I keep getting different varieties of the same old same old and I need some suggestions, I need to get out of my comfort zone. My favorite plants are daylilies, crinum, and gingers. I am dabbling with echinaceas, iris, lilium, and sedum. My yard is full sun and I don't care for mums, rudbeckia, asters, or shastas. I like dahlias but don't have any yet. On your mark, get set, GO!

Louisiana irises? They are so gorgeous.

Kabby during the Winter spend some time going thru the data base , it should give you all kinds of ideas. My suggestion will be Heleniums.

Here is another thought I sometimes look thru websites of plant sellers, one of my go to sites is Bluestone Perennials to give me ideas of plants I might like to have in my garden. They also list the zones plants will grow in plus sun/shade requirements. Each person has their own taste as to the kind of plants they like. Have you tried phlox or delphinums? I could name lots of other plants but am not sure they would do well in your climate.

Thanks y'all for the idea of Bluestone, I have been to Santa Rosa Gardens so many times, I've even ordered grasses which I haven't thought of before. Betty I adore phlox, I'm slowly adding to my inventory. I know this one was named at one time but the tag is gone. I thought it never would bloom, it kept getting taller to max out at 4 1/2 feet. What a butterfly magnet. Bloomed from the end of June through Oct. I'm going to check out Heliniums and LA iris, I've never had any of either one of those. Betty, delphiniums I have zone envy on those. Can't make them live. Thanks for the ideas!

Kabby, I'm in the Dallas area. Although my yard is shaded for much of the afternoon, the hours of sunshine can be pretty harsh on plants, but many do very well. Here are some in differing sizes that I have and like, and are listed in no particular order:

Shorter Clematis can be grown as ground covers:
Filigree
Clematis Filigree™
Sapphire indigo
Clematis Sapphire Indigo™

Golden Oregano. Good groundcover.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum')

Little Spire Perovskia
Russian Sage (Salvia 'Little Spire')

Strawberry Fields Gomphrena. Does well in pots, too.
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields')

Mexican Heather
Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

Dark Towers Penstemon. The dark, reddish foliage is a good complement to many other "greener" plants.
Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers')

Storm Cloud Agapanthus
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus 'Storm Cloud')

Alba Agapanthus
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus 'Albus')

Baptisia
Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)

Caryopteris: Have Sunshine Blue and Summer Sorbet
Bluebeard (Caryopteris incana Sunshine Blue®)
Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis Summer Sorbet®)

Amethyst in Snow Centaurea
Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow')

(Spike) Veronicas: Have Sunny Border Blue and Royal Candles
Speedwell (Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue')
Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata Royal Candles)

Orange Bulbine
Stalked Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens)

Various Columbine varieties (Aquilegia) perform well in my garden.



Platycodon (Balloon Flower) is a good sun perennial for summer, and the blue shades work well with lots of other colors.

There are many varieties of hardy Geraniums available, and they're great performers here.


This is a new one for me this year, Alstromeria 'Mauve Majesty'. It bloomed constantly from mid summer till frost. If it survives the winter, it will be an absolute favorite for me. It's supposed to be hardy to zone 5.

Debra, I've got your recommendations written down and I am going to look them up. I had been toying with the idea of Baptisia and I love the idea of clematis as groundcover. How unique!
Neal, columbine is in the delphinium, foxglove, lupine, area of "die perennial plant who thought you could survive in my garden." I love them and Orange big box has them every spring, I have to look away. LOVE hardy geraniums, I'm going to have some. Alstromeria, the first thing I think of is floral arrangement but that long bloom time may make me rethink.
Love the responses!

Delphinium and Lupine are 2 I've tried over and over, but still can't find any that can tolerate our southern heat and humidity. Baptisia at least share some similar qualities to Lupine, and perform well. Larkspur has been my substitute for Delphinium, not quite the same stature in the garden, but tall and spiky and pretty, and keep me from pouting too much about it, LOL.

Surprised Columbine hasn't performed well though. Do you know the variety you tried in the past? McKana's Giants are often offered, but I've only had limited success with those. The soft red/yellow bicolor in my pics is the native A.canadensis which occurs naturally throughout the southeastern US, so that one may be a good option to try. I've found them easy to grow from seed; if you'd like to try some I'd be happy to save seed for you in spring.

Let us know what you eventually put in and how they do.

Neal I think it probably was McKana giant columbine but can't be sure. It's been a long time since I tried. Thank you for the offer of seed, yes I'll take you up on that. Maybe I can return the favor of something you'd like from my garden.
Y'all keep the suggestions coming, I think I'm seeing some light from the edges of my rut. Help me to climb out, where are the enablers? LOL!

Have you tried any true Lilies (genus Lilium, not Hemerocallis)? I love Oriental-trumpet hybrids, they tolerate southern heat and many I've tried are steadfast perennials in the garden. Most Asiatic hybrids and LA hybrids are very reliable too.

In spring I could send you Columbine plants. I've been sprinkling the seeds around each year, and some spots are so thick I need to thin a few out.

Neal yes, I grow OTs and asiatics. I have a group of LAs that are my earliest lily bloomers. I have gotten one large order in the ground from Ramona(Mainiac) this fall and I have ordered from Bert to plant in the spring. Regular Orientals shall I put it delicately, suck here. I have relocated 5 to get more sun, more acidic soil, more this more that to see if I can get them to bloom next yr. Get nice foliage but no blooms.

Plants? I'd like to trade for that sweet puppy!

Karen

@Karen @ Debra You must mean my avatar of goldinae retrievicus. Commom name of Buddy. Sad to say this species is all leggy when it gets some age on it and also is a heavy feeder. Has been known to photo bomb pictures when competing for attention from other cultivars. Is a keeper, I'll always have room in my gardens for this type of carnivorous bloomer.

Well said He sure is a beauty. I had a golden, he was wonderful. I love goldens! And Buddy is a beauty.

Karen

Oh, that FACE! Who could ever resist giving that face whatever attention it wants?

OK, golden lovers, you gotta love this one

http://www.funmovie.hu/index.p...

Karen