Gardenbuddies.com-Where friends meet to share their gardens

Plants for back of the border?

Garden Forum » Perennials in the Garden Forum » Plants for back of the border? « Previous    Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bixa525  Send Bixa525 a private message!


Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:07 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I need some suggestions for plants that are about 30 to 36" high and will give color and do well in amended clay soil. I was thinking maybe Little Spire Russian Sage since I have Rudebeckia's that will fall in front of them. Any other suggestions?

Bixa525 - Pennsylvania, Zone "?"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Zephirine  Send Zephirine a private message!


Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:18 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Fall Aster and chrysanthemum, Boltonia asteroides (white or light pink, aster-like, very long blooming), Veronicastrum, Persicaria polymorpha (and other tall persicaria), aconitum, miscanthus, lobelia, agastache,delphinium, there are so many!!!

Zephirine - Rhone-Alpes, Zone "7B"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Gardenbug  Send Gardenbug a private message!



Supporting Member

Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 05:18 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I find Russian Sage a bit tricky, needing a very hot, sunny well drained area to look its best. In the back of a border I doubt it will receive the light it needs. Clay soil? no.

Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bixa525  Send Bixa525 a private message!


Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 07:54 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Okay then can you give me some ideas what would work for my soil type and height that I need? It would be in full sun. I like the coloring of the russian sage but I am open to other options if it won't do well.

Bixa525 - Pennsylvania, Zone "?"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ilovemygarden  Send Ilovemygarden a private message!




My Garden
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 01:53 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I think a blue, white, or fuschia garden phlox would look great with rudbeckia. I have Starfire (almost red,up to 36 inches), The King (Blue, 30 inches), Laura (purple-pink with white center, 27 inches)and David (white, 40 inches), all do well in my clay soil. I have not even ammended the soil in the areas my phlox are. Having them at the back or middle of the border has also never been a problem for me.

Or maybe Penstemon-bearded tongue 'Husker Red' (30-36 inches). It would add color with dark red foliage w/ white flowers.

Or... some varieties of Jupiter's Beard (centranthus ruber) can get up 36 inches, and the red flowers would look good with rudbekia, also.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Share what you end up with. :)

Jamie

Ilovemygarden - Wisconsin, Zone "5a/4b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cindym  Send Cindym a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 02:10 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Don't know your zone, but you could always grow Salvia guarantica as an annual. My soil is amended clay and I grow Argentina Skies. It blooms spring through fall.

http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/salv_gua.cfm

Cindym - Louisiana, Zone "8b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Heirloomgardens  Send Heirloomgardens a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Garden
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 02:27 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Cindy, is that your pic with the fence? It's gorgeous. I am always on the lookout for nice fences. The copper cap on the inner post is a nice touch.

Heirloomgardens - Massachusetts, Zone "5b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Growit  Send Growit a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Time
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 02:37 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Zepherine gave you a wonderful list of plants that will do well. Aconites and Veronicastrum especially as they both prefer a moisture retentive soil which they will get with your amended clay.

Growit - Hants UK, Zone "8/9"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cindym  Send Cindym a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 06:27 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

DJ, thanks, yeah that's our fence ... French Gothic. We put up a short one with spaced pickets years ago ... I think it's 42" tall ... out near the street to define a parking apron and decided to keep the same design when we fenced in the backyard. The copper caps were less than $2 each and add a nice touch.

Cindym - Louisiana, Zone "8b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Golden_ca  Send Golden_ca a private message!




Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 10:08 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

What about foxglove - they are a nice cottage flower!

Golden_ca - British Columbia, Zone "8"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bixa525  Send Bixa525 a private message!


Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 11:46 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Wow, lots of great ideas. Would Caryopteris or Bee balm work in full sun/amended clay soil? I love the color of the Caryopteris and the raspberry wine bee balm is gorgeous also. Any comments?

Bixa525 - Pennsylvania, Zone "?"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Growit  Send Growit a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Time
Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 02:03 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Bixa525 wrote on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 11:46 pm:

Would Caryopteris or Bee balm work in full sun/amended clay soil?


