Native flowers for sculpture garden

13 years ago

I am working on a native garden/learning garden/sculpture garden that is located at our local recycling center.

I am in central Alabama 30 miles south of Birmingham in zone 7b.

I am looking for advice on plants that are waterwise and native to the southeast that will do well with very little maintenance.

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Comments (5)

kaliaman
13 years ago
we don't have enough info to make good recommendations. you left out the most important stuff we need to know like....

what is the sun exposure? all day?
what is the desired full grown height of the planting?
purpose of planting....screening, shade, aesthetics?
place of planting...in beds, around a parking lot, along a fence, property boundary?
budget?

if you want to use natives suggest you check with your local landscape nursery or ag extension agent to get ideas for plants that do well in your area with little care or water. xeroscaping is the proper term for low water gardening.
fatamorgana2121
13 years ago
Xeriscaping (waterwise gardening) is exactly what you will want to look into. Just google the term for lots of reading.

I'm sure there are some Southern gardeners who can make some suggestions for you here. I personally can't. I live in NY State and our conditions include lots of natural rain and freezing temperatures for almost half the year - much different than your growing conditions. (We've had snow squalls much of the day while I'm sure you have pretty spring blooms everywhere!)

FataMorgana
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I suggest Wild Columbine - Aquilegia canadensis. This is in full bloom here in central PA right now, and has had flowers for several weeks. Easily grown from seed and among the easiest natives to find in nurseries. If you leave some space unmulched at the base of the columbines, you'll have to pull some weeds but should also get lots of volunteer columbine seedlings next year which can be moved around the garden. Also try violets. They bloom even earlier than columbine, depending on the species, and there are many species to choose. The showiest is Birdsfoot Violet, which is a relatively common plant in the native nursery business. The widespread Common Blue violet is also nice and very easy to find - you probably have some in the lawn. There are numerous other species, and you might find one or two growing in a spot with similar soil and sunlight as your garden and move a few. Around here Viola finriatula is common in dry, sunny spots and very showy in early spring. The big drawback to violets is their stature - they are low growers and can get lost in a garden if larger plants or weeds overtop them, and since they're small they can be hard to mulch properly. I would plant them in small areas that are easy to locate - at the base of a sign, for example - so that you will know where they are in the fall when you return for class even if weeds have grown over them. Violets do fine in full sun or shade.
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collinw
Original Author
13 years ago
It is full sun all day. The maximum height would be 4-5 ft and then descend in height from the back of the bed to the front of the bed. The garden is going to mainly be aesthetic, but will also be used by the local schools as a learning garden. In the sketch the large planting area is 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. It is a raised bed with a 2 ft. concrete retaining wall. There are also planters made from 55 gallon plastic drums. I have a small budget and a nursery that has committed to donate plants. What I need is someone knowledgable about native plants in the southeast. I have over 25 years of experience as a gardener, but it always helps to get others input, which is obviously one of the main functions of this forum.

Thanks!
Lynda Waldrep
13 years ago
Email Jan Midgely, who lives in AL and is quite competent. I met her at the native plant conference in Cullowhee. She is gracious and loves to share information about natives...has written several books. If she has time, (illness in the family) I bet she will help you. I think you can find her email information via the internet.
collinw
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks ncrescue!

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Native flowers for sculpture garden

Comments (5)

kaliaman

fatamorgana2121

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Native flowers for sculpture garden

Comments (5)

kaliaman

fatamorgana2121

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collinwOriginal Author

Lynda Waldrep

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collinw
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