Need area specific plant ideas

Ok my fellow gardeners I need some help picking out a plant to replace another one. In my front yard I have 2 yellow daylilies that need to be replaced with something that likes shade a bit more. Seems as though the daylilies are getting too much shade where they are and aren't blooming like they should be. The area does get some sun in the morning but total shade in the afternoon. I would like something that still flowers if possible....any ideas??

I have included a photo of the area and I think you can make out where the daylilies are.....I need those replaced with something else that might work better.....

Impatiens should love that area. You can raise them from seed.

I guess you noticed I had some there already eh? I love impatiens.... I was thinking the same thing too pirl but if you had ideas for a perennial that would be good too.

How about a clematis that likes shade?

Dawn, Nice look already. How about Dicentra 'King of Hearts' Zone: 3-9 Height: 8-12'' Part-Shade to Full-Shade and is suppose to attrack Butterflies and is deer-resistant which is always a laugh and it reportable has a long blooming season. I am putting one in this year.

or

GERANIUM Johnsons Blue which has a long bloom period12 to 15" Zone 4-8 I have some in part shade. It is lovely as are some other geraniums that can take the shade. White and pink ones available.

or another that I am adding this year

CAMPANULA Birch Siberian Bellflower 6" Zone 4-7 and is suppose to bloom all summer in sun to mostly shady also deer resistant (another laugh)

I plant lobelia and annual salvia which I love too
If you don't care about blooms, but want to have some perennial yellow, plant one of the great yellow leafed Heuchera. I love mine, plus there are some wonderful ones with spectacular leaves with red too. One is Heucherella 'Stoplight'.

Love to the north woods. I am waiting until Aug to come up this year. I missed too many July lilies in my garden last year. Plus the Lake of Bays seems much quieter in Aug these days. Patti

I didn't think Delph's liked that much shade - they look great!

Did the DL used to bloom more? If so, maybe it just needs dividing. I have found the DL's to bloom with a fair amount of shade and as Sue said, the delphs are blooming well.

Yes the DL have been divided and it didn't help. I have since removed the delphs....they did good there though - I just hated staking them.

Geranium Rozanne blooms forever and is supposed to take part shade. All mine are in full sun though, so I can't verify that. I would consider small shrubs too, not just perennials. I'll have to think.

Thanks Victor and bbrook for the idea on geraniums - that might be an idea. I looked up your suggestion and they do look pretty.

The Dicentra 'King of Hearts' looks like another nice one - I have no experience with this type of plant at all though.....thanks for the suggestions......

What zone are you, Dawn?

I'm guessing 4. There is a great small shrub - Clethra 'Sixteen Candles', which is the perfect size and is suited to part shade. They get wonderfully scented blooms (standing up like candles) in mid-summer and they last for weeks. Something with yellow foliage would work well there. It would pick up the yellow of the variegated plants and contrast with the maroon one.

Victor, Good idea about Clethra, I so look forward to the night scent of my stand big stand of regular Clethra alnifolia each Aug, but they are tall. I need to look into adding that smaller Sixteen Candles' you mentioned. I think I have a perfect spot that has been neeeeeeeeding something better for years. Clethra has a scent that is memorable and this new spot is much closer to my bedroom windows which are always open in summer. I planted a couple others, Clethra barbinervis and a Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' but they are still very tiny. No good smells yet. I just hope they survive the winter. Thanks, Patti

Oh Victor I looked that one up and it is very pretty!!!!! OMG thanks so much folks - you have already given me several ideas now that I am VERY interested in.......you guys are the best!!! I am going to take printouts of all the plants you suggested so I don't forget what they are in the spring!!!

I have a stand of large Clethra - 'Rosea' and the scent literally fills the entire garden. Not many 'fragrant' plants do that. I even smell it in the daytime. 'Sixteen Candles' is not only smaller, but more well-behaved. I still like something with yellow foliage in there too!

Actually I looked again and that large shrub on the left has white variegation, not yellow, so ditch the yellow foliage idea!

I did a lot of research on the Geranium Johnson's blue and the 16 candles and I love those 2 a lot. Now I will just have to wait and see if they sell them here in the spring...so thanks bbrookrd and Victor :)

Victor you said your geraniums are mostly in full sun....which ones would you recommend for full sun that don't spread everywhere like crazy? I might have a spot in my backyard for one....I didn't realize how pretty they are.

