Planning a New Bed

11 years ago

I'm planning a new bed which will hold many of the plants I've purchased but have never found a permanent spot for. The space is full sun, and will be approximately 12 feet long and vary between about 4-5 feet deep in a nice curve. At one end is a Miss Kim Lilac and at the other end is an Amur Maple.

So far I have:

A couple of shrubs that I need to find the tags for.

Allegro Oriental Poppy

Purple Dragon Lamium

Bloody Cranesbill

Many daylilies, yellow, red, etc.

2 red roses and the new Morden Sunrise

Purple Sensation Lilac

Various colors of Iris

Some type of purple salvia

Tulips - primarily red and yellow

I know this isn't much information, but is there something that I just couldn't live without that would fit nicely into this bed? The spaces will be filled in with annuals.

I would love to have it look "put together" like some of the pictures I've seen on this forum =:)

Is this a good start as far as different colors, textures, bloom times, and height? Is it a "No No" to mix red and purple?

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Comments (4)

Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
11 years ago
Oh, my dear. You cannot be without a peony or two....three....four....in your river of flowers. :)And maybe a few heucheras on the border. Or some Dragon's Blood sedum. :)

BTW, IMO red and purple look simply maw-vel-ous together!! :)

How's that for enabling? Lol!

Ginny
nutsaboutflowers
Original Author
11 years ago
Ha! Ginny, I forgot. I also have a Karl Rosenfeld Peony out there somewhere waiting for a spot.

I know the peony will attract ants, but how far do they spread out from there? Will they keep within the peony space, or will they be trapsing through all the surrounding area? I don't want them crawling up my legs when I'm admiring my new bed.

OMG! I just looked up Dragon's Blood Sedum. It sounds perfect ! Will local nurseries carry it? I've never grown any type of sedum.
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Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
11 years ago
Sedum is an amazing plant. Tough as nails and grows almost anywhere. Dragons Blood is available almost everywhere. It is one of the most common sedums. Postman's Pride and Autumn Joy are popular, easy to grow, and pink, I think. Most nurseries, even Superstore, carry sedum. :)

I haven't really noticed if there are ants in around the back 40 where most of my peonies are. I have the worst problem with ants in the front bed and 2 hills in the back yard, sort of in the middle of nowhere. They are old, established cities! I also noticed another hill starting in the front yard around one of my daylilies. IMO, the only use for ants is for anteaters!

Ginny
northspruce
11 years ago
I say pooh pooh to peonies attracting ants. All yards are full of ants, and if there are no peonies they eat aphids instead. Plant the peonies! Heck plant them next to the house, maybe just not right at a door.

One small perennial that I like and it fills in space nicely is Penstemon 'Dwarf Navigator'. I've grown it for years and it never stops traffic but it's low, blooms heavily for a long period, and is trouble-free. It comes in pink and blue shades.