Flowers
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Low maintenance drought tolerant flowers (4 replies)

NewHomeNewGarden
8 years ago
NewHomeNewGarden 8 years ago

I've recently had a new driveway and have a small border at the side of it. I am looking for suggestions of low maintenance and drought tolerant flowers. Something which gives some colour and also things which flower at different times of year so there is something in bloom for the majority of the year (if possible). 

The border is next to a drain which services my property, so the flowers cannot be anything which will grow into it or cause problems for it.

Any suggestions are welcome and if you have any photos, all the better.

Thanks 🙂

Newbie to gardening with a little bit of horti knowledge but still needing all the advice I can get

Florexpert
8 years ago
Florexpert 8 years ago

Amsonia hubrichtii, cool blue flowers in spring and hot autumn foliage, perennial too!

Dalea purpurea, will attract butterflies, perennial.

Eryngium 'Big Blue', sterile, so won't re-seed in the drain...perennial.

Verbena bonariensis 'Purple Tower', sterile, won't re-seed.

Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone', perennial.

Pycnanthemum muticum, nice gray foliage, minty scent, bee/butterfly friendly, perennial.

Maybe some of the sterile hellebores for winter time, like 'Anna's Pink'?

Agastache 'Black Adder', sterile, won't seed around, perennial.

Some Sporobolus heterolepis to give a grass background, and popcorn scent in the autumn...

Some plain purple Echinaceas dotted about, they will combine well with the rest.

Would also suggest some of the sterile ornamental Alliums scattered within the grass, like 'Beau Regard', 'Gladiator' or 'Globemaster'.

Maybe add some Cornus 'Ivory Halo', they'll give nice variegated foliage in summer while providing bright red stems in winter, especially if you cut it back.

NewHomeNewGarden
8 years ago
NewHomeNewGarden 8 years ago

Wow, thanks for the list of plants Florexpert. I've had a look and I'm certainly interested in some of them. I definitely want to attract wildlife to the border and it seems that many of the varieties you have suggested are wildlife friendly.

Are all hellebores sterile or only some?

Newbie to gardening with a little bit of horti knowledge but still needing all the advice I can get

Florexpert
8 years ago
Florexpert 8 years ago

Hi NewHomeNewGarden,

Not all hellebores are sterile and some seed around quite a bit with help from our friends the ants!

If you want sterile hellebores, choose any among the H. x ballardiae, H. x ericsmithii or H. x lemonnieri hybrids.

I would especially recommend 'Madame Lemonnier', 'Anna's Pink' and 'Winter Moonbeam'.

Ednaduck
8 years ago
Ednaduck 8 years ago

Hi NewHomeNewGarden,

I have a very dry soil border in my drive as well. I'm just replanting it with fairly low maintenance (hopefully) plants. As well as the plants suggested by Florexpert (Great selection!) dont forget shrubs such as spirea 'Gold Flame', (hoverflies seem to like them) purple sage, lavenders, perennial erysimums,(great for bees), choisyas loads of different ones to choose from although my favourite is 'Aztec Pearl'

You've probably planted it by now but as I say, there's always room for another plant!! 

 




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