Help with ideas for flowers around the patio

I'm looking to add some color and plants around our patio. If you look at the picture below, I'm looking to fill the green area with some flowers and plants. In middle of the green section about 5 feet out from the house, I thought about possibly planting some pampas grass or maybe a liliac bush, but I'm not sure. I thought it might provide a bit of privacy between the patio and the neighbor's house.

I'm not good at picking out plants, so any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm not picky, just want something that looks nice. :)

Thank you for your help!

are you interested in evergreen?

I have just come to really appreciate my turks cap - it flowers constantly...its leaves are attractive and a good green ....it gets tall .. and wide.... and it has a beautiful bloom that drives the hummers and butterflies nuts.
Mix it with some purple and it is a real hit.

Malvaviscus drummondii Turk's-cap

They look very nice! I've never heard of them before, but I like the pics on the internet. I'm always looking for something that will attract more hummingbirds. Thank you for your response.

Anymore suggestions:?


Thanks everyone!

Great smelling plants!

Tall phlox perfumes my house. I have planted it near all entrances and bedroom windows
.
That is the only one I can think of right away, but keep in mind that some plants stink, some smell great.

bcurrey - i don't know about other climates, but my experience with Pampas grass has only been horrible! In Florida, it becomes the home to hoards of cockroaches, and you absolutely cannot kill the stuff! I mean, hacking it with a machete, burning it to the ground, and digging it's roots was only a slight setback to it's plan to take over our yard. Plus, the blades are sharp-edged, & cut you whenever you touch it, and it gets bigger, and bigger and BIGGER! I would opt for anything else! Samantha

A couple of questions: Is your patio ground level? Is the "green" part already partly landscaped, or just lawn? (You may have to change the slope a little if it is newly dug so that you don't have erosion or standing water issues.) How much sun does the area get?

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight' - Blue-mist Shrub '
is great performer for us and all around good looking (I have it near the Turks Cap and the purple and red mix is great.

lilac is beautiful and very fragrant --but flowers are not long lived and it does not always bloom reliably if we have too warm a winter in the south. We do have 4 Miss Kim (smaller) and all are healthy. I don't think particularly 'wow' when not in bloom.

I think Winter Daphne (do not like wet feet) when not in bloom are beautiful and when IN bloom........heavenly......

This message was edited Oct 29, 2008 8:15 PM

Thank you all very much. You guys are great!

JulieQ: Yes, the ground around the patio is level. Right now it's all lawn. Since we've moved in the house I've been focused on getting the front yard looking nice. Then the other day while jumping on the trampoline with my daughter I looked at the back of the house and it's BBLLAAHHHH!!!! This area gets full sun.

Since the liliac busheson't don't stay in bloom long, what is another bush of about the same size that I could plant to offer a bit of privacy on each side of the patio. I checked out the White Daphne, and it looks great, but it says it does best in shade, and this part of my house gets constant sun.

Good to know on the pampas grass. I didn't realize the negative stuff. I'll definately stay away from them.

This message was edited Oct 29, 2008 5:45 PM

This message was edited Oct 29, 2008 6:11 PM

Our Varigated Winter Daphne (two) face west and southwest. One is right near the foundation - so lots of reflected heat. It is plenty hot and sunny both locations. The only thing that won't be tolerated is ground that doesn't dry. One is on a mound and the other is on level ground.

I still haven't planted it yet as I planned along the walk but I am going to plant snowberry ---the descriptions make it sound quite lovely in bloom and out -- it will get tall or there is a shorter variety - Hancock - suggested by another DG (thanks!) It is a bold shrub --not delicate in appearance but nice in all seasons. Also if you want some evergreen ---woodsy feel --cryptomeria as a centerpiece might be very nice.

There are a lot more ornamentat grasses out there that would do the trick without being invasive. Don't give up on them they can be stunning.

Doug

If you want a privacy screen you may think about using something to give you winter as well as summer privacy...something that stays green all winter...holly? gardenia? camellia? You're not too far north of me I don't think, and they all do great here.

Lilac bushes sucker and there roots are shallow. Planting any shrub on top of a berm like yours may be a problem. The roots don't usually go straight down and you will get sprouts out the sides of the berm. Pampas grass works best if planted in a container in the ground to keep it from taking over.

How wide and high is it?

Zen- A few posts down from the original, it was mentioned that the ground is level.

I was thinking it was a side view. I live on a hill and have been working in my hilly garden for the past 2 days. Including around my patio that is built up on one side to provide a flat place to sit a table and chairs.

Have any of you checked out the Atlas glove coop? I got some in the last coop and am getting more this time as gifts. They are fantastic gloves and this is an amazing price.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/915248/