Tuesday, January 24, 2012

What is a good hardy flowering plant to go with the fuchsias and geraniums in my small town garden?

I have a small, partly-shaded, town garden. I am looking for bright low maintenance plants that will last. I have been successful with fuchsias and geraniums but am looking for something else to complement them. Nothing that needs a lot of tlc as I travel a lot for work.
What is a good hardy flowering plant to go with the fuchsias and geraniums in my small town garden?
I hope this helps!!!:-)
Reply:I think that Dahlias would work nicely. They flower continually are showy and low maintenance. I am not sure where you live but here in NH I just remove the tuber in the fall, store in a cool place and replant in the spring for beautiful flowers. Another nice choice would be inpatients, and they like partial shade.
Reply:I'd recommend columbines and wallflowers, also daffodils and other spring bulbs like crocus, They all flower earlier than the plants you have now, and will give you colour until the geraniums start flowering. I myself would add tulips, they tolerate shade quite well, but you have to take them out and replant them somewhere else every year.

All of the above come in many colours and can happily survive on benign neglect.
Reply:Try petunias. There's zillions of different colors, they're tough, long lasting- not particularly subject to bugs, and are excellent for growing inbetween the plants you mentioned. Happy gardening!
Reply:Why not go for something seasonal to go in - the fuchsias and geraniums will stop flowering through the winter so put something in that will give you a display then - colchicum and/or autumn flowering crocus for example. You can leave them in and they'll come back next year. Snowdrops for January, and some daff's or narcissus (similar to daff's but smaller) for March. And to plug those gaps in the summer you could have some lilies. all these bulbs can be put in now and if you arranged them in drifts you'd have seasonal displays all year round, the only thing you need to do with them all is cut the flower heads when they die and wait a few weeks before cutting back the leaves (you wait to let the goodness go back into the bulb for them to come back the following year).



Added: I just read someone else recommended dahlias. If you live in the UK they only start flowering quite late - you get stunning displays for a month or two and then have to lift the tubers and store them carefully, planting them back out in May. They thrive in full sun and need a lot of watering in the UK, you need to stake them and watch out for earwigs which devour them. - This is the UK experience anyway so if you want low maintenance, whilst they are gorgeous flowers, perhaps best to steer clear.
Reply:Peonies. Just make sure you provide support. Also, don't worry about the ants; the peonies need them to bloom.
Reply:since geraniums and fushsias like cool weather, petunias are great if they get enough sun.....along with dwarf snapdragons or purple nierembergia......if you can find aslysum (white) or white dianthus...they are great and low lying. My very favorite in the world is an English Daisy (Bellis perennis)....which is a good plant for full or half-day sunlight. Look in your garden center. They come in white, red or pink or a combination......have fun....
Reply:?
Reply:potentilla comes in yellow or white will live as long as geranium and fuchsia
Reply:Some jonquils and chives would compliment your geraniums and fuchsias. Chives produce wonderful purple flowers and are a handy garnish.
Reply:How about a beautiful blue hydrangea bush? Very low maintenance and they love the rain (as do fuchsias).

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