Hello All, I'm somewhat new to gardening (started 3 years ago when we began restoring our old Dutch Colonial). The house faces north, so the sun exposure is tricky... at least to me. Our beds extend approx. 7 feet out from the foundation shrubs in the front of the house.

My question(s):
I have a few full sun planted, but they seem to get sparse and leggy ... I guess because it's light shade to part sun MOST of the year, THEN full sun only the height of summer. My Part Sun plants seem to fry for those few weeks its high summer.

What perennials could go in these beds?
I'd like to put at least 5-7 different plants in these areas.
Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated

Thanks in Advance ;-)
Ang

 

Hi Ang,

It would be impossible to recommend plants without knowing where you live and your hardiness zone. Let us know and we'll try and come up with ideas.

Newt

 

... I guess that would help, huh?
I live in 6b near Burlington, NJ.
Thanks... I'm excited to ready your suggestions.

 

With the sun conditions you describe, it will be important to find plant material that will grow in part to full sun. I should have asked you which plants got fried from the sun. I'd love to know.

I'm hoping that your bed is enriched with compost to help retain moisture and improve drainage. Compost will also feed your plants gently by feeding the soil and add good microbes to the soil. Feed the soil and you'll feed the plants.

Here's some that I think will do well. One of my favorite work horses in the garden is the hardy Geranium 'Rozanne'. It starts blooming in my duaghter's zone 7 garden in May and blooms until hard frost. It's the longest blooming perennial I know of. In this first pic you can see it spilling out of the bed with lambs ears to the right.
http://www.sandfrauchen.de/images/ge...gz_13sep06.jpg
http://depts.washington.edu/urbhort/...iumRozanne.jpg
http://www.perennials.com/perennialyear.html

Alchemilla mollis aka Lady's Mantle should be a good candidate. You can shear the leaves back after blooming in spring and a new flush of leaves will appear that should be able to withstand the brighter sun. The first link isn't a very good picture, so I'll include others with and without flowers. You can see how the raindrops sparkle on the leaves in the third picture.
http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.031.050
http://www.habitas.org.uk/gardenflor...lla_mollis.jpg
http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/boga/h...mollis.ho2.JPG
http://www.foerderverein-schulbiolog...auenmantel.jpg
http://www.gardening-tips-perennials...la-mollis.html

Dictamnus aka Gas Plant is an unusual plant that isn't seen often and grows to between 2' and 3' tall. It makes quite a statement. If you decide you like this one, choose a spot carefully as they don't like to be moved. They come in white (Dictamnus albus) and a pinkish/purple color (Dictamnus albus var. purpureus) and can take a year or two to establish.
http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Dictamnus_albus.htm
http://www.cactuz.org/randi/stauder_...amnus-stor.jpg
http://www.blanchettegardens.com/gal...nus%20alba.jpg

Polemonium aka Jacob's ladder can handle sun in summer in your zone. Polemonium 'Northern Lights' is shorter then other varieties but is sterile and won't seed around the garden. It's very popular in the UK, so you may have trouble finding it in the US.
http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.427.310

Platycodon aka balloon flower is another of my favorites as the flower buds look like balloons before they open. They come in different colors and different heights. Mark the spot where you plant them as they are late to appear in spring. Seeds are easy to collect and you can sprinkle them in the garden where you want to see them grow. Give them the sunniest spot you can. Here's a sampling. At the second link you can see the balloon shaped bud on the right.
http://www.bigdipperfarm.com/cgi-bin...=Balloonflower
http://www.quansettnurseries.com/pla...tal%20blue.jpg

Campanula is another pretty flower and there are several colors and heights. Campanula portenschlagiana aka Dalmation bellflower is a low growing mound. The second link will have you drooling.
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/CAPSS.html
http://www.bigdipperfarm.com/cgi-bin...rch=Bellflower
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plant-...ian-bellflower

Helenium autumnale aka Sneezeweed (no, it won't make you sneeze) will need that sun in summer as it blooms late in the season for fall color. Yellows to oranges.
http://www.bestplants.org/plantdetai...um%20autumnale
http://www.desirableplants.com/Helen...Rauchtopas.jpg
http://twig.tamu.edu/Brown_Bitterwee...m_DSCN5616.JPG

Have fun!
Newt

 

Thanks for the very informative post and photos. I wrote down all the plants for future reference. Shade gardening is a challenge. Even more so when the local stores offering mostly sunny species and limited offerings at that. Guess we will have to look at ordering.

 

Twelvepole, glad you liked those choices, but those selections are really part sun to full sun selections with a couple that can take more shade. Are you looking for shade perennials for the cabin? If so, what's the zone? I love to garden in shade and love to find plants that are a bit unusual or uncommon. I'd be happy to put together a list. I have a list of many natives that are great in a woodland.

Newt

 

thank you, thank you, thank you!
I will review your suggestions in more depth when I get back to gardening. I've been distracted with problematic old sewer pipes... UGH!

I will certainly look you up if I have any questions.
Thanks again!

Ang

 

Ang, sorry to hear about the sewer pipes. Been there, smelled that!

Good luck and get back to us if you have any questions.

Newt

 

Newt, it's plants for a shady patio at a rental in Zone 6, bordering between 'a' and 'b'. That's why your links were of such interest.

My challenge is finding a source of plants locally except for Wal-Mart where choices are few for shade gardeners. Too, the patio is shaded by a huge pine which will compete for moisture. There is no outdoor water source, so I have to carry water from the kitchen sink.

 

For dry shade Epimediums are great. There are several different varieties.
http://www.waterwiseplants.utah.gov/...lant=259&Cart=
http://www.robsplants.com/plants/EpimePerra.php
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/c...edium_spp.html
http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/wcl/Epimedium_alpinumForm.JPG
http://images.google.com/images?um=1...=Search+Images

This site has a list of water wise plants. If you aren't familiar with them I'll gladly go through the list for you. Just lmk.
http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/wcl/

For watering have you thought about this gadget? My girlfriend has one and uses it to water her many, many, many houseplants. She hooks it up to her kitchen faucet.
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/gardencoils.html

I know of a wholesaler in W. Va. He's a bit of a cook, but just loves his plants. If you can visit there he'll talk your ear off. Ordiering from him can be variable as to how happy you are with what you get.
http://www.sunfarm.com/

You can search for sources near you here and check their references too.
http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/

Here's Sunshine Farm and Garden's reviews.
http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/411/

Newt

 

Many thanks, Newt, I saved the links. I'd already spied the kitchen faucet gadget and plan to order. Hauling water through the house to the patio is no fun.

I planted a foxglove without knowledge that it was a thirsty plant. So, I will probably lose it when I go out of town.

 

Twelvepole, you can make your own drip irrigation system if you won't be gone for too long. This first one has the drip hole up a bit too high, but you get the idea.
http://www.kerrysgarden.us/img/2007/cheap_drip.jpg

Here's another idea.
http://www.yougrowgirl.com/garden/dripsystem.php

Think any of those will work for you?

Newt

 

I've been thinking about a bucket drip system for the foxglove. The bottle idea sounds good and probably less noticeable in bed than a big bucket. Many thanks for thinking of me.

 

Twelvepole, you are very welcome!

Newt