Blogger Pleasant Hill, OR on Mar 06, 2013

Tried-and-True Shrubs & Perennials

Over my gardening years plants have come and gone, but a few have proven themselves for the long-haul and get planted in every garden I've had. They include evergreens, flowering shrubs, and the toughest perennials that truly do come back every year.

These lists of my favorites are not unusual, hard to find, or expensive. I can't justify spending large amounts just to have the newest or most unusual plants. I look for beauty, longevity, and low initial cost all wrapped up in the easiest care possible. And these all fit the bill. They include:

-Boxwood

-Hydrangea

-Spirea

-Rudbekia

-Sedum ...»

To see more: http://www.anoregoncottage.com/2013/03/easy-care-shrubs-plants/

30 Comments Displaying 25 of 30 comments | See Previous

Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

I personally cannot imagine a garden without viburnums. I have entirely different ones in my Florida garden than my New York garden, but I still have them. One of my favorite tried-and-true perennials in my New York garden was brunnera, one of the first things to bloom every year and utterly care-free. Oh, and hellebores of course.

on Mar 07, 2013 · Like 1
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage Pleasant Hill, OR

Oh, yes to all of these! I have peonies from my husband's grandmothers, they're so long-lived! And of course, viburnums and hellebores. It's so hard to make a short list. :)

on Mar 07, 2013 · Like 1
Becky J Troy, IL

Jami, mine are either my grandmother's or great grandmother's. I have iris that are the same way.

on Mar 07, 2013 · Like 1
Jyn M Portland, OR

I have 2 acres of wetland/Ash trees/lawn! I am looking for some great colorful bushes/flowers to put along the edge of it that like part shade.

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Ellen M

I love my rudbeckia hirta but be mindful that it spreads like crazy.

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Janet W Sumner, WA

My Peonie has bloomed once, a single bloom. Not sure if it just hates where I put it or what. Love my hellebores...it's like a late winter surprise of color.

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Becky J Troy, IL

Janet, they don't like to be moved, so once you find a spot to put them, leave them alone! lol....It does take a few years to get a bloom, sometimes, if they have been moved. Also, make sure they aren't planted too deep.

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage Pleasant Hill, OR

Jyn, that would be the hydranges, spirea, viburnum, and camellia. Also look at our native huckleberry - they take awhile to grow, but they love partial shade and produce the lovely berries in Aug-Sept. I intersperse the shrubs with inexpensive arborvitae for a conical evergreen shape to break it up.

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 1
Patty A New Milford, CT

any sure fire ideas for shady clay besides the sedum, lily and spirea?(they do ok). My peony gets exactly 2 blooms a year, Janet. My lace cap hydrangea took 8 yrs to bloom and still barely flowers. Nothing, with the exception of evening primrose and phlox EVER blooms prolifically. I compost and feed and spend a lot of time in my cottage style garden and it kills me to see all the bountiful blooms of those that barely spend any time in their garden. I know soil and sun have a lot to do with ...»
it but isn't there anything out there that will give me profuse blooms? Help!
Hosta and astilbe do sort of well....never tried Hellebore . Might that be happy in clay? Thanks for indulging this grumpy gardener, btw!

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage Pleasant Hill, OR

Wow, my lace cap is northern exposure in clay soil and blooms like crazy - when I don't prune it too much or too soon and then frost hits it. The Endless Summer hydrangeas bloom all season and give less in shade, but still put out the blooms for me. I've had good luck with Japanese Anemone, Hebe, Brunnera (Jack Frost is awesome), Heuchera, and purple asters (give lots of blooms in partial shade for me).

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Sharon @ mrs. hines class Spring, TX

great selection!

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 0
Susan Branum Richmond, VA

We also have perennials we look forward to seeing each year. They are like friends coming back for a visit! Like the perennials, our favorite vine type beauties though annuals, are the sister to the Morning Glory, the Moon Flowers! My husband will break the pods at the end of the season and we plant the seeds each year. They smell so wonderful and are exquisite!
- 1
on Mar 09, 2013 · Like 3
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Jyn M: The lobelias and ligularias are two groups of perennials that would thrive in moist, partially shaded conditions. So would chelone. Two spring-blooming bulbs that like it a little wet are camassia and frittilaria. Combine all these and you'll have a long season of color along your woodland edge.

on Mar 09, 2013 · Like 1
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Patty A : Definitely try hellebores. And the chelone I mentioned to Jyn. Have you ever tried cimicifuga? That did well for me in a very shaded garden in New York. Also, brunnera, astrantia, foxglove.

