to 'lazy' gardeners like me living in my zone

17 years ago

We just moved here and have this huge front and back yard. I have always been what I call a "lazy" gardener. I like plants that flower prolifically over a nice long period of time. If they get really big its even better. If they don't need to be babied, I'm happy (I mean I water and weed and such but don't have time to coddle plants).

The soil is clay and moist. Anything that doesn't like moisture kind of drowns it seems. I see that my neighbors have crepe myrtle, lavatera (rose mallow?), and marigolds. Crysanthemums grow well but don't like the rain in their faces much.

I've done bogs before so know that siberian iris, crocosmia, some daylilies, and joe pye weed work well but am looking for that special plant that just goes nuts with flowers...like the lavatera.

Any suggestions?

TIA

Karen

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Iris GW
17 years ago
Are you wanting annuals, perennials, shrubs or trees? Or some of everything?
cicadidae
Original Author
17 years ago
everything but annuals please.
Related Professionals
Garden City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Glendora Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Otsego Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Canby Landscape Contractors · Cicero Landscape Contractors · Eureka Landscape Contractors · Golden Gate Landscape Contractors · Hoffman Estates Landscape Contractors · Lyndhurst Landscape Contractors · Natick Landscape Contractors · Paso Robles Landscape Contractors · Rosemount Landscape Contractors · San Carlos Park Landscape Contractors · Reisterstown Landscape Contractors · East Norriton Landscape Contractors
lindakimy
17 years ago
Shade or full sun?

I gardened in a bog over in Columbia, SC, for about 8 years. I had great results with hostas, swamp hibiscus, clethra, river birch, elephant ears, tree ivy, kerria, and (shock) black eyed susies! I also grew very lush ferns, impatiens and coleus (sorry, those are annuals), hydrangea, loropetalum, and st. john's wort (it's a beautiful plant!). But that was mostly in a fairly shady area. I'm not sure what (except for the hydrangea) grows in wet, sunny places.
sugarhill
17 years ago
Hibiscus likes moist sunny sites. Ligularia, if it gets afternoon shade. Ruellia. Florida anise (tree). Can't think of anything else off hand.
cicadidae
Original Author
17 years ago
The front yard has lots of sun and a bit less moisture. The back yard has both shade and sun and more moisture.
Can't wait to check out all of these plants you have suggested!
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
karen
carex
17 years ago
If its moist enough in your back yard try Lobelias they are hard to beat.
jimandrenee
17 years ago
We are in Greenville SC and have had wonderful luck with lantana...it's drought tolerant and can handle clay soil. We have a few of the sun lantana that are almost 5' tall and about 8' wide. These plants require zero maintenance other than cutting back the dead wood in the winter before spring growth. Easiest plant I have ever dealt with! Comes in tons of colors and varieties, plant away!
joydveenc7
17 years ago
Maybe you can grow some of the things that seem to do best in PNW, like lewisia, lupines, geum, astrantia. (I'm always dealing with clay and drought it seems in Piedmont NC.) How about obedient plant, turtleheads, and for shade anemones, astilbe, lily of the valley? I've heard obedient plant can be a thug if it's too happy.

Becky
mamcc
17 years ago
turtleheads are great in moist partial shade areas. Also butterfly ginger and cannas will be fantastic - both have great flowers and the ginger smells heavenly.