What are these things that grows in my garden?What should I do about them?

Question

I bought a house recently. It seems that the former owner has been neglecting it for quite some time. I hope someone can tell me what are these things in the following pictures as i am going to remove all the weeds and plant some evergreen bushes. BTW, I live in the Midwest and want some recommendation on some low maintenance evergreen bushes that flower. (If there are any.)

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/mytreasure2006/garden/pics100.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/mytreasure2006/garden/pics102.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/mytreasure2006/garden/pics097.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/mytreasure2006/garden/pics096.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/mytreasure2006/garden/pics094.jpg

Answer 1

1- Vinca minor, Periwinkle, or Vincahttp://hcs.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/vi_minor.html
2- Rudbeckia fulgida, Black-eyed susans http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/rudb_ful.cfm
3 - The grass is Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictushttp://www.bluestem.ca/miscanthus.htm
4- Astilbe x arendsii
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/ASWGP.html
5 - This looks to be an adventitious seedling or vine

Evergreen shrubs of various sizes;
Blackbird Spurge (Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’) – Purple/Black Foliage – Larger and more sprawling than other euphorbias it can grow 2’ x 2’ and has evergreen, dark purple, nearly black foliage in full sun.

Dwarf evergreens that either grow to slowly to notice or the mature size is less that 12 feet. They do not flower but offer form and act as the perfect foil for other plants to show off in their turn.
http://www.bluehillcountrygarden.com/evergreen-trees-and-shrubs-for-sale.html
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Minnima Aurea' (2' H x 1' W) Goldfoliage
http://www.mackinnonsgardenshop.co.uk/galrycon/pages/chamaecyparis%20lawsoniana%20minima%20aurea.htm
Pinus mugo 'Gnom' (2' H x 4' W) Mugo or Mountain Pine deep green with long needles.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54679/index.html
Beautyberry Callicarpa 'Duet' for berries all winter http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/Callicarpa_Release.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautyberry
'Early Amethyst'
http://www.tangledroots.biz/plants/early_amethyst.htm
'Profusion'http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=451
http://www.paghat.com/beautyberry.html

Skimmia is a shade tolerant evergreen that has the sweetest smell in early spring. Look for Skimmia japonica 'Fragrans' or Skimmia x confusa 'Kew Green'

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) 'Canadale Gold' and 'Emerald 'n Gold' have glossy green leaves with golden yellow margins. 'Emerald Gaiety' has green foliage with irregular white margins. All three varieties grow 2 to 3 feet tall. No flowers of note but the foliage needs nothing more to be the center of attention.

Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium dark grape-like leaves that flower in Feb on racemes that are highly fragrant just when we need a lift. Smells like Lily-of-the-Valley.

Cold hardy 'PJM' rhododendron includes 'Black Satin' with shiny, winter foliage near black and and 'PJM Compact' only 4 feet tall bearing lavender pink flowers.

'Carol Mackie' Daphne with variegated foliage and spring fragrance.

Variegated English Holly Ilex aquifolium variegata is good for year round presence but for red berries you need both sexes.

Camellia sasanqua does well on north sides of houses in bright shade. http://www.monrovia.com/PlantInf.nsf/269905a1fb059eb48825683c0080938a/405986f85dbdbe5b8825684d0070c790!OpenDocument

Camellia japonica
http://www.redlandsnursery.com.au/infonotes/camelliajaponica.htm

Leatherleaf Viburnum (V. rhytidophyllum) 'Cree' & 'Willowwood', are hardy to zone 5.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00015.asp

Not evergreen but very colorful
Spiraea bumalda ‘Anthony Waterer’ The leaves emerge as bronzy red and mature to blue-green as flat-top, carmine-pink flowers appear in early summer. It typically grows 3–4 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide. A similar plant, ‘Crispa’, has serrated and twisted leaves.

Spiraea japonica-- ‘Goldmound’, ‘Golden Princess’, ‘Limemound’, ‘Candlelight’, and ‘Magic Carpet’ are noted for their smaller size (generally under 3 feet), and more consistent yellow foliage color than ‘Goldflame’. If yellow leaves with pink flowers strike a dissonant chord, ask your local garden center about ‘White Gold’. This cultivar combines chartreuse foliage and flat-top white flowers.
Try 'Magic Carpet' with 'Princess Irene' tulips for a stunning spring combination

Answer 2

It is hard to tell from the photos but the 4th one is definitely an Astillbe and the 2nd one could be a Heliopsis if it blooms with yellow Daisey like flowers. Not sure on the others but don't think they are weeds. Wait for them to bloom and resubmit your question. Good luck on your new home but I would keep the plants that you have and neaten them and wait to see what they do before I tossed them. I prefer that look over evergreens especially too close to a house. As far as replacing them, have you thought about hybrid daylilies. Especially if you got the ever green variety. There are many, many hybrids that would make a soft and showy touch around the house.

Answer 3

The fourth picture is a chinese astilbe. Perennial. Not sure what the other plants are. There are many flowering evergreen shrubs. I would recommend that you go to a reputable garden centre and talk with them. That way you'll get advice on how to plant and they will be hardy in your area.

Answer 4

For flowering evergreen shrubs, look into broadleaf evergreens like camelias and azaleas which are different from coniferous evergreens (pines, firs, junipers, etc.) – although I doubt either of those could take the cold winters of the midwest. Rhododendron and mountain laurel may do better where you are. Consider also holly or yew – you won't get flowers, but you will get bright red berries on attractive shrubs that can grow into sizable trees.

As for your photos - keep the ivy and dig up the rest - even if they aren't weeds (which I would bet they are), they aren't doing a thing for your landscape.

Answer 5

hi...those are NOT weeds! they are perennials (plants that come back each year) if you don't want them...try going to freecycle.org and see if there is a chapter in your area and offer them out for free...(you will get tons of replies)...you can split the plants.....I wish I was your neighbor....lol I'd take them in a heart beat! those plants are not cheap
1. not sure the name...I have it in my garden...spreads like crazy...keeps weeds down
2. looks like blackeyed susans
3..tall hybrid phlox, with ornamental grass in the background
4. astible
5. trumpet vine...looked out my window at the neighbors and it is the same
I have never seen evergreen bushes that flower....you might want to look at variegated weigela which flower all summer long (I have one and it is very pretty) you can also check springhillnursery.com for other ideas.

Answer 6

the 2nd, 3rd and 4th show pics of the plantings we have in our butterfly garden, altho I'm not sure what they're called. (i'm assuming in the 4th you mean the plantings in the front, not the grass like ones behind). Mine haven't opened yet this year, but i get pretty purple flowers on most of them.

the 5th one is what my husband calls 'buckthorn' or 'weed tree', and he does his best to cut them down when small because they can spread so easily.

the 1st pic we have lots of here - it spreads low, does well in shade, and does a good job of ground cover. takes trimming and shaping really well (doesn't die off just because you try to keep it in its area!)

Answer 7

Evergreen bushes that flower...first plant that comes to my mind is Rhododendron.

Answer 8

The first one is an ivy. Not sure about the others. Go to michiganbulb.com. They have photos and extenvise onfo on hundreds of plants.

Answer 9

1. Eunonymus. Remove it, it will take over everything.
5. Wisteria

Answer 10

the white plant or the rest of the little green plants. and they are probablly weeds