I'm looking for a colorful flower that will grow in the midwest and doesnt need a lot of sun. and also...?

Question

1. Colorful
2. Grows in midwest doesnt need lot of sun
3. I dont need to replant every year (will survive winter)

any ideas? thanks

Answer 1

You want a bright perennial for shade. One plant may desire morning shade while another does much better in afternoon shade. The difference between light shade, part shade, part sun, filtered shade and dappled shade? From a practical point of view, nothing. All those terms mean that plants require (or receive) modified light—not strong sunlight—throughout the whole day, usually by being planted near or under trees or shrubs. For example, there are numerous plants, such as hostas, lungworts and primroses, that perform beautifully in morning sun but cannot tolerate the heat of midday or early afternoon. You have likely seen how lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) droop if the hot sun hits them. Conversely, sun-lovers such as black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) and purple coneflower (Echinachea spp.) can withstand half shade if it is in the morning.
Moister soil helps plants handle more sun. So if you have a plant that likes full to partial sun, and your soil is dry, it may do better for you in partial sun than in full sun. And typically a plant that likes full to partial shade will need moister soil in a spot with additional sun. So if you have dry soil, put this one in a shadier spot.

The health of a plant is directly dependent upon the quality of the soil—find out what type of soil a plant needs first then consider the light requirements. For instance, lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) does well in dry shade, but put it into the damp, woodsy soil it prefers and it can spread like wildfire. Other rampant growers can be controlled by dry shade also.
For hot shaded places or only morning shade try this set plants in the purple-to-lavender-to-blue group. A large plant that can serve as a focal pivot point in the bed is Echinops ritro "Taplow Purple," globe thistle. This plant produces a bold, rounded mass of spruce green-toothed leaves and, from late June through July, is topped by interesting two to four-inch flower balls of blue to purple. Combine this with Echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower, June-blooming white baby’s breath, Gypsophila paniculata, showy fleabane daisy, Erigeron speciosus, and fall-blooming Aster x Professor Kippenburg.
The yellow-to-orange bloomers such as Hemerocallis or day lilies like 'Golden Chimes'. Buds are a mahogany color that open gold, creating a warm, bright look. Achillea filipendulina ‘Moonshine,’ with its pale lemon yellow flowers and silvery foliage, blends well with other flowers. Achillea millefollium "Paprika." Then the white-blooming spike gayfeather, Liatrus spicata "Alba" adds nice foliage contrast.
Texas Firecracker will do well with morning shade and pull in every hummingbird or butterfly to its masses of long-tubed, bright orange flowers. 'Fireworks’ Goldenrod Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks or the gold of Copper Canyon Daisy Tagetes lemmonii will look good right into Autumn.

For afternoon shade look to silver & white plants to lighten the shadows. Dead nettle or lamium makes a fine ground cover to highlight other plants.
http://www.ricecreekgardens.com/shade_plants/index.html
Lamium maculatum 'Album'
Lamium maculatum 'Beacon's Silver'
Lamium maculatum 'Snow White' Whitest leaves of any groundcover, pure white flowers really stand out in the shade garden. http://www.ricecreekgardens.com/shade_plants/index2.html

Answer 2

Well,

You need to think about a couple of options that range outside what you may compare to the typical bulb or annual.

Ground covers - immediately after reading your question, vinca or periwinkle came to mind. It's a lovely ground cover and it's hardy as well as craves mixed sun and shade. The flowers are very pretty. If you fertilize it correctly and get a good flowering variety, you'll have a lovely big blue/purple bloom (about the size of the old dollar coin).

shrubs - depending on the variety, hydrangeas are fabulous. Many sizes and colors. They put a lovely smell in the air when blooming in summer.
-The Peony is a wonderful full luscious flower. Lots of varieties, colors sizes and demands. HOWEVER -- they need at least a half day of full sun. They will not thrive near a house or under a tree.
- Roses are easier than most think. They need about 4 to 5 hours of sun daily when active. Again, lots of varieties.
- Lilacs are very easy. Wonderful smells and they are fabulous against fences. They do need 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight daily to bloom.
- Forsythia is just amazing when it's in bloom. It looks like all the limbs shooting up are on fire. They grow well in partial shade. The down side is that it looks like it's half dead the rest when not in bloom. I'd get it if I had a large yard. I love these when they are in bloom. They do need to be cut back every year.

Trees
Don't discount trees

Dogwood - This is so pretty when it's in bloom. It's a spindly tree, but well worth result
Fruit trees - peaches, apples and some others put out really beautiful blooms

Go on-line and look at what Zone you live in. Most nurseries will tell you what zone a plant can survive. It will indicate light needs as well as size and type of plant. Usually there are pictures and other essential growing information.

