I'll just throw this out there for ideas.
Have 2 raised beds in front yard, just about part-shade in this area. They are raised 3 blocks high, are 12' long and about 3' deep. They are as tall as the bottom of the front house windows and I have a Colonial so need a symetrical design. The beds are long rectangles.
Might you suggestions on plants (no shrubs here please) that will:
*not be invasive but might multiply
*have long bloom periods
*not obscure view from windows (so short plants)
And still look good?
There is one plant I see in Houston all over but don't know the name. It's mostly a small circle of greenery, long, skinny smooth leaves rounded at the tips and right about now they've been blooming a month and have a TALL straight round like a straw stem that from it is a purple or a white flower in a ball shape. Anyone know what this is? I've seen them at box stores and they seem to be planted everywhere, sun or shade.
Thinking since the flower is on a tall stem would add some height to the beds while not obscuring the view out the windows at all!
But then still need a few other options to plant in front of/around these.
Planning a Shaded Bed
you are describing agapanthus
Agapanthus need sun to bloom their best. Also if you have snails, they love agapanthus, but then anything green attracts snails. If you have about 6 hours of sun they should be OK. There are also compact forms of agapanthus. Variegated Society garlic would be great for the front of the bed. Amaryllis is another. I know you mentioned no shrubs, but something like trailing Rosemary would soften the look of the beds by hanging over the edge.
Make sure you like the smell of the Society Garlic before you plant it, especially if it'll be where you might brush against it near a walkway. It's pretty potent. I have two sizes of Agapantus, both the blue and the white ones. The shorter ones are called Peter Pan, not sure on the standard size. Mine weren't labeled with a variety name on the larger ones.
Ahhhh thank you all. I will look for this Peter Pan variety!
another dwarf Agapanthus is Streamline--HD has it--its smaller than Peter Pan's.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/129895/
Agapanthus will bloom on the north side of the house here--I'm looking at it right now across the street. Its gotta be no care--its in every esplande and center strip in in Houston now.
Maybe I don't need the Peter Pan? The greenery of the plant doesn't seem to large?
They're happy as long as they don't have wet feet. They'll die in a heartbeat in a soggy location.
I lost about half mine last year because it was to wet. Moved it in a raised bed that gets little water and it's doing great.
Have you thought of hosta for that spot? Joan
I do have some hostas I planted from bulbs in pots but have heard several warnings they almost never make it in Houston. Am considering ferns maybe but since it's shaded would like to add color with flowers of some kind.
I have Guacamole Hosta that I put in last year. It has come back and all are doing well. They do get some sun. Only drawback to them is that they die back in the winter and that will leave you with a hole in your bed, so if you are looking for evergreen that knocks those out. I also have Holly Ferns and have had them for several years. They are pretty care free and also take some sun. Houston Garden Center has them.
The dwarf Mexican petunias, ruellias, are only inches tall and bloom for long periods. Posts will follow saying that they are invasive, but I think that threat is overblown. The standard type, which gets several feet tall, does spread aggressively. The dwarf varities come in purple and white as I recall.
DP
For short plants, impatiens like the shade. You'll need to water them when they start wilting. I planted balsam impatiens (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/124441/) a couple of years ago. They are taller than impatiens, and self seed, but don't get crazy invasive. They're really pretty! They're both annuals that stop blooming and die as soon as it gets cold.
Begonias, both the short (wax) kinds and the fancier (angel wing and rex) larger kinds, like shade, too, and they are perennials. :-) I bought 3 fancy ones (NOIDs... I think they are "angel wing" varieties) at the farmer's market on Airline last month and they are doing wonderfully in my problem shade spot. (yayy!)
Gingers like shade, too, if you'd like something a little more tropical. They flower beautifully, and look lush and lovely even when they aren't blooming. They might be too tall for you, though...
I have happy daylilies in part shade. They don't bloom very long, but they are happily green, too, when they aren't blooming. They would be nice mixed with other plants.
Caladiums and coleus make wonderful color spots, even without blooms. (Actually, if the coleus blooms, pinch the flowers off!)
Purple shield and Turk's Cap are supposed to be very good in shade. I haven't tried either of them yet, though, so I can't tell you first hand. :-)
Wow, such informative answers!
I had dwarf petunia at the last place, did well.
I have turks cap here but think it's pretty large (?) so planning a different spot.
LOVE these suggestions and will be using PF's a lot for it. Thank you!
Hmmm think I may have spotted some of the full size Agapanthus. Yep, better go with Peter Pan.
Anyone in Houston know a nursery that stocks thuja green giants? Want to buy local for a decent price to.
