Ideas for a very hot, sunny mailbox area

Hi!
I would love to find a bulb or tuber that I could plant around the mailbox that would bloom through most of the summer. Being right by the road and in full sun for most of the day means that it would have to thrive in hot, sunny locations. Something that would only get about 18 inches tall, maybe- but shorter would be fine too. I'm wanting a perennial-something that I could take in for the winter if needed. (therefore, the request for bulbs or tubers)

Anybody have some good ideas for me?

thanks!
Chris

I went to Lowes yesterday and picked up several different gladiolas to plant next month out by my mailbox. They have them in bags of 25 for $5.98 which I thought is was a great price so I got several bags.

It's hard to beat black eyed Susans when it comes to being tough. They will survive in the hottest location with little water and they do bloom for most of the summer. Since they freely reseed, taking them in for the winter would be unnecessary.

I'd consider looking for something other than bulbs--many of them tend to have a shorter bloom time and don't look that nice when they're not blooming. I'd go for a regular perennial of some sort, there are plenty of them that can take the heat and will bloom for a long time and since you're in zone 7 there should be plenty of options that are hardy in your zone so you wouldn't have to worry about bringing them in for the winter. Someone who lives in a climate that's more like yours can provide better specific recommendations than I could, but I know there should be a number of options so I'd definitely go that way rather than looking for bulbs.

One of my favorite plants for mailbox areas is Gaura lindheimeri http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Onagraceae/Gaura/lindheimeri/cultivar/0/ . They produce tons of dainty pink or white flowers from mid-spring through fall and although they look delicate they are extremely heat and drought tolerant. Most cultivars stand about 36" tall but there are some great dwarf varieties like the Ballerina Series that'll stay under 24". This picture does a pretty good job of representing the species http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/68253/

Clan: Have you considered dahlias and Gerbera daisies? Don't know how high you want the plants to get, but dahlias and Gerberas bloom virtually all summer long, as long as you deadhead (dahlias). I have daylilies around my mailbox, but we're going to redo it this spring and I plan to put in some dahlias and Gerberas with DLs.

Funny that you mention the dahlias cause I'm watching that co-op right now :)

Everyone's given me a lot of good ideas (I love Black Eyed Susans) so between all of them, I know I'll find just what I need.

thanks!!

Let's hear it for Coreopsis!

Not to rain on your parade, but please remember the mailman and bees. Please keep the flowers lower than the box. Thanks!

Homestead Purple Verbena is pretty tough, although it's a groundcover. Beautiful, though and long-blooming if deadheaded. But I agree with others about black-eyed susans. Also consider Shasta daisies and 'May Night' Salvia -- very hardy and drought tolerant.

Cathy, I quite agree with you and will definitely be watching that!!

Are you a mailperson or is a family member? No one else mentioned that before :)

Actually, my SIL climbs power poles for a living, and gets stung all the time when people grow vines up them. I just remembered a neighbor whose mailbox was hard to see it had so many flowers up and around it. She never got stung, but the mailman did. There was a big to-do about technically the mailbox out at the street is in public right of way and the box if federal property (even tho' you paid for it.) It is just easier to keep the flowers down a foot or so below the box. (and don't let vines grow on power poles, haha.)

So funny that you mention the vines and power poles.. last summer, I had some hyacinth bean seed given to me and I was going to have them going up the security light that's in our yard. But when DH and I started discussing it, we realized that if we ever needed the power company to change the bulb or whatever, they wouldn't be too happy about the vines. So we didn't do it :)

The flowers I had out by the mailbox last year were only about 12 inches high and not a bee magnet, but they really got beat up due to the heat and sun. That's why I'm wanting to try something else. Unless these other plants come back! If so, we'll let them try it again lol.

I love lantana. Not the weeping kind but the bright yellow kind that is sort of a low shrubby form. Everybody has it in my area because it's gorgeous and you can't kill it. It can take the worst heat and drought that summer can dish out and still shine. It doesn't look like much in the winter, but the summer-long show it puts on is worth it.

Lantana gets quite large here and has some little thorns on it, too. It is quite lovely, but I got rid of all I had in my garden.

For a nice heat resistant display you can mix gaura-flying butterflies, and thread leaf coreopsis. All of my coreopsis are yellow but there is a pink/purple one called 'Heavens gate" that I will be planting this year. These plants will grow to about 24 to 30". http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/104854/

I'm still cheering for Coreopsis.

Rocco, that's a BEAUTY of a flower.. I'll have to try to find some cause I think those mixed with Black Eyed Susan's would be gorgeous!
I met a fellow DGer for the first time today and she gave me a bunch of seeds.. among them were the Black Eyed Susan, so I know that those will be going out there.

Where did you find the Heaven's Gate? I might put that in my mom's memory garden too..I like the name :)

thanks!
Chris

Those would be perfect for the pink garden I tend at church. I may just have to get some, too.

Clan: I hate to butt in here, but I have ordered Coreopsis `Heaven's Gate' from Bluestone and I can't wait for it to arrive and get planted out. In fact, I have 3 coming in that order, so if I can get seeds in the fall, I'll send you some. Just D-mail me around Sept. and remind me.

Angie

Angie, everyone's welcome to butt in :)

Thank you for your kind offer of seeds.. I'll definitely be keeping my fingers crossed for you to get seed and then bugging you later this year!

Chris

Hi Chris,

I found this website with a few ideas for your mailbox. I would add 2 small hanging baskets from the side of the post.

http://www.greengardenista.com/blog/mailbox-gardening/mailbox-gardening-zinnia-beds-for-scorching-summer-color

Hope this gives you a few more ideas. Photo is from the website.

Arlene, thank you for the link! There are so many ideas to go through there :)

It's amazing how many links I have in my Gardening folder under Favorites on the computer thanks to all the great people on DG!

Chris
I have a neighbor that planted several coreopsis "heavens gate" last year and she had purchased them at a local nursery. If they don't have them this year I will probably order them from Bluestone, one of the best nurseries. I would imagine that plant nurseries in OK City would have them later on.

Love those pink coreopsis! May have to get some myself. I've never heard of lantana with thorns, but I know there are lots of different kinds. I'll make sure not to get hold of any of that kind! Mine are almost like a groundcover with no thorns.

U're Welcome Chris. Hope you post some pics of whatever you decide to plant by your mailbox. I am sure with all these ideas you are going to have the best looking Mailbox garden on the block. ^_^