Need ideas, small flower bed, zone 4
jlatte
8 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
docmom_gw
8 years agodowlinggram
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Ideas needed for this area, zone 4, slope. Looking to redo.
Comments (1)Post this on the forum if you want people to see it. The gallery is more used for putting up pictures if they're big files, but everyone puts pictures on the regular forum page....See Moreideas needed: showy ,small ,speciman shrub - zone 4
Comments (10)Does the simply shaped green foliage of the lilac make a nice contast to the colored and cut foliage of your maple and smoke bush and so enhance their beauty? How about growing one of the smaller clematis that blooms later in the season over your lilac? (There is a gentleman, David5311 who sometimes visits the perennials forum who has successfully done this with multiple shrub/clematis pairings.) It will save you the trouble of starting over again with a new shrub. Get a big sized plant to start, not one of the little tiny starter plants so that it can compete with your already established shrubs, and match the ultimate size of the clematis with the ultimate size of your lilac. The folks in the clematis forum may have some specific suggestions for you. I know there are some clematis that are supposed to grow no longer that 5 or 6 feet (marketed as patio clematis, I believe), so they might work on your lilac. Many shrubs don't have a long season of interest. Of Duluth's suggestions that I have grown, mock orange and burning bush are both of interest for a relatively short time period. Some of the northern lights azaleas have nice fall color and of course the gorgeous spring blooms, but not much summer or winter interest. Blueberries have spring flowers, summer berries, and fall color, and a few have nicely colored winter twigs. There are geen and white variegated red-twigged dogwoods which have the foliage during the growing season, spring flowers, summer berries, and the red branches in the winter. In order to keep it small enough it would need some trimming, but it is suggested that you prune about 1/3 of the branches down to near ground level each year to keep the branch color (older branches lose the bright red), so it might work for you. There are also veriegated euonymus with green and white or gold and white foliage. In addition to Anthony Waterer there are many other spireas that have green to gold foliage, pink or white blossoms, and some have nice red/gold/orange fall foliage. Some of the smaller weigelas have colored foliage, though their blossoming period isn't too long....See MoreNeed ideas for 3 ft. wide shrub in zone 4
Comments (3)If it doesn't have to be a bush, check out the different kinds of Amsonias. I like the narrow leaf varieties. They bloom bunches of little blue star shaped flowers in the spring, then have seed pods that hang on them. I shear mine back after blooming, though, to keep them from getting too big. They bush back out and look nice, with nicely colored foliage in the fall. They die to the ground in winter. Also, a couple day lilies would work there, along with a tall growing iris. Fireworks goldenrod is a fall blooming plant I love that would fit in that space. I'm not sure what zone it is. Sue D....See MoreNeed ideas #4, small flower bed, zone 4
Comments (3)You can use "Aster x frikartii" or "Coreopsis 'Mango Punch' " perennials for this summer. Both have different coloured flower. You just loved it....See MoreNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agodiggerdee zone 6 CT
8 years agoGardenHo_MI_Z5
8 years agojlatte
8 years agojlatte
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agojlatte
8 years agojlatte
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agojlatte
8 years ago
Related Stories
MOST POPULARHow to Design a Colorful Flower Bed
Fall planting: Delight the eye through 3 seasons with bright flowers placed just right. Late summer is the time to plan
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES10 Ways to Tiptoe Out of Your Decorating Comfort Zone
Ease into waking up your space with small doses of decorating daring that express who you are right now
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPING10 Great Outdoor Chill Zones
Whether you have a huge poolside deck or a sliver of a patio, these ideas will kick stress to the curb all summer long
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN4 Tips for Creating a Small Garden That Welcomes Wildlife
Win over birds, bees, butterflies and neighbors with these design strategies
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGClean Up Your Cleanup Zones
Make chore time more pleasant by tidying up your laundry room and updating cleaning tools
Full StoryDINING ROOMSNew This Week: 6 Modern Dining Zones in Homes Big and Small
Look to splashy accent walls, right-sized tables and indoor slides to make the most of your open layout
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Garden Ideas From the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show
Peruse inspiring plants, plant combinations and design ideas from London’s famed garden exhibition
Full StoryFLOWERS8 Knockout Flowers for a Fall Container Garden
Your cups will overfloweth with color and interest this fall when you plant these vivid seasonal garden classics
Full StoryTHE HARDWORKING HOMEA New Drop Zone Keeps the Clutter at Bay
The Hardworking Home: A clever wall-mounted station for keys, phones and more helps a family stay organized
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASGreat Garden Combo: Rose + Clematis for Small-Space Impact
We all need somebody to lean on. And when a rose supports a climbing vine, the results can totally transform a small garden
Full Story
NHBabs z4b-5a NH