Let's think about this backwards for a moment. Flowering perennials, even vines, like clematis, are the finishing touches of a garden experience, not the starting point. So, take a step back for now. Maybe you should think about trees, shrubs, evergreens. These could help to addressNope, nope, if they're needed to address something, then you once again need to take a step backwards. In other words, it's not the right point in the design process to think about plant material. You've stepped back, realizing that shade from the blazing hot sun will enhance human comfort on the patio. Sun and the southern exposure will influence activities in this backyard. You've thought about that and are considering a pergola. It might be possible to help the humans, if you could just get something to grow over it to provide the shade. Then you'd only have to swelter when you run out to water the nearly parched perennials lined up against the foundation. But wait a minuteÂMaybe there's another step back that needs to be considered here before assuming that a pergola is the answerÂMaybe it's not only not yet time to pick plants, but also not yet time to build structures SoÂanother step back. Maybe you feel like you've dealt with this one adequately. This step has to do with site analysis. It's sun and zone, but it's also soil condition. It's the house and its windows and doors. It's grade issues and possible views that you might like to screen or preserve. It's existing structures and whether they work or need renovation, definition, or replacement. This is the stuff that will help you decide whether a glorious tree or two will eventually shade activities or nurse maiding that pergola. HmmmmÂbut it might be useful to take another step back before developing this information. Our journey backwards is almost at an end. Or, should I say at its beginning. Here you'll be asking yourself what you hope to do in this outside living space. Quiet time with a book? Entertaining friends in an outdoor setting? A secret arbor garden? Preserving some of that sunny space to grow vegetables? Play area for children or grandchildren? Storage shed? What level of maintenance are you anticipating? Are you a gardener? Hoping to become one? Or, would you really rather look out at a landscape that requires minimal upkeep? What is your timeframe? Will you be moving forward in stages toward your imagined goal? Last step. What is your vision for this garden? What is in your mind's eye? It may be this central idea that caused you to leap forward to pergolas as an answer to your shade needs. But why? Why not some other answer to your shade issue? Maybe your central idea is Romance and Repose. When you get to considering your desired activities in this space you realize, however, that you want low maintenance. If you still want to hang on to that particular central idea, you may have to adjust your choices all the way back along the journey. A different "central idea" will lead to different resolutions to problems, development of the site, and ultimately choices of plant material. Choosing plants is the last step in the landscape design process, not the first. Wellspring

KnockOut roses are a thought - colors are single red, blush (pink), rainbow (pinkish with a yellow eye), double red (with a slightly lighter eye), and a double pink should be out later this spring. They get to 2-3' with the same or a bit more width. I know you said not rugosas, but..., these are more shrub roses. If they don't appeal, there are other "ground cover" roses and small shrub roses that might work. If caryopteris is hardy for you, any of the various cultivars would be attractive - summer flowers in blue. One of the smaller, color variants of juniper might also be a thought. Hinoki falsecypres is hardy to z5, as are the japanes cedars. Junipers also have variations in shape that might work. They ARE slow growing, but one of the lower-growing (not the upright ones) yews might also work. What about one of the hardy azaleas - they may continue to need supplemental watering? The hardier spireas, and also, New Jersey tea, one of the lower-growing blueberries, or possibly clethra (it does like wet, but can survive in dry), are other possibilties.

Helianthemums - yellow, white, orange, pink and red available. Several low growing hardy geranium species. Aubretia, Iberis sempervirens, Aurinium saxatile, Saponaria ocymoides, Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana, Anthemis tinctoria, Dianthus, Festuca glauca (a grass), dwarf bearded iris - all classic tough full sun low growers. Tough hardy herbs like the various thymes, Oregano and different coloured Salvia officinalis. Lavender. BTW - Lysimachia nummularis needs moisture. It's a bog plant in its natural habitat. To start you off this season you could scatter Nasturtium, Limnanthes, Eschscholzia and other sun loving annual seed until your perennials fill out.

I'm trying to get perennials going, especially gypsophilia paniculata, but it hasn't bloomed yet, tried some crushed drywall (chalky) to lower the ph a little. Coreopsis went double on me, loved that, but hard to train right, cut it back. I have grown annual salvia 2 years now but want to go perennial where I used that, blue crystal this year and sangria last year, also a freebie yellow coneflower looks nice, meadow sage is good, haven't had time to mulch it yet and can't get that bed watered much. Some Color Parade lilies. Trying to get some delphs and white foxglove going. Crazy daisy should bloom next year. And catmint, not doing much this year but hangin' in there. Annual alyssum is very drought tolerant. White, pink and purple phlox. I stuck in some Rudbeckia Prairie Sun, very striking but not where it is, supposed to self-seed. I want something medium height or tallish with purple bells. What might that be? Failed twice trying to get campanula? ladybells going from seed, will give it one more shot. Russian sage I love but it gets too big, should try to find the smaller variety. Finally, clematis. Have two kinds going well now; one too young yet, one won't bloom, and one isn't happy where I put it. Many of the plants people in warmer zones are using doubt will grow in my zone.