So I wanna start planting more perennials as I age. I study differant ones but I always wind up tossing the idea after I read some stupid quark about them. Like it looks perfect for this spot but is toxic to dogs. Or it takes 5 years to friggin grow. Or it needs more sun, or less sun, or the soil is wrong, or it can't work on Sundays or religious holidays. Worse is its perfect but can't be planted next to this or that. Or its roots travel underground and destroy the landscape. Or it wants to be paid time and a half after 8 hours. Geez !!! How you people know all this S**T. So I ask you guys....What the hell do I grow?? 1 Perennial 2 Some color, even if just leaves 3 Fairly rapid growth 4 Some morning sun and a lot of dappled afternoon sun 5 Not an excessive lot of deadheading and maintenance 6 NOT TOXIC TO DOGS, (or me) 7 Doesn't make me cuddle and watch chick flicks I expect an answer from everyone....or else
Dogs, unless they're puppies full of worms, starving to death and will eat bricks just to fill their stomachs, don't go munching on your greenery. So long as it's not full of berries and your dog is adept at picking his own blackberries right off the plant, I don't worry about "toxic to dogs". Look up your climate zone and ask the net the easiest perennials to grow in your zone for the spot you want them to grow: sun, shade or part sun/shade and buy those for your yard. I recommend day lillies and gerber daisies. For daylillies just throw them some fertilizer spring and mid summer and they bloom until they get really crowded. Then you dig up the clump, divide the plant and you have one or two more plants to plant in another spot, for free !!
Devil's Ivy is the most sturdy indoor plant that I've ever come across, (simply refuses to die). It is mildly toxic to pets. But I've never seen any animal munching on it, I made a post about it here some time back. See this link. https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/started-propagating-my-devils-ivy.41955/ Lucky Bamboo (water bamboo) is also a lovely indoor plant eguch is very tough plant. One really needs to try really hard to kill it. I'm suggesting indoor plants, as they can be placed high on furniture, (or on top of refrigerators) -To keep out of the reach of any Dog. But again, I've never seen any Dog or cat munching on indoor plants. Another reason why I'm suggesting indoor plants, is because usually evergreen perennials require a steady climate. Which is why majority of them are tropical. Therefore these will grow just fine outside in my environment (in shade) all year around. But in your area where it shows, the winter would kill them. Another suggestion (also indoor) is the Snake Plan. Which comes in several different types. Benefits of this is that it also cleans the air inside. Now if you want something that's big for the outside, which too is evergreen that'll grow in your climate - Look towards the trees growing in Cascadia region. Or those growing around Niagara Falls.
JD Just plant what you like that performs well in your zone. It’s a learning thing and something that can’t be taught because choosing plants is your individual likes and dislikes. Think plant combinations when planting like color ,texture , light , shade height etc. Your garden is an expression of your personality . Just like your home. You have lovely potted plants hanging about thruout your garden. Looks so welcoming. It’s always a guessing game until plants mature and we learn to adjust to their growing habits , maintenance and blooming period. I like to plant a 4 season garden and have something blooming most of the time not only perennials , but think about dwarf and miniature trees and shrubs. By planting colorful evergreens for a cold winter glow helps us get thru the winters. Relax and let your inner gardener enjoy whatever plants you select.
Plus these days one can easily ask AI if such and such plant or tree will be fine when planted together. And if not, how much physical distance is required?
Have a look at what your neighbours are growing. That is usually a good indication of what plants like your part of the world.
That's actually an excellent idea. But what if the neighbors too made a mistake??? We would end up copying that!.. Also over here in my country and culture, we try to be as different as possible from the neighbors - As it's a taboo to be accused of copying a neighbor. Because that's the type of insult that forever keeps on circulating in the neighborhood, (even long after the plant or tree might have gone)...
Oh ho ho... my daughters dog does. If he is pushing his ball around he considers plants to be in his way and tries to rip them out. He does chew on stuff, I have to keep him away from overhanging vegatables. He is not a normal dog, he is a wild predator. This is why my evergreens have no branches from ground level to 5 feet up
Thanks for the suggestions. I do appreciate the help, but it seems like you are throwing me right back into the fire and making me decide for myself. Thats ok... ask me for help some day...see where THAT gets you !!!
Look for the ones that are Re'-blooming and get the little bit more expensive Tetraploids. They have huge blooms, some of which are 5" across. Also check how tall they get so that you can put shorter ones in front of the taller ones if you want. This place has really good ones. Oaksdaylillies
Checked it out Annie thanks. I like it, gonna try a couple from them. At least SOMEONE is trying to help poor little ol' me being so humble and polite and respectful of others on this site and always trying to help others
