skip to main content

Cottage Gardens

Need flowery plants, flowery shrubs? year round

16 years ago

I haven't posted in a long time, but this is one of my fav forums.

I just ordered some LED lights my garden and I have my little garden area set up in sections. The middle section has nothing in it, but dirt. Coming into Fall here soon, I wanted to get suggestions on what kind of 'colorful' cottage garden flowers I can plant that will not only fill the empty space, but supply me with blooms almost year round?

Any ideas appreciated!

Mango Moon

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

jakkom
16 years ago
You're a zone 10 and I'm a zone 9, so some of my suggestions may not work for you.

Color in my garden right now and through early November consists of:
Salvias
Roses
evergreen daylilies
Alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies)
Pelargoniums
Dwarf Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepsis indica)
Convolvulus mauritanicus
Dahlias (okay, not all year long, but I love them so much it's worth growing them for the color punch they give when much of the garden is resting from the heat)
Oleander
Canna
Cestrum
Hydrangeas such as "Endless Summer"
Osteospermum

And you need to think in terms of good evergreen foliage shrubs as well. They are much more reliable for impact than just using flowers.

Such as this shade combo of plectranthus and oxalis:
{{gwi:753302}}

Or this partial-sun combo of Strobilanthes and fancy-leaf pelargonium:
{{gwi:53264}}
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Good advice from jkom - it's tough to find many plants, even for a zone 10, that offer year round color from flowers. Look for those that offer attractive and colored foliage to extend your season. Also, many common cottage garden plants in colder zones don't perform as well in zone 10 (if at all), because there is no winter dormancy period. Roses are a natural and can offer color virtually year round for you. A visit to a local garden center may be in order to see what they have on offer at this time of year. If you are in a CA zone 10, look for New Zealand flax in a huge range of colors or other colorful grass-like plants, mirror plant (Coprosma), Australian fuchsias (Correa) offer an extended bloom season from now through spring. Kangaroo paws (Anigozanthus) also offer an extended bloom season.
Related Discussions
Hardy Shrubs for year-round privacy in Shade
Q
Comments (5)
Gardenscout, Thanks for your suggestion. I agree that Virburnum is a beautiful shrub. We have some at the other end of our property, in full sun. It looks great. Somehow I did not know it would do well in shade. I should have asked my question earlier. I got three Pittsoporum today that I will plant tomorrow. Thanks for taking the time to help.
...See More
Flowery, showy shrub
Q
Comments (4)
Carol Macke does fine here in zone 6b. The leaves are persistent through spring, and they look a little beaten up until the new growth comes. Then, oh lord, those fragrant flowers and pretty green and white leaves. It is a pretty slow grower. I've had mine for 10 years and it survived having a tree fall on it. If you can find Dirr, or if someone wants to provide the text to hgtvdream, he has a wonderful write up on daphnes. Something about "curling up their toes" Well worth the risk. A beautiful plant.
...See More
Year Round Patio Plant
Q
Comments (9)
The laceleaf japanese maples are choice container plants for sure! And jay gave some great uses for them while they're leafless. But they don't usually appreciate full sun...some afternoon shade is more to their liking. The leaves will get burned in late summer with full sun. A dwarf holly or osmanthus would be perfect for this use. I always like to get something extra out of my evergreens, and these provide winter berries and spring/fall fragrance, respectively. Gardenia is also a good choice, although they can be a little finicky. Lots of other options as well. One thing I've wanted to try is a michelia figo in a big container (banana shrub). Anyone have experience with this one in a pot?...I've read the fragrance is just outstanding.
...See More
Some large flowery pics
Q
Comments (11)
I dont really recommend Cindy Jones. Although it has everything...fancy edge, good flower traits, great scape. The color is inconsistent and not very pink. I consider it a breeder's plant. I don't get good performance out of Darla Anita, but it is a great breeder. Alexa does great, and has a huge edge. I have 3 clumps of it and I like it alot. Alexa Kathryn As far as edged pinks, I like Princess Diana the best, followed by Shores Of Time, Bill Robinson (color a bit muddy), Carolyn Mann (more lavender pink), Pink Lemonade Party (deep rose), Some Sweet Day (dark rose), and Southern Wind (really nice). Carolyn Mann may not be pink but it is one of the best.
...See More
jakkom
16 years ago
Also, many people don't realize that long-blooming plants sometimes require the most maintenance to look their best. Oleanders, for instance, drop leaves and flowers every day; salvias and such must be deadheaded consistently; roses need to be fed well and lightly pruned.
natal
16 years ago
My first choice would be plumbago. Plant it and forget about it.
ianna
16 years ago
You're semi-tropical so look for these plants

lantana
anthuriums (tropical, good in shady locations)
bougainvillas
gerber daisies
bromeliads
hibiscus
5 o'clocks
hydrangeas
balsams
bottle brush trees
lavenders
cannas
desert rose (shrub)

To name a few-

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Native Shrubs for Year-Round Bird Feeding

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It’s not just about berries. These plants provide insects for birds and seasonal interest for gardeners

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Glossy Abelia for Year-Round Beauty

Fragrant flowers, burgundy foliage and hummingbird allure. Deer shun this shrub, but it's a 5-star performer you'll love

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Snowberry Pleases Year-Round

Bright spring foliage, pretty summer flowers, white berries in winter ... Symphoricarpos albus is a sight to behold in every season

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Abutilon Palmeri Dazzles the Southwest With Nearly Year-Round Blooms

By Oakley Gardens

Plant Palmer’s Indian mallow for velvety foliage, long-lasting orange flowers and an abundance of wildlife benefits

NATIVE PLANTS 5 Ways to Keep Your Native Plant Garden Looking Good All Year

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It’s all about planning ahead, using sustainable practices and accepting plants as living organisms

FLOWERS AND PLANTS 10 Essential Shrubs for Mid-Atlantic Gardens

By Curtis Adams

Easy-to-grow mid-Atlantic native shrubs celebrate the character of the region

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Essential Native Shrubs for Southwestern Gardens

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Look no further than these Southwestern beauties for a colorful, low-maintenance landscape

GARDENING GUIDES How to Avoid Overcrowded, Overpruned Shrubs

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Go for a more natural look that’s easier and less expensive to maintain by giving your plants the right amount of growing room

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Oakleaf Hydrangea

By Becky Harris

Consider this full, flowering shrub for year-round beauty in the garden as you plan your fall plantings

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: 9 Plants for an Intriguing Entrance

Layer trees, flowers and shrubs around an archway to create the feeling of a year-round doorway to adventure

Sponsored