| I Live in Upstate NY and have to redo a small garden in the front of my house. It receives direct sunlight from around 11:00 in the morning until 6 or 7 in the evening. The soil is an average type soil (somewhat on the dry side) that has been mixed with peat moss over the years. I would like to plant several small bushes with some ground cover and flowers. Do you have any suggestions on what types of shrubs, ground cover and flowers would grow in the direct sunlight. The area is approximately 6' x 20'. Thanks for your advice. |
| Some of the best plants to consider for the area are those that appear on the drought tolerant list of plants from the Brookly Botanic Garden. Drought tolerant plants that do well in dry soils, in full sunshine. Here are some to consider: Shrubs Aesculus parviflora, Bottlebrush buckeye Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Bearberry Aronia arbutifolia, A. melanocarpa, Chokeberries Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Bluemist', Clandon bluebeard Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey tea Chaenomeles x superba, Flowering quince Cornus racemosa, Gray dogwood Corylus americana, American filbert Coylus avellana 'Contorta', Harry Lauder's walking stick Cotinus coggygria, Smokebush Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve', Wallflower Hamamelis virginiana, Witch-hazel Hydrangea paniculata, Panicle hydrangea Itea virginica, Virginia sweetspire Lavandula angustifolia, Lavender Lespedeza thunbergii, Bush clover Myrica pensylvanica, Bayberry Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian sage Philadelphus coronarius, Mockorange Prunus maritima, Beach plum Rhus copallinum, Shining sumac Rosa rugosa, R. glauca, R. nitida, R. carolina, and other species, Species roses Santolina chamaecyparissus, Lavender cotton Symphoricarpos albus, Common snowberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, Coralberry Syringa species, Lilacs Vaccinium angustifolium, Lowbush blueberry Viburnum dentatum, Arrowwood Viburnum lentago, Nannyberry Perennials Achillea cultivars, Garden yarrow Agastache foeniculum, Anise hyssop Agastache cultivars, Hyssops Amsonia hubrichtii, Bluestar Anemone species, Anemones Arabis procurrens, A. alpina, Rock cresses Armeria maritima, Sea thrift Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly weed Aster species, Asters (many species) Baptisia australis, False blue indigo Chrysanthemum cultivars, Chrysanthemums Coreopsis species, Coreopsis Dianthus species, Pinks Diascia rigescens, D. barberae cultivars, Diascias Dicentra chrysantha, Golden eardrops Echinacea purpurea, Purple coneflower Echinops bannaticus, Globe thistle Eryngium bourgatii, Sea holly Euphorbia species, Euphorbias Gaillardia species, Blanket flowers Gaura lindheimeri, Gaura Hemerocallis species, Daylilies Iberis sempervirens, Candytuft Kniphofia cultivars, Torch flowers, red-hot pokers Liatris species, Blazing stars, gayfeathers Lychnis coronaria, Rose campion Nepeta species, Catmints Oenothera species, Evening primroses Origanum laevigatum, Ornamental and culinary oregano cultivars Papaver species, Poppies Penstemon species, Penstemons, beard-tongues Phlox subulata, Woodland phlox Physostegia virginiana, Obedient plant Pulsatilla vulgaris, Pasque flower Rudbeckia species, Black-eyed Susans Salvia species, Sages Sedum species, Sedums Sempervivuns tectorum, Hens and chicks Sisyrnchium angustifolium, Blue-eyed grass Stachys byzantina, Lamb's ear Thymus species, Thymes Verbascum bombyciferum and V. chaixii cultivars, Mulleins Yucca species, Yuccas I realize you have a rather small space, but with all the choices above you can change the appearance of the bed by replacing the plants every few years. Best wishes with your garden! |