My 'Rozanne' are in full sun. I have 'Ingwersen's Variety' in part shade and I love it. But it gets spring flowers - not summer. They are very nice - pink. But I thought you were looking for summer bloomers.

I do prefer summer to late summer flowers yes....I was just curious though. You seem to know a lot about geraniums...now that I have been looking them up online I think I am catching the bug.....

Does Rozanne bloom for a long period during the summer? Do you know anything about the Johnson's Blue?

Look at Jolly bee and Rozanne as they both bloomed into Nov for me. Honest. This is Rozanne in Nov of 2007 in an east facing site with some afternoon shade. Patti

I love my Jolly Bee, they bloom June - October, fill in nicely - they do sprawl, but I like that about them - here are a couple shots.

another

lovely photo's of Jolly Bee! Thank you.....I just ordered Jolly Bee a few weeks ago!!

Lovely plant and great setting, Debilu. Seeing how large it gets makes me think I better move mine in spring.

Great ideas. It got my planting juices going. I placed an order with Garden Crossings and ordered something you might consider too. Itea virginica 'Little Henry®' Just google it and check out the images. Now on to the daylillies.

debilu, Now that is a JOLLY bee! Mine blooms its head off too, but is not nearly as tall as yours. That is impressive. Geraniums rule. Patti

Debilu and bbrookrd those shots are just stunning!!! I love the colour of those geraniums! Fantastic!! Thanks so much for your help!!!

I have Little Henry and considered suggesting it to but figured Dawn wanted summer blooms. Iteas are great in general and are one of the underused shrubs I always praise. The fall color is magnificent and very long lasting. Iteas and Fothergillas just cannot be beat for small shrubs with great spring flowers and spectacular fall color.

In what sun conditions do you guys grow Jolly Bee? Rozanne takes full sun with no problem and I am using it as a great ground cover. It does spread quite a bit Dawn so you need to place it with that in mind. Rozanne blooms from June through frost for me. So far the deer have not bothered it, even though its foliage is not scented like others (the macros).

My Jolly Bee gets sun from about 10a - 3p, but I just planted one last year in mostly shade, and so far so good...

You see my problem is my gardens aren't that big....I have a small yard so yes I like plants to be more compact and stuff that doesn't spread too crazily. The front yard only has a few hours of sunlight in the morning due to a large pine tree and my backyard is full sun! I love flowering things weather it be small shrubs or perennials....For small shrubs I do have 2 potentiallas and I also have the weigela minuet in the front yard....

I just need something to replace the 2 daylilies in the front yard - in the pic I posted above so I don't want anything that much bigger than what a dayliliy would be....in general.

Okay here is another plan - see the dogwood in the photo I provided of my front yard? Well I am thinking of pulling that out and putting a beautiful trellis type thing to grow clematis on. Now remember this only gets morning sun - any ideas for clematis to grow there as well??? I like bright colours - I think white wouldn't show nicely cause my brick on the house is light grey.

Is that the shrub all the way on the left? If so, grow a clematis through it, don't replace it. Looks fine to me.

Back to the replacement for the yellow daylilies - how about digitalis grandiflora? A perennial foxglove with soft yellow blooms. Mine are in full shade and bloom for several weeks.

Sorry, I can't seem to post a picture. I tried three times and it wouldn't take...?

Hahaha Victor I know you love shrubs...I think it is more like a tree - it grows crazily! I normally have to trim it back 3x during the year to keep it looking clean....I really don't like it at all....that is why I want to get rid of it.

Here is a better shot of that dogwood - at least I think it is a dogwood.....

I've never seen a variegated dogwood. Do you mean the shrub at the left? Have you ever seen it bloom?

Yes it blooms little white flowers - barely noticeable....do you think it is a dogwood? I have always called it one not really knowing LOL I am just pretending to be knowledgeable LOL

I have red-twig dogwood that is a variegated shrub. It's very nice in winter. I would not replace it with a trellis if I were you - you have lots of support structures for your clems. I would replace it with another shrub. Does Butterfly Bush grow up there? They can bloom without full sun. Or maybe a larger Clethra or Hydrangea arborescens.

Okay Victor so I have to ask - why would you not put a trellis there? Why replace it? Are you trying to change me over to shrubs? LOL

Because you have lots of 'climbing surfaces' for your other clematis already. Also, I think plant material plays off of your nice light colored brick better.