Author Topic: Recommend a "landscape" plant (Read 3036 times)

Bearb · « **on:** May 05, 2010, 08:20:28 AM »

I'll admit that I am not much of a land plant guy so bear with me.

The front of my house has short decorative retaining walls on both sides with river stones in them. On the non pond side (about 25 feet long and a few feet wide) there are/were daylights, lilirop, tall irises, holly bushes and some other type of bush I have always hated. This weekend I took out the mystery bushes and cut back the holly because I have let them go and they were encroaching on the other plants. I would like to get rid of the holly as well. This area collects tons of leaves. I wold like to only keep plants that I can cut back to ground level in the spring and blow the leaves out easily. Ascetically the area needs some bushy height as it now looks pretty bare. I'm looking to simplify the yard work in the front so here is what I would like:

Hardy in zone 5
dies back to the ground by spring or can be cut down each year.
Provides a little height to the area but not spindly height like the irises.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Pondering · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2010, 08:41:11 AM »

Hi Bearb, i'm in Zone 5 too... what about a Butterfly Bush? Pretty flowers, attracts butterflies, and you trim them down so you can blow out those nasty leaves that didn't decompose over winter.

Bearb · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2010, 08:54:31 AM »

Thanks pondering, that is interesting. I did a (very) quick search. . . it says it get to 8 to 10 feet tall but should be pruned back to keep it from getting up to 14 feet. Can I prune it during the year and keep it at about 4 feet, or is that too short? I sure would like to attract butterflies. . .

Pondering · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2010, 11:27:52 AM »

Hmmmm, welll i just put in my Butterfly Bush last year, so it's not very established but is already over a foot high with the nice spring we've been having. The bloom time is summer-fall and they produce flowers on new growth from the current season. You remove spent blooms and prune them in winter while they're dormant (or in early spring just before they push out new growth). They say you can cut them all the way down to the ground in late winter. However given our area... i think next winter i won't cut it down so much. They do like being in the sun, do you get much sun in that area?? The height range is 4-5 feet tall, so it seems to be right where you want it to be.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2010, 01:50:03 PM »

I grow butterfly bushes that I trim down to about 1 foot every winter. It comes back in Spring and grows at least 5 to 6 feet tall. Flowers all Summer and Fall.

Pondering · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2010, 03:27:02 PM »

miguynmkoi... are you sure that is a Butterfly Bush? $:-\$ I've never seen one like that before, but i sure do like it!

. This is the type of Butterfly Bush i was referring to

Johns · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2010, 08:55:13 PM »

I heartily recommend hardy hibiscus, as they match your requirements and bloom beautifully.

Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) The leaf looks like Cannabis, the flower is georgeous red.

Hibiscus Rosemallow, "dinnerplate hibiscus" (Hibiscus moscheutos) Huge flowers, many colors available.

Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) Grows large, double flowered.

LynneNY · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2010, 07:35:37 AM »

My first reaction was butterfly bush as well. I have been growing them for years - even have lots of baby plants from them and have shared numerous babies with friends and family. That said... I've not seen one like miguynmkoi posted either.

They prefer to be cut back in late February/early March - down to 12-18 inches, and will fill out beautifully when it warms up, and reward you with loads of pretty, scented blooms, which attract lots of pretty butterflies as well.

kitfoxdrvr · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2010, 11:29:08 AM »

Another vote for butterfly bush, and look up some of the smaller ones, and even a dwarf:

http://gardening.lohudblogs.com/2009/02/26/new-dwarf-butterfly-bush/

And Johns is right about the perennial hibiscus species-they die to the ground over winter and reach shrub-like proportions during the summer. And the blooms are huge! Look for Disco Belle hybrids. Also, the H. coccineus is a great looking plant in and out of bloom. Stay away from the COnfederate Rose, H. mutabilis, though, about half the winters here in 7a kill it, so not good for you up in 5.

Steve

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2010, 08:57:39 PM »

Yes literally it is a - Blue Butterfly Bush - Clerodendrum ugandense
Common Names: blue butterfly bush, blue glorybower
Family: Verbenaceae (verbena or vervain Family)

but I looked it up and it may not be so hardy in your zone. Too bad, it is a very pretty flowering shrub.

Pondering · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2010, 03:15:04 PM »

Miguynmkoe - wow thanks for letting me know! It figure's it won't grow in zone 5 :'( blue flowers are pretty rare around here, and that one is so pretty.

Bearb · « **Reply #11 on:** May 08, 2010, 07:37:35 PM »

Sorry all, I have not been ignoring you. For some reason I did not get the notification email that there were more posts here. I see a lot of recommendations for butterfly bush. I rally like the idea of perennial hibiscus. I never heard of one that was hardy here. I'm off to check it out.

Johns · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2010, 09:29:56 PM »

Hibiscus coccineus:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1872/
Hardy to zone 6a

Hibiscus moscheutos:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/982/
Hardy to zone 5a

Hibiscus mutabilis:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/714/
Hardy to zone 7a

St Louis is zone 6a

Missa · « **Reply #13 on:** May 08, 2010, 10:07:37 PM »

What about false indigo baptisia. Dies down to the ground in winter.
Probably not tall enough though.

Bearb · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2010, 07:50:23 AM »

I wanted something hardy because I didn't want to replace it every year, I never really thought about tropical plants that could be dug up to overwinter. . .

Last night I was buying some hardy banana trees for my mom that I found on craigslist. The woman had some canna growing in front of her house. These were the maroon/purple leaved canna. If I had dared add foliage/bloom color to my wish list (for picking out a plant for this area), this would have been it. The lady said that she mulches them and they come back each year in our area. I think I really found the answer. They will get plenty tall during the growing season. I can cut them back and mulch them with the very leaves that are causing my problems. Come spring I can blow the mulched leave back onto the lawn and mulch mow them in. The only downside is, I don't think they will get quite enough sun to bloom. I am more than happy with the leaves, any blooms will just be a bonus.

Johns · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2010, 09:13:24 AM »

Did you get the canna? Is it Tropicanna? If so and you need more, I have it.

Bearb · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2010, 11:44:02 AM »

Thanks Johns, but I forgot to mention that she gave me a bag full of rhizomes/bulbs whatever they are. . . and yes I am pretty sure it is Tropicanna though she did not tell me the name.

tinkster · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2010, 11:09:34 PM »

hey johns.. I am looking for cannas.. I lost all mine last year. I would glady buy some tropicana's if ya still have them.

tink

KatFish · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2010, 05:00:53 AM »

Yes, me too. Not trying to intrude, but if you have extras....

Johns · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2010, 03:23:11 PM »

Tink and Kat,
email me with your request at jrjohns@perigee.net. I do have some extras.

KatFish · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2010, 03:34:27 PM »

Yay, it came!! Thanks a bunch, I'll be sending payment in tomorrow's mail!

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