A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Landscaping question

I have this flowerbed in between my garage and front door. It had a huge tropical plant (ginger i think) with dwarf azaeleas. I removed all of that but left the existing iris.

I amended the soil lightly with a general fertilizer and pre-emergence herbicide. I also tilled in about 300lbs of topsoil. But about two feet underneath the bed soil, the ground is pretty tight clay.

I was planning on planting a Japanese maple (Bloodgood) in the center of the bed. But I was looking for ideas for things to plant around it. I could go back with the dwarf azaeleas but that's fairly plain. I was hoping to get some other ideas.

So any would be appreciated. If it helps, I think I'm borderline zone 8/9. Thanks.

I'm too far out of your zone to help you(I'm a zone 3/4)but I just wanted to say...WOW, Your home is beautiful.

First thing that comes to mind are coleus, the ones that will take sun to part shade. They would give you plenty of color and foliage all you would have to do is keep the blooms pinched off.

here are some other possibilities:

Aconitum henryi 'Sparks Variety' Monkshood this gets up to 6 feet tall when staked otherwise it vines. So on a trellis it would look fantastic I think and the dark blue is a nice color I think. Blooms late summer. There are many species of monkshood that you can look at as possibilities for your garden.

Actaea pachypoda, Dolls Eyes blooms in spring and has 3 season interest. But it is toxic so not good to have if you have children or pets.

Agapanthus 'Africanus' lily-of-the-Nile I think this might go well with your iris.

Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' Peruvian lily These will bloom all summer long.

Amaryllis belladonna, Naked Lady These bloom in late summer after their foliage has disappeared. Of course in your zone you could grow most of the amaryllis and I think they are beautiful.

Amsonia 'Blue Ice' Blue Star flower Might make a nice eging plant for your bed.

Anemanthele lessoniana, Pheasant's Tail Grass This might make a nice backdrop for your bed up against your house. I think the colors might work well together.

Angelica gigas, Angelica If you like plants that look alittle odd here is a biennial that is interesting.

Celosia is another annual that you might want to add to your bed. It comes in most of your hot colors and is a real stunner. It self seeds if not dead headed and also makes for great dried flower arrangements.

Aristolochia contorta, Dutchman's Pipe

Artemisia lud. 'Valerie Finnis', White Sage

Aruncus d. 'Child of Two Worlds', Goatsbeard another nice background plant for your bed

Astilbe a. 'Bridal Veil', False Spirea some false spirea can handle your zone some cannot so you'll have to research which ones you like best carefully.

Thanks tamara. And thanks for all of the suggestions tk.

I hope you will let us know what you decide.

I'm gonna take a picture this afternoon or maybe tomorrow morning. I decided against the Japanese maple in the bed b/c I had many people tell me it would get too big for that location.

I went with a Japanese magnolia in the center and planted five caladium bulbs around it. I put three abelia along the back and an olive jar in the back corner. Right in front of the jar I put a Indian hawthorn. Along the front curve of the bed I put a couple of lantana and a small spreading evergreen (the name eludes me now).

In the back left, I planted three dwarf African lillies. And then I lined the back and right side with river rock to protect the drip line. I also put some assorted annuals in the bed.

It looks a little more empty than what I had in mind but I think all of the plants have a good bit of room to grow. So next year it should be much more full.

Looking forward to seeing some of your updated pictures Charles.

Me too!

Here's a couple pics. Because of the afternoon shade, the lighting isn't that great in the second one.

Oh hey, that looks really great! Is that big urn style pot a water feature? Give it a little time and it will all fill in very nicely.

I suggest you maintain only a plant or two
for simplicity's sake, like a small raised
bed --about two feet in diameter) with a china rose, surrounded
pea gravel to discourage unwanted plant growth.


picture links to a rose grower in Tyler, TX-- it can be found
by selecting Own Root Garden roses in the menu.

i like it!