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any compact,drought-tolerant,long blooming,hardy flower plants?

15 years ago

I may ask for too much, but I am looking for plants that are compact in forms (more uniform look in shape; don't like leggy type), drought-tolerant, very long blooming, possibly hardy enough not to die back in winter in zone 7(such as black-eye susan with its beautiful leaves in tack in winter, yet sometimes it grows wild and leggy), easily maintained, and readily available locally (it's so hard to find some wonderful plants with the characteristics I want, yet they are not easy to be found). Thanks

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Comments (3)

highalttransplant
15 years ago
The ones in my garden that fit that description are gaillardia 'Goblin', coreopsis 'Creme Brule', penstemon pinifolius 'Compactum', and my new favorite geum 'Mango Lasi'. Of course, I have no idea if any of these are available where you live, or if they will keep their foliage in the winter in your zone. The only one that stayed evergreen here was the penstemon, but all of these thrive in my high desert climate, and bloom for a very long time.

Bonnie
diggerdee zone 6 CT
15 years ago
My first thought was delosperma (perennial ice plant) but that may be more compact than you want, lol. It's more of a groundcover plant, but otherwise meets all your criteria. Blooms for me from May to November, is in poor soil, is drought-tolerant and virtually maintenance-free. I have some problem overwintering it here, but it is in a very exposed location, and you are a zone warmer than I, so maybe...

:)
Dee
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Moses, what's the flip side of Ragosa? I'm curious now..lol I actually have 3 and they all came back with a vengeance! By the way, thanks for the fertilizer technique. I really appreciate it. I went and bought the fertilizer scratched away the mulch and fed l\all of mine...Did you say once again in July? Now that I am getting 2 inches of rain, the reason why a put the fertilizer down before it rained, I have a warm cozy feeling for them... Rabainz..What do you mean "showbiz"? Is there such a rose? Thanks to every everyone for your input. I can't believe how fast this thread fell to the bottom..lol I am guessing this is one happy busy forum! I will take pics of my new growth once the sun comes out. They are betting a good soaking for the first time in months, well since two years ago.
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