Sometimes there is a lot to read through on a thread, especially if you are new to the site. This is a place for anyone to ask whatever questions they might have about a perennial or perennial gardens. Anyone who knows is welcome to answer the questions. This is for questions and answers only.

Thank you so much for starting this thread!

I'm looking for a small ornamental perennial that's not going to mind being in a container no bigger than 24 inches tall.

This is a part of the front yard that can't be amended, so I was thinking about using several large planters instead. The lighting in this area is particularly tricky, because it's very shady in spring, fall, and winter, but when the sun is at its highest point in the middle of the summer, it gets blazing sun right in the middle of the day.

So something that
-has 4 season interest
-stays around 2 feet tall
-has ornamental leaves/flowers/bark

Would Little Lime or Pinky Winky hydrangeas fit the bill? I was thinking about grouping 2 or 3 of these containers together.

I love redtwig dogwoods, but they'd get too big for this space.

See what you think of Euonymus Emerald n Gold. They do well in sun or shade. Color is better in sun.
http://www.google.com/search?q...

Good suggestion, Bob!

I think 'Pinky Winky' might get too large for all but an immovable, huge container. I have it in the ground, and it's 5 feet tall, by 4 feet wide....in its third year.

Wow, you don't ask for much, do ya?

Any chance of a picture?

I'm afraid your hydrangeas will just fry, I'd. Be more inclined to try either some grasses or annuals that can be changed with the sun to suit their needs.

I have mostly sun here year around, and I can vouch for the usefulness and hardiness of the Euonymous in blazing summer sun. It's a beautiful evergreen plant, IMHO.

I have never grown hydrangeas in containers so I'm not certain about those.

I agree about the grasses, sedges, carex.
Star Sedge (Rhynchospora colorata)

Carex Ice Dance is very nice but only gets 1 ft tall. I have it in full shade and does great supposed to be able to take sun. Japanese Forest grasses can take full sun here not sure if they can by you.

I have this one and it is very nice:


Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold')

http://www.google.com/search?q...

I have a few and really like them. They move with just a slight breeze and some get very nice Fall color. But they would not be around for the winter like Carex gtass.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

I was actually going to plant Japanese forest grasses (in the ground, not in containers) in another part of the front yard with amended soil. They're gorgeous!

Bob, what do you mean they won't be around in the winter? The hakones around here are still looking pretty good. Is it because our winter's been so mild?

I have a cappuccino carex in sun that's just doing beautiful! I need to research other carexes...

Sheryl, the only camera I have is attached to my laptop. I will borrow a camera and take a picture one of these days!

Oh, and I forgot to say, I absolutely love the euonymus at the nursery, but they don't look so good when I see them in the neighborhood. Why do you think that is? Bad pruning?

By me Japanese Forest Grass is done for the season by the end of Oct. and starts regrowing late May. I did not know it stayed evergreen anywhere.

I have not had any problems with Euonymus. It does need to be pruned a few times a year to keep tidy. In the winter shade they do tend to lose color.

My JFG is done too once winter arrives. Carex are great winter plants.

What is the problem with the Euonymous in the neighborhood, ss?

I had one of those gold euonymus many years ago. It was a pretty yellow shade in the landscape. I kept it short, maybe 18" tall, and it was easy to trim. But after a couple of years it's spread was huge, and impossible to keep hacked back to a reasonable width. I eventually replaced it with something else but only after I battled the beast for years.

I found it pretty and definitely worth having as long as you're willing to work at controlling the spread or replacing with a new plant every few years. That was planted in the ground though, I don't know how it behaves in a pot.

Karen

Well, I would say the local euonymus looks like... like it was mangled by a hurricane, or a blind person tried to prune it, or all the branches flatten out except for 3 that stick up in the air. Also, I think it reverts to green sometimes, and the mottled color isn't very attractive on this plant.

Oh, I just had a thought... what if I plant hakone in containers and plant some perennial tulips around it? When it's time to give the grass a haircut in Feb/March, the tulips could take over. By the time the tulips' leaves turn yellow, the new grass leaves would be out to hide them.

That sounds lovely to me. But, then, I'm partial to the grasses, sedges, rushes, etc. anyway.

Sounds nice to me.

The only problem you could have is the amount of water the grass is going to need in the summer time (probably daily) is not something the tulips will want when they're dormant. If you think of the tulips as annuals and assume they're not going to survive, it isn't a problem.

Or pot the tulips separately and sink that in the middle. A couple different grasses together will give you good color as well ... yellow, red, chartreuse ... and some blooms on some of them.

Love Japanese Forest Gress. Have been hoping to get 'Nicholas', it turns redish in the fall.
I have a question?
I was out in my north flower bed scrapping moss with a hula hoe and I cut the top of of one of my hellebore. They are just starting to send shoots up. Did I kill it?
I hate that moss, wish there was somthing to kill it that wouldn't kill my plants. I have to do this every year. After I put some new compost down then I'm going to place some lime chips down to keep the black spot down. Maybe the lime chips will kill the moss too. Read it likes acid soils.
I went to a Dan Hinkley lecture last year and he said hellebore like some-what alkiline soil and to drive chalk into the soil around the hellebores. What you guys think about that?
Sorry I think thats 3 questions.