Message Boards

I know I can try to get info from the local Extension Office but want your opinions too.
I have an enlarged flower bed on the west side of the house. We are zone 5b now and this area gets mostly shade in the morning then after lunch it gets sun/hot during the summer. There is a large shademaster locust tree in the middle of this bed but it still gets an abundance of sun. I don't seem to have enough shade for shade loving plants however.
DH doesn't want plants that will 'take over' so lamb's ear, blue mist spirea, yarrow, ground covers aren't allowed--LOL! Plants that are there now include fall aster/I have to keep thinning it out or he'll make me take it completely out! obedience plant/same, vinca major and minor/is really getting invasive so I'm still getting it out. I also have Blue Mountain Flax and another kind of flax I guess. I recently planted 3 yellow/rust gahlardia, 2 blue penstemon, scarlet, white and red dianthus and a couple of autumn joy succulent. One red knockout rose bush/it HAD been yellow so what's up with this?? I'm trying to get less maintainence plants so minimal/no deadheading, xeric type plants, and only a few annuals so I'm not replanting each year.
With ALL that info what do you suggest for this? I do hope to get some snaps in there tomorrow as well. I can't post pix/just don't ever seem to sit down and learn how to do this, sorry.
Thanks so much in advance for any replies/info.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ladeuce,

Have you tried Hyachinth bean vine?? I got some seeds from OKaren on here and they are very sturdy and pretty.
I grew them on a stump in the front yard. So they were in the sun all day and did great.
How about Cosmso's they resead. Your snaps will reseed. I love things that reseed!
good luck good to see you on here again.

Do you only want perennials? How about some evergreen shrubs as foundtion plants and then some perennials for color. You could also goo with ornamental grasses, like feather reed grass (Calamagrostis), Switch grass, or miscanthus, although some types of miscanthus can be invasive.

You could use any number of evergreen shrubs, including variegated ones for more interest. They would only need pruning once or twice a year and might be something your husband would like.

My husband also can't stand plants are look unkept. He thinks all plants are supposed to be pruned into perfect balll shapes.

Here are some perennials that have won awards as Plant of the Year. Here are more top 10 picks. I expect they must have some good features.

Some I personally like that come to mind are Lady's Mantle, Mountain Bluet, 'Walker's Low' catmint, delphinium, peony, columbine, Jacob's Ladder, and various irises altho most require some care. I don't find lamb's ears a problem even when I let them go to seed as they are easy to pull. If you mulch well all 'weeds' are easier to pull. Doesn't your flax go to seed or do you deadhead it? I let mine self-seed all over then transplant a few and weed out the rest.

There are lots of hardy shrubs - some I have are ninebarks, dogwoods with red bark (nice in the winter), lilacs, and various spirea but there are many more to choose from.

Edited for spelling.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joyluck,

What about daylilies? Sounds like you have enough sun and they don't have many problems, unless you are bothered by deer. Daylilies are like candy for deer. Coneflowers?

Thank you all for your replies. I will go back and address each of yours but for now I want to be sure to say thanks! Love the links provided too, Joyluck, some I'd heard/seen in the local nurseries but hadn't needed them. But some I have in the yard or have had..Mountain Bluet being one of them and it is no longer in this current 'remodeled' flowerbed I'm asking help for!!! Not sure but it may have gotten overwatered..but as the tree has grown taller and branches have been trimmed the sun will be more abundant---still, I have some shade areas here that I didn't use to have.
Again, thank you and I'll be back to post.
Silly bird, I hadn't heard of the hyacinth bean vine....need to google that....thanks.