I do not know your zone but Caryopteris is hardy here as long as it does not sit in wet for winter. I would add grit sand to your clay just to make sure it is going to drain enough and make sure it is in a slightly sheltered position away from strong cold winds. Bee balm (Monarda?) prefers moist soil so should be fine in amended clay.

Growit - Hants UK, Zone "8/9"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Dirtlady  Send Dirtlady a private message!




Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 03:43 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

How about catmint (not catnip), it is blue, perennial and really pretty.This one is "Walkers Low Catmint" about 2'.Plant Forum

Dirtlady - Georgia, Zone "7a/8b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Suzyqt1968  Send Suzyqt1968 a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 12:33 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Growit wrote on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 02:03 am:

I do not know your zone but Caryopteris is hardy here as long as it does not sit in wet for winter.


Hmmmmmm....could this be the reason for my DEAD caryopteris? I was wondering what happened. Thanks Moira for probably solving the mystery.

For fall, I have Obedient plant..it can spread but not so much that I can't control it. Also in that same area I have a White Wood aster which has little star shaped flowers..very airy but adds a lot to the area. Some of the Sedums will get close to that in height as well. This is not a great pic, but it shows the obedient plant, sedum in the back and the little white aster. Plus a bunch of other JUNK!







And for summer..how about putting in some gladiolas? Also, just thought about it. I have lavatera planted behind my rudbeckia. It can get taller than 3 feet though.

Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bixa525  Send Bixa525 a private message!


Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 01:36 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

The walker's low is probably not tall enough to go behind the rudbeckia's but there is a taller version of nepeta called six hills giant that might work. Anyone have this going in amended clay successfully? I think the caryopteris will require too much work for my soil so I have nixed that one. I just love that coloring so much and I wish I could find something that would work in the clay that has that coloring. It seems most of the plants with this coloring need sandy, well drained soil. Does anyone have anything comparable with this color in amended clay?

Bixa525 - Pennsylvania, Zone "?"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



Supporting Member

My Weather
My Garden
Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 03:40 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Zephirine mentioned it already, but for blue in a sunny spot with good soil you can't beat delphinium. Another blue that will do fine in sun if the soil is moist is Aconitum. There are also tall blue agastaches like Blue Fortune.
For later flowers, Salvia uliginosa is the most beautiful pure blue, but might not be hardy. Worth a try, though. Even worth buying new every year.

I would choose Walker's Low over Six Hill's Giant. I think it will grow anywhere with sun, but both would be better in front of rather than behind Rudbeckia.

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Growit  Send Growit a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Time
Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 03:39 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Gardenfiend wrote on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 03:40 pm:

Salvia uliginosa is the most beautiful pure blue, but might not be hardy. Worth a try, though. Even worth buying new every year.

Good choice Mara! I have only ever been able to find one once. It did not make it through the winter but I would happily plant it as an annual if I could find it again.

Growit - Hants UK, Zone "8/9"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lovinlife  Send Lovinlife a private message!



Supporting Member

Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 01:05 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Asiatic lilies are great in the back of the garden because they like their bottoms fairly shaded. Like SuzyQ, I have Obedient Plant also in the back. But it does bloom late in the season.

Lovinlife - Utah, Zone "5"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Susanq  Send Susanq a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 09:27 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

If you want something that will bloom at the same time as your rudbeckia I would thing phlox would be a great choice. Blue Paradise is a beautiful purple/blue. Here a pic of white 'David' with 'Paradise Blue' behind at the rear of my garden (photo taken on July 28 a couple of years ago):

SusanQ - Zone 4b-5b Wisconsin
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lovinlife  Send Lovinlife a private message!



Supporting Member

Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 11:10 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Susanq wrote on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 09:27 pm:

If you want something that will bloom at the same time as your rudbeckia I would thing phlox would be a great choice. Blue Paradise is a beautiful purple/blue.


I have exactly that same combo Susan, and I just love it. Phlox Blue Paradise is one I can hardly wait for every summer.

Lovinlife - Utah, Zone "5"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Heirloomgardens  Send Heirloomgardens a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Garden
Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 12:13 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post