Annuals
May 1, 2017
As a brand new homeowner, we are trying to plant some flowers in our new yard. Since
all I have ever grown are a few containers and hanging baskets, I am not sure what
to plant. I have an eastern exposure along the front of the house and the south side
is open to the street. These are the two areas I would like to add some color to.
There are a few small trees in the front, but that is all. I would like both annuals
and perennials. Thanks for your help.
You have a myriad of choices, for both annuals and perennials. First decide on a
color scheme–either warm colors or cool colors. Then try to have something in bloom
during all seasons. Some heat lovers for the south side for annuals include: lantana,
cuphea, penta, petunias, and zinnias. For perennials, look at purple coneflower,
butterfly weed, daylilies, salvias, hardy hibiscus, liatris, autumn joy sedum, and
goldenrod. This is just the tip of the iceberg for flowering plants. Visit your
local nursery or garden center and take a look at what is available. All of these
choices should work for the eastern exposure as well. Make sure that you give them
room to spread and grow to maturity and group plants together that need the same conditions
as far as watering and fertility. Have fun gardening!
July 2012
Like a lot of people, I'm losing some plants this summer. You may know that here in
Maumelle, we're restricted to once-a-week watering. Even sneaking around my back yard
with my hose isn't doing the job! You mentioned in your column today that hydrangeas
are not drought-tolerant. I have one that's in a bad spot that I think I'll just take
out after this year, so I know what you're talking about. My question is this: Would
it be possible for you to print a list of plants that are drought-tolerant in an upcoming
column? I've threatened to tear everything out and plant cacti next year or maybe
just rosemary and Black-eyed Susans, since that's all that's doing well in my garden
right now!
As mentioned above with the crape myrtles, even they are struggling with the heat!
Also, when planting even the most drought tolerant plants, the first growing season,
they will need water. I can’t imagine what my landscape would look like with once
a week watering—the soil is so incredibly rocky, and I am on a slope, so I feel for
you with water restrictions. Deep, excellent soil encourages deep roots, which makes
it easier to water less often. Some drought tolerant shrubs for sun include: abelia,
althea (rose of Sharon), forsythia, spirea, buddleia (butterfly bush), barberry, junipers,
beautyberry, nandina and ninebark. For shade, acuba, cleyera, and even camellias once
they are well established. Perennials include rosemary, thyme, lamb’s ear, butterfly
weed (milkweed), yarrow, gaura, rudbeckia (black eyed Susan), purple coneflower, liatris,
sedum and penstemon. Annuals include lantana, periwinkle, cleome (spider flower),
cockscomb, cosmos and portulaca. There are also a good number of succulents—plants
with thick fleshy leaves that are available from nurseries.
August 2010
I have a large group of very tall plants that resemble marigolds, but are not. They
have grown up to 4 feet tall and continue to bloom and the butterflies love them.
This yard was planted by the previous owner and it continues to boggle my mind, something
new every day. I just do not know what they are and where they came from. The bloom
is similar to a marigold, but flatter and not as full.
As to your tall yellow flowers, if you can send a picture I can identify for sure,
but my guess is sawtooth sunflowers or one of the other helianthus. They can grow
quite tall and bloom from late summer well into fall with clusters of yellow flowers.
Butterflies love them, but they can be a bit overwhelming in the garden. They also
freely reseed themselves. Another possibility with orange flowers is Tithonia or Mexican
sunflower. It blooms all summer with lovely orange daisy like blossoms and again,
attracts butterflies.
March 2010
I am new to the gardening scene and have recently relocated to Mountain View. My dad
is encouraging me to plant several rows of flowers in one end of his vegetable garden.
The soil is mostly sandy loam, and the garden gets full sun. I would like bright colored
plants (reds, pink, and yellow) that are no more than 2 feet tall. Can you recommend
varieties of flowers that should do well within these criteria? Also, what fertilizer
should I use?
You have many options. I assume you want annual flowers –which means you will replant
every year, but that gives you new opportunities every season. For full sun you can
plant lantana –comes in red, orange, yellow and multi-colored; penta – red, pink or
white; zinnias –a huge color range; angelonia – pink, purple or white; petunias –look
for the wave type or Bubblegum pink is a strong performer in pink—but they do come
in red, purple and white colors too. Callibrachoa comes in pink, purple, orange or
yellow and looks like a miniature petunia. These are all summer annuals and you need
to hold off on planting until mid April—give the soil a chance to warm up. Incorporate
a complete fertilizer—I like the slow release forms like osmocote, dynamite or similar
product, at planting, then use a water soluble form like Miracle-Gro, Peter’s or similar
every week to ten days if you really want to push them. I have good intentions to
fertilize that often, but usually don’t do it more than once a month. Annual plants
benefit from regular fertilizer but they will still bloom if you aren’t as diligent.
Of course, keep up with watering and mulch the plants to discourage weeds.
All links to external sites open in a new window. You may return to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture web site by closing this window when you are finished. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the information, or the accessibility for people with disabilities listed at any external site.
Links to commercial sites are provided for information and convenience only. Inclusion of sites does not imply University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's approval of their product or service to the exclusion of others that may be similar, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the products or service offered.
The mention of any commercial product in this web site does not imply its endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture over other products not named, nor does the omission imply that they are not satisfactory.