on Mar 09, 2013 · Like 1
Patty A New Milford, CT

thank you! Foxglove never sticks around, but I am anxious to introduce the others you mentioned into my underachieving garden....

on Mar 09, 2013 · Like 0
Carolyn Springfield, OH

I've started gathering bulbs, new hoe, shepherd hooks. They go so quickly so got them early. Still on the lookout for something that is really fragrant smell. I'm not a big rose fan but, something pretty and smells really good. I plant a lot for hummingbirds and butterflies. So, any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

on Mar 09, 2013 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Carolyn Some of the early flowering viburnum, like Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn' or Viburnum carlesii, are gloriously fragrant. Clethra alnifolia is a great shrub for adding late summer fragrance.

on Mar 10, 2013 · Like 0
Carolyn Springfield, OH

Thanks bunches. It was really nice today. If the wind wasn't blowing, it would have been great. We still have some snow on the ground.Not as much as we did last wk. Expecting rain and that should take the rest....I hope. I have bought bulbs also. May not get much this yr. but, next. I got some Hollyhocks,black ones and assorted colors. Can hardly wait to get all of them in the ground. I ordered some giant Hybiscus on line. Will have by April 24. Love those things. 3 different colors. Now ...»
problem is ...where do I plant? I appreciate all the help you all have given. I will sure keep any good news when they come up. Wedns. first day of Spring !!!!!!! YEA !!!!!

on Mar 10, 2013 · Like 0
Carolyn Springfield, OH

Thanks. Going to try and get some of them and see how they work.

on Mar 10, 2013 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Both the hibiscus and the hollyhocks want full sun, Carolyn. Hollyhocks are biennials, so you'll only get plants the first year, not flowers. If you're going to direct-sow them, you'll want to wait until mid-May to do so.

on Mar 11, 2013 · Like 1
Patty A New Milford, CT

Just to add....I bought an heirloom packet of hollyhock years ago and they actually thrive in my shady clay soil! Dinner plate size blooms on 10 ft tall stalks. They always want more sun, though....so Douglas is totally right. But you can get blooms in a partly sunny spot. Just keep planting the seeds so you don't have to wait for the second year!(press on top of soil; they need light to germinate)

on Mar 11, 2013 · Like 1
Susan Branum Richmond, VA

I am so happy to be a part of this conversation! Carolyn, who have you ordered your plants from? I used t order mine years a go but the company I folowed up on seam to be more into outdoor design now. My husband and I agreed over the weekend to build two 10X8 vegetable and flower box/planters. I can't WAIT! We have an area where we had burmuda grass! We did everything to get rid of it, tilled it, burnt it, turned it, dug it all out and replaced the soil to no avail! It's back again this ...»
year! So I'm going to cover it! Pics to follow once we have built the box/planters! And Patty, I never have good luck with Hollyhocks but I'm going to try again this year.....

on Mar 12, 2013 · Like 0
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage Pleasant Hill, OR

Great idea to cover the burmuda grass, Susa! The added benefit is you're going to love how easy it is to plant in raised beds. After using them, I bet you'll want to add more... ;)

on Mar 12, 2013 · Like 1
Carolyn Springfield, OH

I ordered from Cottage Hill. I ordered three. These are the BIGGEST ones I have seen. They said they need full sun. I am already scouting out and mapping where I can plant them. I live in a independent senior building. I am able to plant what ever I want. They were planting annuals and very few perennials. But, since I moved here 3 yrs. ago, I have been planting perennials. I try to plant or work in the beds{ 3 of them} in the morning.s. If not, I have a lot of company that want to chat. I ...»
have put statues, lg. bird houses, bird feeders and bird baths. They love to come and sit in the evening and see the beds and what I have put in. Some are not able to walk , so the walkers and wheel chairs come to visit. It brings a lot of joy to them watching the Hummingbirds and Butterflies come to visit. This brings a lot of joy to me. That is why I am trying to get in the sweet smealing stuff. Some bring down angel statues to be in there. So, I guess God put me here to do this. I do appreciate all the help you all have given. I write down all you tell me on the flowers. You all a great bunch and I thank everyone you from the bottom of my heart...... Better stop before I start testifying.

on Mar 12, 2013 · Like 1
Pamela F Hinesville, GA

Pretty! Wish my poor spirea looked like that. It was beautiful last year now looks a bit ragged. I'll wait to see how it looks over the next few weeks.
on Mar 17, 2013 · Like 0

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