My son and his wife are moving to the east coast of Michigan, about half way up the state, what are good flowers/herbs to plant outside? Looks like 5a/b area. would Asiatic and Oriental lilies be good? I'm assuming daffodils, hostas and hyacinths would do fine, maybe? I know my area, just not that far up north. Any help would be appreciated.

paul

Well, we have a lot of Michiganders here so you should get lots of help. Weedwacker lives in the lower UP but to the west side. Don't know much about the east side and I am a wee bit too far north to help much.

Mary, but if it grows in AK, it should grow in MI. In addition to what I mentioned earlier, I've got peonies, irises, lily of the valley, rose of Sharon, columbines and weeds, lots of weeds, that I could give them, but if they don't do well, then we've all wasted time. If they will, then they'll have a free garden.

Asiatic lilies would be good they keep coming back year after year. Bleeding hearts, columbines, Darwin tulips, daffodils, iris, dormant daylilies, peonies and lots more plants are perfectly northern hardy. Lots more will be hardy in zone 6, it would be a good idea to check out gardens in the area to see what is growing.

Here is a list of plants that should work. These are all plants that a local garden designer recommended for my yard when I hired her to design my flower beds. They are all good to at least Zone 4.

Thank you ladies, that's exactly what I needed. So, most of my stuff will transfer north, that's great for me (no cost) and easy on them (fewer decisions).

paul

I agree with Betty. All listed grow just fine here with the possible exception of Rose of Sharon. Have had no luck with that one even in its hardier version. I have had OrienPet lilies that did wonderfully well but were dependent on a decent snow cover or they rot. I replanted some (Conc d'Or) last year and am hoping they made it despite very little snow cover but the winter was mild and we didn't have the ups and downs in temp this spring. And of course peonies love the cooler weather we have.

I have OrienPet lilies (love them the scent and height) here for years they do well here our snow cover is not consistent, I wonder if the soil is also a factor in growing them. I planted Conc d'Or last year so will see how that one does this year.

If it blooms you will love it. It wasn't terribly tall for me but had numerous huge blooms and I could smell the perfume from yards away.

I checked on it today and it is growing nicely, the scent of the OT is indeed easily smelled from a long way. I like them outdoors but couldn't take blooms indoors as they would be overpowering and set off my allergies.

Oh yes. taken in an enclosed space it would be overpowering. Kind of like gardenias.