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| I just read the thread on dealing with borders as we age. It's a great one, if you haven't read it. As I read, I kept asking myself, how does one define a "low maintenace" plant? And, wouldn't we love to have a list of them? Granted, this may vary some from region to region, but still, it would give us all a great place to start.
For me, a low maintenance plant is one that, once it has been planted in well amended soil and watered enough to settle in, requires little or no pruning, fertilizing, DIVIDING, or deadheading in order to look its best. Looking its best for the entire growing season is good, all four seasons is GREAT. Here are my top five easiest plants to maintain in my southeastern heat and humidity: Weigelas Roses (the modern kinds and some antiques. Prune once a year and deadhead if you feel like it.) Amsonia taberaemontana Nandina domestica: four season star: Sun, shade, moist, dry. They always look great with virtually no care at all. Crinums: Southern bulbs, many of which bloom repeatedly from mid summer to fall. They actually dislike division! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Mon, May 24, 10 at 18:46
| You've set the bar pretty high, Donna. Here's my list.... Asarum europaeum Buddleia |
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| Oriental poppies, Siberian Iris, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', hardy geraniums that don't self-sow, Rodgersia, calla lilies, daylilies, Crocosmia 'Solfaterre', Dierama, peonies, Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', Iberis sempervirens, hardy cyclamen, Eryngium amethystinum, Brunnera, Pulmonaria, Anemone nemerosa, Kniphofia, Phlomis fruticosa, sage, Artemisia abronatum, Hellebore, Chaerophyllum 'Roseum', any fern besides ostrich and lady ferns, most sedges. All of these go on 10 years or more for me with little care besides a bit of water in droughty times and clean up after bloom. None of them spreads or self sows too much, either. |
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- Posted by spazzycat_1 z7 NC (My Page) on Tue, May 25, 10 at 10:15
| Low maintenance perennials for me (all deer-resistant): Baptisia (if you give them enough room) In deer-free areas, I would also add: Diclipteria suberecta And a few woodies: Edgeworthia chrysantha |
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- Posted by echinaceamaniac 7 (My Page) on Tue, May 25, 10 at 10:52
| Echinacea "Pixie Meadowbrite" |
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| It is very impressive that the list of low maintenance is much longer than the list of high maintenance plants :) My favorite: Not perennials, but the original poster mentioned shrubs: Spirea. I have Lemon Princess and Spiraea japonica 'Golden Elf'. Both are maintenance free and look fantastic all the time. All Weigela with dark foliage. Variegated varieties are quite finicky.
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| One immediately comes to mind, Echinacea Purple Coneflower! I never touch it...EVER! Others: Hostas Cheers, |
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| Here are my favorite, little or no maintenance perennials: Butterfly Bushes Asclepias Echinacea May Night Salvia Shasta Daisy Becky and Silver Princess Campanula Bernice Dwarf Delphiniums Dwarf Lupines Scabiosa Painted Daisy Dianthis Stokesia Non-Seeding Cranesbill - Jolly Bee is wonderful Pulmonaria Larger leaved Coreopsis Depending on how much you want to do to them, many will rebloom again and again until frost with dead heading and a little fertilizer. Linda |
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| This is a great thread! My favorites: Rudbeckia- all types, Shasta daisies, Catmint, Oregano, Sage & Salvia, Butterfly bushes and weed, clematis, spiderwort (very hardy!), gaillardia (blanket flower), lantana, lilies and daylilies, yarrow (achillea), aster, gardenias, veronica, camellia, some roses, star hibiscus, beauty berry (calicarpa), rosemary, and hollies. Quite a mix! I hope some of these will spur some new ideas and plans for enlarging or creating gardens. Brandyray |
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| Dandelions, wild strawberry, wild honeysuckle, Sweet Autumn Clematis and too many more to name. I do nothing to encourage them and yet every year they show up. |
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