU, I can bring some in the spring.
Kim, I did an advanced search in the PlantFiles and only specified zone 8b and blooms all year. This is what came up. I know all these don't bloom all year and some don't bloom at all, but maybe it will give you something to work with.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/advanced.php?nn%5B16%5D=0&nn%5B1%5D=0&nn%5B2%5D=0&nn%5B3%5D=15&nn%5B4%5D=0&nn%5B5%5D=0&nn%5B6%5D=0&nn%5B7%5D=9&nn%5B8%5D=0&nn%5B9%5D=0&nn%5B23%5D=0&nn%5B10%5D=0&nn%5B12%5D=0&sname=Plants&Search.x=55&Search.y=14
yea.....I didn't think there would be much either. How about suggestions for things to plant so that she has something blooming all year? As a mixture of plants, that is.
She might have to use annuals to have blooms all year. Does she like pansies, or geraniums?
Well....she actually would prefer perennials. Are there good perennials for spring/fall blooms, and good summer perennials? I already mentioned lantana to her for a good summer bloom.
I have the Mexican Firecracker that is in the list of plants that Broncbuster linked. It doesn't bloom all year but it doesn't die. Blooms all summer. To bloom all year is a pretty tall order.
dianthus (pinks) come real close to blooming year round (take December-early March to rest). Most behave as a biennial, even if labeled perennial. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73553/
winter blooming small perennial plants are few and far between.
lenten rose (helleborus) comes to mind http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76/
How much sun does it get?
good point silverflutter.
salvia greggi likes 40-80% Texas sun
dianthus like 70-90% Texas sun
helleborus like shade
Other long blooming perennials
echinecia--gets tall http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/26/
verbena-- http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/251/
lantana-- http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/578/
Thanks everyone for your help. I believe this spot will get a good bit of sun in the afternoon but share prior to that because there is a tree to the south of it. I'll ask mom to double check. I told her about lantana and salvia greggii, mine blooms almost year-round here. The dianthus is a great idea, she really liked those up north. I will also mention the others. I know she doesn't want anything too tall since it is a round raised bed. I know she is also thinking of planting some mums for fall color.
I live east of you but here in my gardens I have Laura Bush petunias that bloom all year. Those are the only petunias that will do that. They reseed too. I also have Homestead (purple) Verbena that blooms all year. My verbena takes a little rest in the summer but bounces back big when it begins to cool in the fall.
My dd used to live in Bryan and she had a sheltered area in her front yard which was on the south side where her hibiscus bloomed for a very long time.