I love my mexican petunias. They bloom for a long time, don't need much water, fill in nicely, and are easy to pull if they grow where you don't want them. You will have seedlings come up in different places, and they fill out quickly, but I would call them hardy or generous more than invasive. I also love Agapantus, but don't have any yet.
Tabitha
Mexican petunias will take over any bed you plant them in and they can be quite invasive. They spread by underground runners and multiply like rabbits. Not sure if they will do well in the shade either.
Maybe that is why mine aren't so invasive. They get mostly shade with a few hours of sunlight if they are lucky.
Persian Shield
Alternanthera 'Party Time' (would like a little sun I'm sure)
Fire Spike has nice tropical-looking foliage but doesn't bloom til Sept., but the blooms last until first freeze. Mine never sees a ray of sun and has come back 3 springs now from freezing to the ground.
I second the Daylilies too. I love mine and they are easy.
There are ajugas that have nice foliage. The blooms are nice too.
Carl
Ajuga is a very good suggestion. It loves total shade. Daylilies can take some shade, but I'd be wary of them depending on just how much direct sun this spot gets. My neighbor's are blooming less and less every year as the tree he has them under gets bigger and bigger.
Not familiar with dayliles. How long is their bloom season?
It depends on the variety. The old types bloomed ONCE A YEAR and the leaves were blah the rest of the season until they froze to the ground (although in Houston they don't always freeze). Some newer types rebloom. Stella de Oro was a favorite rebloomer for a while, but it's getting passe.
Caladiums, ferns, and lirope make a beautiful long lived color scheme for shade.
"eyes"
yeah, daylilies may be shade 'tolerant' but are gonna bloom better with sun.
has anyone mentioned Astilbe?
My daylilies are in part sun - which is as sunny as my beds get. The farther back in the shade they are, the slower they bloom. Tir said she had part shade, so they'll probably do ok. I have several daylilies and they sort of take turns blooming between March and June (I still have some blooming now). And then they are just green leaves until next year. Lilies and some irises also do well in part shade.
Astilbe is a great suggestion!
If I have 2 plants labeled mona lavender swedish ivy and PF's comes up with this one first: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1354/ would you say it's a match????
Also, wondering how I might want to landscape the backyard. I like a nice smooth transition divider so you can mow right along that edge. Have a weedeater but really the less you have to edge the nicer. And I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE the permanent concrete edging but have no idea what that would cost. DH suggested we make one ourselves but do they make a mold for that? I'd like the full sun beds in back to be more cottage garden (ie curved borders) compared to the front which must be formal for the Colonial style.
Suggestions on these?
TNN ~ If it is "Mona" it's probably this one http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57891/ Same song, different verse. 8 )
AGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank-you. I swear, I have the hardest time using PF's by going by box store labels. Comes up with a million possibilites.
Here's another doosey. Suppose I have a pink bloomed hibiscus. No label. To ID will there be a million options?
Tough one! I got one of them too with no ID. Mine is a tropical. There are variations of the Hibiscus like the hardy Hibiscus which will reseed and even in this zone will overwinter. If you got it from a box store, probably a tropical. It will just have to do to enjoy it as a NOID. Sorry.... there will probably be a million and one options... 8 ))
A NOID---HA! NOW I know what that stands for! Thanks!
LOL ~ I felt the same way when I figgerd that one out. Duh on me! 8 ))
I looked up "noid" on Dave's glossary and had to laugh. At first I thought it was a type of flower, but then I realized it must be something different because lots of different flowers were noids. Little did I know I had a yard full of noids!
ROFLOL!
A barrel of laughs lately. Back to the topic, though, if I remember what it is! Shade plants that don't get too tall? With the exception that they are annual and not perennial, you can't possibly go wrong with coleus and caladiums.
DP
My caladiums come back up every year, too - or at least they have so far, and I planted them 2 years ago. They die back when gets cold, and come back when the soil warms back up again - usually in late May.
Yes yes, I have totally decided to go with the calidiums. But I prefer the green edged with red centers. I bought boxes of bulbs of those this spring at Sam's Club (no longer a member now) and they were 25 bulbs for like 12 bucks!!!!!!!
They have all come up at the base of my 2 sweetgums now, the culprits of the shade.
But where can I buy more bulbs of this style, in Houston, for a good price?????
I buy my caladiums from Bill at Caladium Bulbs 4 Less (http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/). His prices are very reasonable, he has a fantastic selection, and his shipping is VERY quick. I've been extremely pleased with everything I have bought from him.
Thx for the link Marylyn!
There is a co-op for Bills caladiums going on until June 8th http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/849526/ ;)