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Midwest Gardening

Suggest some old fashioned hardy plants

Kathleen Smith SE michigan, Zone 6a

3 years ago

Got this property 1.5 years ago. The former owners ad very few plantings even though they were here 25 years. Lovely people, but can't understand it, LOL.

Last year I planted lilacs and forsythia. This spring I planted some Lillies of the valley and daylillies. I want some more hardy classics, nothing really fussy. I do have a lot of shade, so there's that. I'm in the middle of northern Michigan, zone 4b.

What else do you suggest? Shrubs and perennials.

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Comments (5)

lilyd74 (5b sw MI)
3 years ago
My mom, also in northern MI, has had success with both vinca (myrtle) and yucca. Yucca is full sun but the vinca does well in the shade as groundcover. You could try some dwarf flowering trees like apple/pear also. I'm sure you're aware that hosta does well in colder climates. Daffodils are a classic early bloomer. Purple coneflowers are another classic that will do well in your zone.
Kathleen Smith SE michigan, Zone 6a
Original Author
3 years ago
Hosta! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks.
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Hello again. I already posted a response that I would not plant at all near the wall. Here's maybe a better response. IF I lived on your property and IF I decided to plant adjacent to the wall, I believe I would use sheet composting, sometimes also called lasagna composting. What I am imagining is not a long thin strip running the entire length of the wall, but isolated deeper curving beds located at choice spots. The approach is to map out your planting area, then start layering compostable material over the area: start with cardboard or newspaper,then pile on grass clippings, straw if it's available, shredded leaves that you've chewed up with the lawnmower, other garden debris and weeds that you've chewed up with the lawnmower, pine needles, manure whatever you can get your hands on. Be sure to wet each layer down, especially the cardboard. I've done this and it works. It is not instant gratification, but if you're into hostas, you already are a patient gardener. It might take up to 2 years to get a bed ready to go depending upon the content of your layers, but you'll have minimal digging to do. Once sheet composting has done its magic for a year or two, you won't need to till the area - just make little holes and pop in your plants. If you want plants that may require some shade, like hostas, I would not battle with the existing trees that are growing right next to the stone wall. Plant a new tree situated away from the wall by 20 feet or so. Locate the tree so that it's creating afternoon shade in your future planting area. How about a dogwood? Want a fast growing tree? River birch are amazingly fast growers. 10 years from now add a bench and a birdbath in the middle of your shady hosta haven and invite me over for a mint julep.
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Spiraea japonica. 'Golden princess' is a favorite-in shade it grows low like a ground cover. Mugo pines do well in light shade to full sun. Astilbe.
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Everything suggested so far is non native. You can do your local environment a favor by trying to reproduce your local nature. You do like Monarch Butterflys dont you? For shrubs: Elderberry(bird heaven!), Choke berry, Viburnums are great, Blueberrys are wonderful small shrubs and create an "edible hedge" for you. There are many many more.

Perrenials: There are wonderful, drop dead gorgeous native flowers most people aren't aware of because the big box stores don't sell them(they aren't patented!). The list would be too long here but go to a site like Prairie Moon and get their catalog or browse online.

Be very careful about what you buy from garden stores because of invasives that run amok on us. Things to avoid like the plague: Japanese knotweed and honeysuckle, and Buckthorn are a few bad examples sold in the trade. They still sell Creeping Charlie too.

And remember this. If all you have are hostas and daylillies the monarch butterflys will starve in your yard.
xiangirl zone 4/5 Nebraska
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Milkweed, Hollyhocks, Goldenrod, Spiderwort, Daisies. I like flowers better than bushes (as you can tell from my list) but it also depends on the amount of space you have and what you like. Lots of spring bulbs would be low maintenance, too.

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