Mandevilla laxa was totally deciduous for me in the San Jose area. My understanding is that it is one of those 'semi-evergreen' vines which is dependent upon winter temperatures as to whether it will be completely deciduous. I have Thunbergia 'Apricot Smoothie' which is evergreen for me. I also have T. battiscombei. It's in a protected area near the house and generally looks like poo-poo/ca-ca by January, so I whack it back. You may have better luck being in a warmer zone. Clematis montana, as stated is definitely deciduous. Prune it lightly after flowering, not in spring, as it flowers on previous seasons growth. wanda

Madame Rosy is supposed to flower better and be less aggressive than the Madame Galen hybrid that I have experience with. If true, it should be great. MG grew fast (and large) here once established, but mostly stayed in one place, rarely (never?) set seed, and flowered much of the summer. MG is the parent of the MR cultivar. MR has also been recommended elsewhere on GW. The following link provides the full set of claims made in its plant patent. Here is a link that might be useful: PP18394: Campsis plant named âHOMRâ This post was edited by bostedo on Wed, Jun 5, 13 at 10:04

Image by: Clare_CAMichelia Figo var. SkinnerianaWhich Shrubs Smell Good? -     Fragrant Plants       The following list of fragrant plants was compiled by Clare_CA.  Please note, this list is considered a work in progress with additional fragrant plants added over time.       Plant Name Abelia mosanensis ‘bridal bouquet,’ fragrant abelia Abelia trilora Acidanthera, 'Peacock orchid' Agastache ‘Summer Breeze’ Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop Aglaia odorata Aloysia virgatas, Sweet Almond Azara microphylla Beaumontia grandiflora Blanc Double de Coubert rugosas Boronia Boronia megastigma Brassavola nodosa (Lady of the Night orchid) Brugmansia Brunfelsia americana Brunfelsia australis Brunfelsia Nitida (Lady of the Night) Brunfelsia pauciflora Buddleia Asiatica Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush Cananga odorata Carolina allspice, Calycanthus sp. Centaurea moschata Sweet Sultan (Annual) Cestrum diurnum Cestrum nocturum Chimonanthus praecox Chlidanthus fragrans Perfumed Fairy Lily (Bulb) Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl,’ Aztec Pearl Mexican Orange Choysia ternata, Mexican Mock Orange Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' Citrus (esp. ‘Bouquet de Fleurs’) Citrus (tree) Clematis Montana Clematis, Sweet Autumn Clematis Clerodendron phillipinum Clerodendrum trichotomum Clethra alnifolia Clethra 'Ruby Spice' Coleonema pulchrum/Breath of Heaven Crinum odorata Crinum powellii and C. moorei Daphne bholua Daphne 'Carol Mackie' Daphne odora Datura Inoxia Datura Metel Datura Stramonium var Tatula Datura wrightii Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’  Diplarrhena moraea ‘Slieve Donard,’ White Flag Iris Dipogon lignosus Diurnum Double Delight - Hybrid Tea Rose Dracaena fragans Eriodictyon capitatum Lompoc Yerba Santa Erysimum cheiri, Wallflower  (Annual) Eupatorium ligustrinum Euphorbia leucocephala Freesia (Bulb) Gardenia angusta Gardenia 'White Gem' Gladiolus callianthus Abyssinian Sword Lily (Bulb) Gladiolus tristis Marsh Afrikaner (Bulb) Hansa - Rugosa Rose Hedychium coronaria, common white ginger Hedychium coronarium Hedychium flavescens/gardnerianum/flavum/coronarium Hedychium gardnerianum is an outstanding ginger lily. Hedysarum coronarium French Honeysuckle Helichrysum (Licorice plant) Hemerocallis ‘Fragrant Treasure,’ Frangrant Treasure Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion,’ Hyperion Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Sherwood Gladiator,’ Sweet Gladiator Daylily Hemerocallis citrina, Lemon Daylily Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, Lemon Lily Hemerocallis minor, Dwarf Daylily Holarrhena densiflora (Jasmine Tree) Hoya lacunosa Hyacinths, Nicotiana, oriental lilies, and easter lilies Hymenocallis ‘Erotica’ Fragrant Basket Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis ‘Sulphur Queen’ Sulphur Queen B. Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis ‘Tropical Giant’ Hybrid Basket Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis narcissiflora (+ ‘Advance’) Peruvian Daffodil (Bulb) Hymenocallis x festalis ‘Zwanenburg’ Primrose Spider Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis x festalis Spider Lily (Bulb) Hymenosporum flavum, Australian Frangipani, Sweetshade (tree) Illicium Floridanum Jasmine molle Jasminum Azoricum Jasminum humile, Italian/Yellow Jasmine Jasminum officinale, Poet’s Jasmine Jasminum polyanthum, Pink/Winter Jasmine Jasminum Sambac Flore Plena Jasminum Sambac, Belle of India Jasminum Sambac, Grand Duke Jasminum Sambac, Maid of Orleans Jasminum x stephanense, Stephan Jasmine Lathyrus odoratus, Sweet Pea (Annual) Laurus nobilis, Grecian Bay Laurel (tree) Lavandula, Lavenders (many) Lepechinia hastata, Baja Pitcher Sage Leptospermum petersonii,  Lemon-scented Tea Tree (tree) Lillium "Le Reve" Lobularia maritima, Sweet Alyssum (Self-sowing Annual) Lonicera Lonicera japonica Luculia intermedia/pinceana-Luculia Luculia pinceana/intermedia/gratissimus Madame Isaac Pereire, Antique Rose Magnolia ‘Timeless Beauty’ (tree) Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia (tree) Magnolia hypoleuca Magnolia salicifolia ‘Kockanakee’ (tree) Magnolia salicifolia ‘W.B. Clarke’ (tree) Magnolia seiboldii, Oyama Magnolia Magnolia stellata, Star Magnolia Magnolia Virginiana Magnolia x loebneri ‘Ballerina’ (tree) Magnolia x loebneri ‘Spring Snow’ (tree) Magnolia x stellata ‘Royal Star’ (tree) Magnolia x stellata ‘Waterlily’ (tree) Magnolia x wieseneri Mandevilla laxa Matthiola incana, Stock (Annual) Matthiola longipetala bicornis, Evening-scented Stock (Annual) Melanoselinum decipiens Michelia champaca Michelia chapensis Michelia doltsopa  Michelia figo, Banana Shrub Michelia Wilsonii (sinensis) Michelia x alba Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ (tree) Milletia reticulata Mirabilis, Four o'clocks Mitriostigma Axillare or African Gardenia Montanoa grandiflora, Narcissus jonquilla ‘Kinglet’, ‘Sweetness’, ‘Vireo’Jonquil (Bulb) Narcissus papyraceus, Paper Whites (Bulb) Narcissus tazetta, Narcissus (Bulb) Narcissus x odorus, Campernelle Jonquil (Bulb) Nicotiana alata Nicotiana sylvestris Orchid Vanda merillii Osmanthus fragrans, Sweet Olive Passiflora Alata “Ruby Glow” Passiflora belotti Passiflora colinvauxii (honeysuckle fragrance) Passiflora helleri Passiflora Incense Passiflora serratodigitata Passiflora sprucei Pelargonium , Scented Geraniums (all*) -- Pelargonium ‘Filicifolium’  Balsam Pelargonium ‘Tutti-Fruiti’ Tutti-Fruiti Pelargonium capitatum ‘Attar of Roses’ Old Rose Pelargonium crispum ‘Peach Cream’ Peach Pelargonium crispum ‘Prince of Orange’ Orange Pelargonium crispum Lemon Pelargonium graveolens ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ Lemon-rose Pelargonium graveolens Rose Pelargonium grossularioides Coconut Pelargonium nervosum ‘Torento’ Ginger Pelargonium nervosum Lime Pelargonium odoratissimum, Apple Pelargonium quercifolium, Pelargonium Almond Pelargonium scabrum ‘M. Ninon’ Apricot Pelargonium scarboravia Strawberry Pelargonium tomentosum ‘Chocolate Joy’ Chocolate-mint Pelargonium tomentosum Peppermint Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Nutmeg’ Nutmeg Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Old Spice’ Old Spice Philadelphus ‘Fallbrook’, ‘Galahad’ Mock Orange Philadelphus microphyllus Small-leaved Mock Orange Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Glacier’ Dwarf Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Japanese Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Mock Orange Pittosporum undulatum, Victorian Box Plumeria (tree) Polianthes tuberosa, Tuberose (Bulb) Portulandia grandiflora Primula florindae, the Tibetan Primrose Prospero & Golden Celebration - David Austin Roses Psoralea pinnata Quisqualia indica, Rangoon Creeper Reseda odorata Mignonette  (Annual) Rhododendron atlanticum fragrance of gardenia and clove Ribes aureum, Golden Currant  Rosas Typhoo Tea Rose, (The Apothecary Rose; deep pink) Rose, Angel Face (floribunda; mauve) Rose, Apricot Nectar (floribunda; apricot blend) Rose, Arizona (grandiflora; orange blend) Rose, Betty Prior (floribunda; medium pink) Rose, Buff Beauty (Hybrid Musk; apricot blend) Rose, Cathedral (floribunda; apricot blend) Rose, Chinatown (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Chrysler Imperial (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Command Performance (HT; orange-red) Rose, Comte de Chambord (Portland; pink blend) Rose, Crimson Glory (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Dainty Bess (HT; light pink; single) Rose, Double Delight (HT; red-white bicolor) Rose, Electron (HT; deep pink) Rose, Etoile de Holland (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Evelyn (English; apricot-pink blend) Rose, Fashion (floribunda; orange-pink blend) Rose, Fragrant Cloud (HT; coral red-orange