2006-08-14 05:38:01 · 5 answers · asked by Ike Xia 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
A lot depends on where you live and what you mean by "best."
What you aim for in a perennial bed or border (other than your personal preferences) is a constant succession of bloom from spring to fall, and this takes planning. Below is a list I developed for my customers. All are Zone 4 hardy. If y ou live in a warmer area there will be more options.
BLOOM SEQUENCE FOR PERENNIALS IN MAINE GARDENS
SPRING (APRIL-MAY)
Dutch bulbs
Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
Aurinia saxatile (Basket of gold) (also called Alyssum saxatile)
Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding heart)
Doronicum magnificum (Leopard’s bane)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Phlox subulata (Creeping phlox)
Primula x polyantha (Primrose)
EARLY SUMMER (JUNE)
Anthemis tinctorius kelwayii (Kelway daisy)
Aquilegia hybrids (Columbine)
Centauria montana (perennial bachelor’s button)
Delphinium
Dianthus species (Pinks)
Dictamnus alba (Gas plant)
Geranium sanguinium (Cranesbill geranium, bloody cranesbill)
Hesperis matronalis (Dame’s Rocket)
Iris x Germanica (Bearded iris)
Iris sibirica (Siberian iris)
Lupinus polyphyllus (Lupine)
Malva (White mallow, rose mallow, high mallow)
Paeonia lactiflora (Peony)
Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy)
Polygonum bistortum (Bistort)
Saponaria ocymoides (Soapwort)
Salvia supurbum (Salvia)
MIDSUMMER (JULY TO MID-AUGUST)
Aruncus sylvestris (Goatsbeard)
Astilbe arendsii (Astilbe)
Campanula rotundifolia (Blue bells of Scotland)
Chrysanthemum maximum ‘Alaska’, ‘Agleya’’ (Shasta daisy)
Campanula glomerata suburba (Clustered bellflower)
Coreopsis grandiflora (Tickseed)
Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf coreopsis)
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Gaillardia grandiflora (Blanket flower)
Galium verum (Lady’s bedstraw)
Gypsophila paniculata (Baby’s breath)
Helianthus (False sunflower)
Hemerocallis ssp. & hybrids (Daylily)
Liatris spicata (Gayfeather)
Lilium hybrids (Asiatic lily)
Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese cross)
Lythrum ‘Morden’s Pink’ (Loosestrife)
Monarda didyma (Bee balm)
Trollius ledebouri (Double buttercup)
Sedum ellacombianum, spurium)
LATE SUMMER (MID-AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER)
Aconitum (Monkshood)
Agastache foeniculum (Anise hyssop)
Aster (New England, New Belgium, alpine, dwarf asters)
Astilbe Taquetti hybrids
Boltonia asteroides (Boltonia)
Cimicifuga ramosa atropurpurea
Dahlia, dinnerplate
Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower)
Helenemium autumnale (Helen’s Flower)
Helianthus (False sunflower)
Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow bellflower)
Lilium hybrids (Oriental lily)
Phlox paniculata (Garden phlox)
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient plant)
Polygonum aubertii (Silver lace vine)
Rudbeckia fulgida, R. hirta (Black-eyed susan, gloriosa daisy)
Sedum ssp., especially Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’& Sedum sieboldii (Stonecrop)
Solidago canadensis (Goldenrod)
ONGOING (LONG-BLOOMING, OR FOLIAGE OF INTEREST ALL SUMMER)
Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed, esp. ‘Burgundy Glow’)
Artemesias (Silver King, Silver Queen, Silver Mound, Silverado)
Delphinium ‘Tom Pouce,’ ‘Blue Elf’
Dicentra luxuriant (Everblooming bleeding heart)
Edelweiss
Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion spurge)
Helictotrichon sempervivens (Blue oat grass)
Hosta (Plantain lily)
Lamium (Dead nettle)
Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny)
Nepeta mussini (Catmint)
Phalaris arundinacea picta (Ribbon grass)
Sempervivum (Hens & chicks)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s ear)
Thymus species (Thyme)
Print this out, get a good perennial picture book, and have at it!
2006-08-14 12:14:53 · answer #1 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the persistent shedding of the pine needles has made the soil below your pine trees acidic. because of this human beings are advising that it will likely be complicated to make stronger some thing below them. in conserving with how acidic your soil is will confirm what you may plant. purchase an inexpensive PH try kit and be conscious what it exhibits. Armed with this information you may contact your interior reach nursery and get their suggestion on what should be finished or must be grown. Pine trees are also vulnerable to floor root and this may reason the soil to be dry and to have heavy root competition. this may very just about rule out growing annuals. If the soil has grow to be very acidic you may favor to operate compost, lime etc to astonishing this previously some thing must be planted. With astonishing suggestion you'll be in a position to discover some thing to plant in spite of the undeniable fact that that is not an person-friendly problem to resolve.
2016-12-06 12:48:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best perennials for any garden are those that meet the gardener's needs. Do you like to watch birds? Make honey? Do you have pets and children and want to be sure they are not eating poisonous plants? Do you have large areas to cover and need plants that reseed or naturalize or spread quickly?
Keeping these questions in mind, also remember to choose plants that will be happy where you live. See below for sites on Hardiness Zones in U.S., Canada, or Europe and plant lists for various needs:
Zone map:
http://www.icangarden.com/zone.cfm
Plant sites:
For birds
http://cecommerce.uwex.edu/pdfs/G1609.PDF
Edible--see also poisonous plants list on this site
http://www.perennials.com/edibletable.html
For shade
http://www.kennedyscountrygardens.com/perennials_for_shade.htm
For sun
http://www.4seasonsgc.com/main%20files/pages/perennials/sun.html
For butterflies
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/food/469
Bulbs
http://www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/bulbs_hardy/NaturalizingPerennialBulbs.cfm
Happy Gardening!
gg
2006-08-14 05:53:56 · answer #3 · answered by geisha girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hostas and ferns for shade. Day lillies and shasta daisys for sun.
2006-08-14 09:00:58 · answer #4 · answered by sheeny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
day lilies are nice
2006-08-14 05:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by JenUs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