Suggestions? Showy ornamental

15 years ago

OK Kids, put on your most creative thinking caps. I just cleared a small bed at the corner of my garage, right beside the driveway. It contained a failing brugmansia that I had for years; I was sad to see it go, but it was time. I'm considering putting a new one (or two) in it's place but I'm looking for alternate ideas. One of the problems with loving so many plants is that you can become overwhelmed with choices!

In the summer the spot gets filtered sun early in the day, then direct sun from mid morning through early afternoon, then shade from about 2pm on. During winter months it gets a bit more sun. It's a very visible spot because I have a corner lot so I want something with a high "Wow" factor. It should be something that looks nice all year long. I have enough trees & palms in this area so I think this should be a shrub or short tree. I plan to have bromeliads and simple annuals (probably impatiens or coleus) around the base.

So, what do you think? Another brug - maybe a variable colored one? Transplant the Thunbergia erectus (Kings Mantle) there and let it get big? Just do sunflowers there this spring?

The possibilities are endless....

Kate

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Comments (11)

ladybugfalcon
15 years ago
maybe crape myrtle?
fawnridge (Ricky)
15 years ago
Fiddlewood - Citharexylum fruticosum.
1. It's a Florida native.
2. When it's in bloom, nine months out of the year, the fragrance is spectacular.
3. You can buy a 3-gallon, multi-trunked shrub for $10.
4. It will grow to the roof line or you can keep it shorter.
5. You can shape it into a tree form or keep it lower.

Looking out from the lanai in this photo, the Fiddlewood is dead center in the background; just beyond the Agave. This one is from a cutting taken 5 years ago.
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atreelady
15 years ago
I like the idea of a small cold hardy (considering the weather lately) tree (or bush trimmed like a tree) - crepe myrtle, firebush, Jatropha, Simpson Stopper,Turks cap...
solstice98
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks!

The yard is full of crape myrtles already so that's not on my list and there is a large mound of firebush about 10 feet from this spot. Both are good suggestions, but they are already there.

I'm thinking about the others...
imagardener2
15 years ago
Are you warm enough to have a bougainvillea on standard (tree form)? That would be showy in bloom and green otherwise.

Michaelia alba for fragrance.

How about the dwarf poinciana that natives and veggies has. Very colorful.

A hibiscus with multiple grafts so you have a rainbow tree.

Denise
who wishes she had room for many trees but does not.
castorp
15 years ago
a nice camellia would love that light
solstice98
Original Author
15 years ago
I thought about a camellia. If I could have one that looks anything like the beauties at Leu Gardens I would do it. I tried them a couple years ago and didn't have any luck but maybe this is the right spot!

I was also thinking about Callistemon citrinus (Lemon Bottle Brush). I know you see a lot of them so it's a little mundane, but I am considering it because of the hummingbirds. With the Hamelia patens right next to it, this would be like a hummer buffet, right?
tropicalfreak
15 years ago
What about a plumeria? Just keep in a pot and sink it, so you can pull out to put in the garage in winter.

Tropicalfreak
aka: plumie junkie
solstice98
Original Author
15 years ago
Cliff,
I'm a bit of a plumie junkie myself. (Although seriously I could quit anytime. Really. If I wanted to. I could quit. Just give my plants to someone and walk away. Really, I could. If I wanted to. But there's just one more I want to get first!)
But for this spot I want something that will be pretty in winter too. Yeah, I know I'm being picky!

Kate
frompa2fl_in9b
15 years ago
I'm new and have never posted (although I've read this forum for over a year)but maybe duranta, golden dewdrop or a princess flower, what is that a tibochina?
solstice98
Original Author
15 years ago
Denise,
Sorry I didn't respond to your suggestion. Some suggestions get an immediate mental response from me and others I have to think about. I don't know some of the plants you mentioned so I'll have to check them out.

I have hibiscus on the other side of the driveway so I wouldn't put that in and I don't want to deal with the thorns in the boug so close to the cars, but I may transplant a failing dwarf poinciana to that spot. I don't know the others.

Kate