Need Ideas for This Space

This spot on the west side of our house has been a source of frustration since we moved in. Part of this little patch of dirt gets full sun, some gets part sun, and some gets almost full dappled shade. I have a row of daylilies that I'd like to keep, but I could move them if needed. I'd like to plant something that would grow about 3' tall and keep the heat off my daylilies. I'd prefer it to be native and definitely a perennial. If necessary, I can move my daylies, but I'd prefer to leave them.

Got what you need Stephanie and it is free and only a few blocks away from you! I have Georgia Blue Speedwell that will take over as a beautiful ground cover. It is evergreen only about 4-6 inches tall and has a brilliant blue flower in early spring. I have it in full sun and in mostly shade both.
I think it is about time we meet don't you?

How about Tall Purple Ruella?

"eyes"

Stephanie, you know your space better than anyone but I know that my daylilies do best in full sun so maybe you just need more daylilies to fill in the bed. :-)
Terrie

Terrie~You're not helping me!! I'm already addicted to those things! LOL I have some daylilies there and I think the heat reflecting off the house is frying them so I wanted something to go behind them to take some of the heat off the daylilies.

Eyes~I have some tall Mexican petunias growing in part of the bed and thought about letting them take over. The only problem is that they reach for the sun and flop over onto the driveway. Will have to continue to consider that option, though.

Sheila~It is time for us to meet and I'd love to have some of the speedwell. Not sure I'll use it in this spot, but I'm sure I could find a place for it!!

Stephanie

You have dmail.

How wide is that space?

About 24" wide.

How about Salvia garanitica? The hummingbirds will love you! :-)

Carla

I have a similar area that is narrow and faces south.Society garlic ,cone flowers, salvia greggii grow over 2 feet high in sun/pt shade.

There was Salvia Greggii there when we moved in and it was atrocious! It's a great plant, but was in the wrong spot. There were too many of them and they reached for the sun and flopped over on the driveway.

Will look into the other suggestions, though!

Mexican Mint Marigold?

Carla

You have a flopping problem! Zexmenia will grow about 3 feet and is not too floppy in sun/ part sun.Lavender or Gaura might be good in the sun area.Maybe you can grow something vertical on your wall. I am training a climbing rose and Kerria in my problem area.This is the first year, so I don't know if it will get out of control.You don't have a lot of space so unless the plant is very upright and you like to prune alot, it might be hard to find something to mix with the DL that doesn't end up floppy.

I don't wanna rain on anyone's parade, but guara spreads very widely and 2 feet ain't nearly enough room, and it's long shoots will flop everywhere...need something taller and more compact...I know California Giant Zinnias or Cracker Jack Marigolds, and if ya start right now you can have filler in a couple of weeks and blooms by the end of August that will last until Frost.

"eyes"

What was I thinking??? Guara does flop, although some of the newer kind are shorter and better behaved. I like idea of zinnias. They are one of the few plants I can start from seed and so colorful.

Thanks for the ideas! You guys are great! I really want to stick with perennials and/or self-sowing annuals. The Mexican Petunias are doing a great job of taking over the middle portion of that bed, so if I can contain them to the part-sun/dappled sun part of the bed, I might have it made!

Steph....Zinnias and Marigolds both reseed so readily that you would think they were perennials...and they both look great with Mexican Petunia...

"eyes"