blend) Rose, Fragrant Hour (HT; orange-pink blend) Rose, François Dubreuil (Tea; dark red) Rose, Friendship (HT; deep pink) Rose, Granada/Donatella (HT; red-yellow blend) Rose, High Hopes (climber; med. pink) Rose, Intrigue (floribunda; mauve blend) Rose, Ispahan (Damask; medium pink) Rose, Jacques Cartier (Portland; light pink) Rose, Jadis (HT; pink) Rose, Just Joey (HT, orange blend) Rose, Lemon Spice (HT; pale yellow) Rose, Love (Gr.; red blend) Rose, Marechal Niel (cl. Noisette; softest yellow) Rose, Mirandy (HT; garnet red) Rose, Mister Lincoln (HT; dark red) Rose, Nuage Parfumé (HT; also cl.; coral-orange-red blend) Rose, Oklahoma (HT; deep red) Rose, Papa Meilland (HT; deep crimson) Rose, Perfume Delight (HT; medium pink) Rose, Rosa gallica officinalis/duplex Rose, Rosa gallica versicolor (Gallica; striped pink) Rose, Rosa x damascena bifera (Damask, Rose of Castile; m. pink) Rose, Royal Amethyst (HT; lavender) Rose, Saratoga (floribunda; white) Rose, Sheer Bliss (HT; white/pink blend) Rose, Simplicity (floribunda; light pink) Rose, Spanish Sun (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Spartan (floribunda; orange-red blend) Rose, Sunsprite (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Sutter’s Gold (HT; orange blend) Rose, Sweet Surrender (HT; silvery med. pink) Rose, Tiffany (HT; pink blend) Rose, White Lightnin’ (GR; white) Rose, Wild Spice (shrub) Rosmarinus officinalis Salvia clevelandii Salvia clevelandii 'Aromas' Salvia clevelandii/Cleveland Sage Salvia elegans, Pineapple Sage Salvia melissodora Grape-scented Sage Sarcococca Hookeriana Humilis Sarcococca rustifolia Scentimental, Hybrid Tea Solandra maxima Sombreuil climbing antique Stephanotis floribunda Sweet Afton Sweet Chariot - miniature "hanging basket" rose Syringa microphylla 'Superba' Tagetes nelsonii, Citrus Marigold Telosma cordata, Pakalana Vine Thornless Honey Locust-Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis Tilia cordata, Little Leaf Linden Trachelospermum jasminoides, Star Jasmine Ugni molinae, Chilean Guava Umbellularia californica California Bay Laurel (tree) Verbena x hybrida ‘Defiance,’ Defiance Verbena Viburnum carlesi 'Compactum' Viburnum Carlesii (clove scent) Viburnum, Korean Spice Viola Odora Weigela florida 'Variegata nana' Wild clover, Melilotus alba Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox Wisteria    

Re the star jasmine: too much sun maybe? I'm in the Pac NW but summers, even here, with relentless sun, are not kind to star jasmines. There is a lot more humidity on the east coast in the south, and things do well there because they generally have plenty of rain and humidity in summer. Jasmines also like shelter. Windy situations are not the happiest for them. You did well to mulch them. After this growing season they should be well established. One thing about the brown leaves: sometimes leaves do this on evergreen things just as the plant is making a branch there. Look for signs of new branches and more leaves - that is a natural occurance then, and nothing to worry about. how wide is your bed by your fence? you mentioned planting catmint (Nepeta). That plant sprawls when in bloom, and can get very wide - so be sure you don't buy the giant nepeta, which sprawls 4-5 feet. You do have to cut back nepeta when it's done flowering each time. What other flowers are you considering and what is your color range that you like? i think you mentioned white, blue, and purple. What other flowering perennials have you considered? you said you wanted low maintenance so ideally, that would be something you don't have to deadhead constantly. . There are some amazing salvias that would do well in your climate. Salvia patens has pure royal blue flowers; ' cambridge blue' is sky blue, rare colors in flowers - not sure what zones they need but worth checking out. Hummingbirds love salvias. Salvia guaranitica "black and blue" is stunning! Or you could plant asclepias and attract butterflies. i adore lantana, which here is an annual but in the Caribbean grew as a woody shrub and bloomed constantly - i guess they are considered invasive down south so it may not be the best choice for your area. Here's a nice article about salvias: https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/how-grow-salvia/ As other have said, until things are established you will need to keep them watered. i used to live in the carribean - no water there - we used our dish water and bath water, bailing out the bathtub, to water our plants! nothing was wasted.