Perennial plant recommendations
Megan Huntley
7 years ago
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7
7 years agoMegan Huntley
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
perennials you wouldn't recommend!
Comments (95)I am not in upstate New York, but in zone 6 downstate Illinois. I was using the search feature for something completely different when I saw how many people had responded to this old post and knew it would be a treasure trove. Many of the things listed are things I have heard about before, but I had never created a list. Just prayed I'd remember what not to get or what to be careful with at planting time. Thought someone else might like this in list form. I still plan to go back through and add the latin botanical name where missing. There are a few things that I didn't put on this list. Ornamental grass, for instance, since the type wasn't mentioned and there are huge differences depending on the species. So, here's the list I came up with. Thank you for helping me to create the beginnings of a good reference file. Aggressive / Invasive plants -- The following list began with plants that gardeners in zone 5 and 6 on the Upstate New York gardening forum found to be invasive. Some noted that âinvasiveâ is somewhat objective and depends on where the plant is located. In the book Paradise Lot the authors sometimes put aggressive plants that they liked to have around on purpose in an area of the garden not ideal for that plant. I.e. in shade rather than sun. At some point I should perhaps mark the plants below with a rating system to distinguish the ânever, never, never plant thisâ from the ones that might be good to use in certain situations. Achillea millefolium ssp. Yarrow Aegopodium Bishopâs weed aka gout Weed; aka snow-on-the-mountain Ajuga ��" Someone in New York doesnât like it. Ours is a good ground cover. Anemone Canadensis anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing' dark leaf form of common cow parsley Artemisia I get the feeling some types are okay. Artemisia âOriental Limelightâ Beautiful when small; will swallow your whole garden! Very invasive. Years to eradicate. Huge. Roots run vigorously. Tap root deep. Balloon flower Bittersweet (I think this is also called Virginia creeper.) chameleon plant Chinese lanterns Cleome Annual. Prolific self-seeder. Might be good if the self-seeding is desired. Comfrey Apparently huge, fast growing and deep rooted. Lily of the valley Many, many warnings, although some would like to grow it and canât. Creeping Charlie Echinacea purpurea purple cone flower Several mentions. I like it and like the self-seeding. Echinops GLOBE THISTLE Prolific self-seeder, Butâ¦awesome looking and attracts humming birds. Feverfew Fennel, bronze ��" Self seeds vigorously; person commenting liked this trait. Hemerocallis common ditch daylily geranium oxonianum Ipomoea morning glory Jerusalem artichoke, perennial sunflower Lamium ssp. Tiger lily Lobelia syphilitica Lychnis coronaria Rose Campion (See- Lychnis The Genus for types that might not be invasive.) Lysimachia clethroides Many, many warnings. Lysimachia punctata Loosestrife Many, many warnings. Lemon balm Mentha ssp. Mint Mexican evening primrose Monarda bee balm Money plant Mountain bluet Oenothera fruticosa - sundrops - evening primrose Pachysandra Obedient plant Ribbon grass stachys byzantina Lambâs ears Sweet woodruff Thymus ��" the creeping thyme variety. Trumpet vine verbena bonariensis Self seeds vigorously; person commenting liked this trait. Vinca Virginia creeper Yucca has spines. Dramatic structural plant. Very very deep rooted....See MoreRecommendations of shrubs or perennials for Clay soil.
Comments (14)Since you are going to do some soil amending I think your choices can expand. Remembering that this is right at your patio, I would imagine you want things that are going to look good ALL the time, and that would indicate to me using annuals for seasonal color with some "backbone shrubs". How about sweet almond bush Aloysia virgata (can get big, but can be kept smallish) with wonderfully fragrant blooms. Bird of Paradise (forget the botanical name) Most perennials especially native can look kinda of ratty at some time or another, so pick carefully there. I love Forest Fire annual salvia - and it will keep with your tropical theme and reseed nicely. A note - if you use butterfly weed you will have butterflies, sure, and you will probably be fighting orange aphids ALL summer long. To me, butterfly weed should be an "enjoy from a distance" type plant. How about crinums?...See MoreRecommend a perennial
Comments (6)^^That and ^^^^^^that. What's your closest city, and how much sun do you get at that time of year and for the rest of the year when greenery may be showing? It's best if we know the winter/summer weather before we make a solid recommendation. I have a few in mind that do really well in my native Pennsylvania, but wouldn't be so hot in northern Maine or Florida, and sun or shade will matter......See MoreSo many choices for annual/perennial flower, which would yo recommend?
Comments (33)Haha! I guess you could see that I like to grow lots of flowers having all kinds of colors rather than planned color schemes and understated elegance. :) The advantage of having a container garden is one can keep switching their layout at the slightest whim. Also, it is really helpful in being able to prioritize and ration the limited amount of sun. I like the vinca minor and have some though it really doesn't bloom long enough. I grew up where vinca is truly a weed, growing anywhere it could find a toe hold, cracks in concrete building walls or pavements, somewhat like the much hate dandelion (which I find pretty). It appears not need much of anything to grow huge and bloom without much soil.... Now that you mention, I didn't take into account the biennial nature of hollyhocks. That's a neat trick to try and fool the poor plants. I think I will give it a try....See MoreMegan Huntley
7 years agoMegan Huntley
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoDragonfly Hollow (z7b,North Texas)
7 years agoMegan Huntley thanked Dragonfly Hollow (z7b,North Texas)Megan Huntley
7 years agoMegan Huntley
5 years ago
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