The ATP plant database can now be used to indicate and find plants suitable for mini gardens. Each plant indicated may not be suitable for all *locations/climates/environments* in which mini gardens might be grown, but the indication is intended to signify plants with appropriately small foliage, slow growth, no tendency to try to rule the world overnight, from which suitable selections can be made.

It can be added to the data report under "uses."

It will take some time for users to contribute this attribute to a number of plants for a search to produce many results, so part of the reason for this post is to ask mini gardeners to help with contributing this info as they have time to do so.

If you haven't already made a list of your plants here on ATP, I think you're short-changing yourself. It's such a handy tool in so many ways, and I stopped editing my spreadsheet because I no longer need it. Making a list of your plants is not necessary to contribute to info in the database though, so please participate at whatever level you are able.

Happy to help with any questions, either personally if I know the answer, or by promise to alert somebody who knows, to the question.

This search now yields 191 results. It's really cool! Who has checked it out?

How do I get there to see what plants are good for my zone for mini gardens. I live in Iowa so I am a zone 4, I think. Thanks for your help.

Jeanne, are you wanting to make a mini that's outside all year?

Yes, Tiffany, I am going to leave them out all year long. I made a fairy garden in an old wheel barrow that I have left out all winter. The plants came back last spring but will be too big to leave in there if they come back this year. I have some old wash basins that I want to make into Mini Gardens. I am going to get them started and add the plants later. Just looking for plant ideas that can withstand our winters and some dry conditions.

That's colder than where I've lived before, but I think you could get started with Sempervivums (hens'n'chicks) and there's a few Sedums that I think are hardy that far north. Possibly some dwarf evergreens, but I don't get into those at all. A search here of specific characteristics for zone 5a, and clicking the "suitable for mini gardening" box yields 10 results.

As you find suitable plants that don't have the zone info already filled in here, it would be cool to help other gardeners out by adding that here. I've done that for the few that I've left outside that are still alive after a winter, but I can only say that they're hard to Z8b.

As others see this, hopefully you'll get some other suggestions. Best luck!!

I really appreciate your help Tiffany. I need to start using Google Search more and also searching ATP's more for what I am looking for. If my plants in my fai,ry garden come back this spring, I will try to identify them and let it be known that they are good for Zone 4.

Oops, I see that you said in the text that you're in Z4 but your profile says Z5. Seems like the number of hardy plants drops significantly from Z 5 to 4 (for all kinds of outdoor plants, mini or otherwise.) Depth of frozen ground? IDK. Just like the drop from Z8 to 7, dramatic because you start to deal with frozen ground.

I found out the hard way. Some plants that I got that were Z5 hardy did not come back here. I think I am like right on the border or close to it. Now I only buy perennials that are Z4 hardy. I do dig up many bulbs that are not Z4 hardy like, Dalhia, Canna, and Glads. I don't do house plants because they die from non-watering. I am trying to keep some plants alive but it is getting harder. I wish Spring would get here.

That's cool how you're finding what works. Unfortunately finding some of what doesn't is usually part of that. Even when you are using the right zone, an area as small as a suburban yard can have variations. Adding a pot to the equation is another variable.

You might find some candidates looking at the more hardy alpine plants. "Alpine" is a warning to me that plants would probably die of heat (& humidity) stroke here, plants that are found at higher elevations, in cooler, dryer climates. IDK why I didn't think of it to suggest to you before.

Thanks Tiffany, Our summers can be hot and pretty humid but tolerable. I found that for some reason Foxglove and Shasta Daisy's did not do well in my flower beds. I may try them again only in a different place than before. The Foxglove and Shasta Daisy I had in an area that has morning sun but stayed very damp. I also had the Shasta Daisy in full sun and it didn't come back. Oh well, trial and error.

purpleinopp,
Thank you so much for the plant database info on searching for miniature garden plants! I just found a couple more I didn't know about!

Happy to try to share!

I just picked up a few new mini plants. I will post pictures when they come back, they are in the back of Ric's truck and he is out. One was a dwarf Boston Ivy. I was pleased to find a few more mini's on my outdoor plant shelf this spring that overwintered well. I posted about them on the Overwintering minis thread. I have quite a few different dwarf hosta now. Funny I was telling a friend that most people start by seeing the cute little fairy garden items and then go looking for plants but for me I fell in love with the plants but don't really have the fairy garden items. May have to start thinking about that.

I can't wait to see your new plants, Holly! Fairies aren't my style, but I like seem them in other people's minis.

@HollyAnnS which minis did you end up with?

Oh Chantell forgot to post the pics.

One is Erodium Faery Double Pink x' X 4'

The other is a dwarf Boston Fern 2' X 3'

Neither of these are hardy in my area.
This Dwarf Meadow Rue was purchased last year
It is hardy and overwintered out side in this pot.

@HollyAnnS - adorable!!! I picked up the Platt's Black Brass Buttons at Lowes with their 'stepable' line...so cute. Not my pic - on the http://www.missouribotanicalga... site. That line of stepables is considerably cheaper than the Jeepers Creepers one (by almost 1/2)...jus FYI


I'll have to take a pic of the teeny thyme that I found at Southern States as well...

It's called Elfin Thyme - http://www.monrovia.com/plant-... 'Slow grower to 1 to 2 in. tall, 4 to 8 in. wide.' Hardy to zone 4

Ugh...this could become a problem...LOL http://shop.miniaturegardensho...

could be a real problem, I bookmarked that site.