Evergreens for zone 9a.....beginner needs advice!

greenthumb0306

8 years ago

I'm looking for evergreens to plant in pots in a full sun, partial shade area outside of my house.

In zone 9a, we have long summers that are extremely hot and very humid.

I purchased a 1 gallon amagasa azalea to plant in a container; I'm hoping it thrives.

I am looking for other evergreens to add some nice color to my outdoor living space.

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Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
It would help if you could let us know where you are located regionally. Zone 9 can describe opposite sides of the US, where climate and plant selection can be extremely different.
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greenthumb0306
Original Author
8 years ago
southern Louisiana. Very humid, sunny and hot
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The masonry bit probably won't work, except on terra cotta. As glazing contractors we regularly drill all sizes of holes in glass/mirrors, granite (shower door installations) and other vitrified materials (the objects people bring to us to drill holes in). Most containers you'll encounter can best be drilled with a "spear-point" drill. I'll link you to a picture from one of our suppliers. The drill is also called a 3-point drill. Highly vitreous containers (glass, or glass-like - ceramic - clay fired at high temperatures) may even require a diamond impregnated "core drill", but it's very uncommon to find containers like this, especially at the dollar store. These inexpensive drills can be found at big box home improvement stores. They should be cooled with water or a 50/50 mix of water/antifreeze as you drill. An excellent strategy is to immerse the container upside down in a tub and add enough water to just cover the drilling surface as you drill. Rotating the drill clockwise at a slight angle while drilling will greatly increase ease of operation. Alternately (I use this method), fill a squeeze container (contact lens solution bottle is stellar) with water or 50/50 water/antifreeze & squirt it at the drill/material interface as you drill. If you can't find the drill you need, you can contact me off forum & I'll be glad to help you. Al Here is a link that might be useful: Here is a link that might be useful: See a spear-point drill here.
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Hostas in TX? Heuchera? Need advice about zone 9 from 4!
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There is no hosta that would tolerate the sun in Texas for even two hours in the summer. That being said, I have just the common variety in my front flowerbed under teh porch overhang and they are fine. I hand pick a slug or two, but I've not had any serious problems. This might be because they are contained in a bed, and not near any leaf litter or anything, I don't know. If you want to bring some of your beloved hostas-the more hardy of them will likely be fine in the shade. Look online to see what they are rated as far as zone goes. If you use the moisture control beads in the pot, they may be easier to care for as potted plant specimens, if you don't mind fussing a bit. I don't fuss over mine a bit. I need to lift one or two that are dwindling because they've sunken too deep, but other than making sure I turn the soaker hose on for at least an hour once a week in the summer, I don't do anything for them save a bit of compost. They sell heuchera here..but you must almost create a microclimate for it. If you want to baby it, and don't mind failing just in case it happens, I don't see a problem with trying one or two in an appropriate spot to see what happens. We have a lot of pretty foliage plants, both annual and perennial down here. Some coleus are rated for sun, and those are beautiful. If you like grasses at all, those are good. What you will find in the nurseries here is that most of them stock a lot that while it may say Zone 9...it may not necessarily grow in this part of Zone 9. If you can, take a new friend that would know to the store with you, or at least look on davesgarden to see if it's reported as being grown here or near here in similar conditions (or you can just ask here....there are a ton of knowlegable people growing everything under the sun).
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Violet Verbena
8 years ago
politely jumping in....I'd love some info on this too. I'm in 9a Jax Beach. Thanks! I'm having fun with lots of annuals in pots, but I'd like a few different things I don't need to switch out all the time.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
I doubt many of my zone 9 suggestion would thrive in the southeast :-) I would try posting this in one of your regional forums for suggestions that would be locally appropriate. Anything can be grown in a container........it is just a matter of selecting something that is well-suited to your climate and conditions.
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Cliff Pruitt
8 years ago
GreenThumb0306 & Violet Verbina, not to overstate what might seem obvious, but the best regional recommendations might be found at a good local nursery. While I'm sure everyone in the forum has their own personal favorites (I'm a huge fan of mangroves myself) the number of solid suggestions you get that are really a good fit for your location might be few, or might be a little more based on conjecture. Maybe it's worth taking a trip to a nursery to browse a bit and then, if you have any questions about a particular plant, post those more specific questions. I bet there's a lot of great insight to be had if you narrow the scope of the question just a bit. Good luck with whatever you choose!
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MrClint
8 years ago
Yes, all gardening is local. Unless someone with direct experience in your area chimes in, I'd suggest asking in the forum for the state that you live in. I would only add that you might want to set your bar a bit higher than just an evergreen with color. How about interesting foliage, bloom time/duration & fragrance, edible fruit, etc? Go for the win, win win, instead of just the win. :)
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Evergreens for zone 9a.....beginner needs advice!

Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

greenthumb0306
Original Author

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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MrClint

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Evergreens for zone 9a.....beginner needs advice!

Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

greenthumb0306Original Author

Related Discussions

Violet Verbena

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Cliff Pruitt

MrClint

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

greenthumb0306
Original Author