Once you pick some varieties, you can research them a bit more. You can learn more about what pests and other issues the nursery may not reveal.

I personally like shrubs because they are the most carefree and really produce.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Perennial Phlox comes to mind. It grows about 24" and will spread. If it gets too big then you can divide it and replant somewhere else. It's very hardy and very pretty. There is also Columbine, Lady's mantle, Lily of the valley, and forget-me-nots.

Answer 4

I would check places like Lowes and Walmart to see what grows in my neighborhood... They both have great plant selections at this time of year... Here's a few to check out and maybe get an idea of what you want...

http://www.gardencrossings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.usdamap/index.htm

Aster or Hardy Aster (Aster sp.)
Astilbe (Astilbe sp.)
Baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
Balloon flower or Chinese bellflower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
Banana, hardy (Musa basjoo)
Barrenwort (Epimedium)
Basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
Beardtongue, penstemon (Penstemon)
Bear's breeches (Acanthus sp.)
Bee balm, Oswego tea (Monarda sp.)
Begonia, hardy (Begonia grandis)
Bellflower (Campanula sp.)
Bergenia (Bergenia sp.)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.)
Blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora)
Bleeding heart (Dicentra)
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
Bluestar, or amsonia (Amsonia tabernaemontana)
Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides)
Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla)
Bugbane (Cimicifuga)
Bugleweed (Ajuga sp.)
Bugloss (Anchusa)
Calamint, lesser (Calamintha nepetoides)
Campion, catchfly (Lychnis)
Candytuft (Iberis)
Cardinal flower (Lobelia)
Chamomile (Anthemis)
Chrysanthemum, Mum (Chrysanthemum)
Cinquefoil, Nepal (Potentilla nepalensis)
Colewort (Crambe cordifolia)
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Coneflower (Echinacea sp.)
Coral bells, alumroot (Heuchera)
Coreopsis, common (Coreopsis grandiflora)
Coreopsis, threadleaf, tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
Cranesbill (Geranium)
Crocosmia (Crocosmia crocosmiiflora) hybrids
Daylily (Hemerocallis sp.)
Delphinium (Delphinium)
Dianthus, pink, carnation (Dianthus)
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis sp.)
Fleabane (Erigeron)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Foxglove (Digitalis)
Gas plant (Dictamnus)
Gayfeather (Liatris)
Globeflower (Trollius)
Goatsbeard (Aruncus sp.)
Golden-ray (Ligularia)
Hakone grass, variegated Japanese reed grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Hellebore (Helleborus)
Hibiscus, rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
Hibiscus, swamp (Hibiscus coccineus)
Hosta (Hosta sp.)
Hyssop, sunset (Agastache rupestris)
Inula, swordleaf (Inula ensifolia)
Iris, bearded (Iris hybrids)
Iris, crested (Iris cristata)
Iris, Dutch (Iris xiphium)
Iris, Japanese (Iris ensata)
Iris, Louisiana
Iris, reticulated (Iris reticulata)
Iris, Siberian (Iris sibirica)
Lady's mantle (Alchemilla)
Lamb's ear, betony (Stachys)
Lavender, common or English (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus)
Leopard's-bane (Doronicum)
Lily (Lilium)
Lily, Canada (Lilium canadense)
Lily, gold band (Lilium auratum)
Liriope, lilyturf (Liriope muscari)
Lupine (Lupinus)
Maiden grass, Eulalia (Miscanthus sp.)
Meadow rue (Thalictrum)
Meadowsweet (Filipendula)
Onion, flowering (Allium)
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis)
Peony (Paenoia)
Phlox, garden (Phlox paniculata)
Pincushion flower (Scabiosa)
Plumbago, leadwort (Ceratostigma)
Poppy (Papaver)
Primrose (Primula)
Red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
Sage, bog (Salvia uliginosa)
Sage, common (Salvia officinalis)
Salvia, perennial (Salvia x superba)
Sage, Russian (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Sandwort (Arenaria)
Sea holly (Eryngium)
Sea lavender (Limonium)
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum)
Speedwell (Veronica)
Sunflower (Helianthus)
Sunflower, false (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Sunflower, swamp or narrow-leaf sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius )
Thrift, moss pink (Phlox subulata)
Thrift, sea pink (Armeria)
Thyme (Thymus sp.)
Valerian, red (Centranthus)
Verbena (Verbena)
Violet (Viola)
Windflower (Anemone)
Wormwood (Artemisia)
Yarrow (Achillea)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_30226,00.html

http://www.backyardgardener.com/pren/prenlist1.html

Happy planting!