You Can’t Kill It: Flowers

We discussed perennials a couple weeks ago, but this week we’re focusing on annuals – for those of us who like to mix it up year after year.

Zinnia

You can find Zinnias in nearly any color (except blue), and in a variety of heights. They work well in pots, planters, or in the ground, and can be planted in direct sunlight.

Marigolds

They’re super tough to kill, and they’ll brighten up any garden, planter or pot all summer long – because they just keep blooming. Some varieties of marigolds will grow as tall as 5 feet, but most variations are more compact.

Begonias

These tough cookies are often found in hanging baskets or in garden beds. Begonias will grow in sun or shade, and with just a little water, they will continue to grow and bloom through summer.

Snapdragons

A childhood favorite for many, snapdragons will bring butterflies to your garden at little labor-cost to you. In healthy environments, Snapdragons will grow tall and lush, making them strong and able to stand up to harsh weather conditions in the spring and fall.

Photo Cred: enkivillage.com 

Cosmos

Don’t have the best soil in your garden? Never fear. Cosmos are here! Cosmos flowers grow from seeds and can tolerate drought once they are up and growing (so all you have to do is water them to that point).

So now you have a list of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that you cannot kill. Which ones will you plant this year?

You Can’t Kill It: Trees

You need them for shade and even perhaps privacy. They add a certain aesthetic to your home, and a little bit of personality… but you just haven’t been able to keep one alive long enough to enjoy these benefits. We’re talking about trees of course. So which ones can you plant that won’t require a ton of TLC? Here are a few to start with.

American Hornbeam

This low-maintenance tree thrives in the shade of other trees, so if your yard backs up to other trees or greenery, it’s a fabulous choice to lend some shade to your yard. The American Hornbeam has thin bark with a muscled appearance and maintains a beautiful look in the winter months. In the fall, leaf colors will turn to beautiful shads of yellow, red and orange. It will grow to about 20 feet tall by 40 feet wide.

Bur Oak

A classic tree in the Northeast, the Bur Oak requires little maintenance. Acorns grow from this tall tree (80 feet!) and can be as large as 2 inches long. Perfect for large yards, if growing out in the open where roots can spread, the Bur Oak can grow as wide as it is tall.

Hackberry

A relative of the elm tree, the Hackberry takes similar form. They don’t require much attention, and soon grow and spread, providing excellent shade in your yard. They do also yield berry-like fruit in the late summer months, which welcome birds of many kinds. This tree will grow between 40 and 60 feet high by 40 to 50 feet wide.

Snowdance Japanese Tree Lilac

Growing as tall as 18 feet and 20 feet wide, the Snowdance Japanese Lilac Tree boasts a massive canopy that grows wider than it does in height. You’ll notice a lovely fragrance in the early summer months, which then fades, while still providing shade through lush green leaves. 

Photo Cred: pixgood.com

Northern Catalpa

If you’re looking for a taller tree that blooms, the Northern Catalpa is the tree for you. It’s flowering blooms show in the early summer months, which then turn into cigar-like pods. It is because of these pods that the tree has inherited the name “cigar tree.” The tree grows well in urban settings, and can grow as tall as 60 feet (and 40 feet wide). Just don’t plant it near water features or pools in your yard, as the pods do shed a bit.

You Can’t Kill It: Perennials

We left off last week with a list of our favorite shrubs that even if you tried very hard, you’d have a difficult time killing. To compliment your favorite shrub choice, we’ve compiled a list of some beautiful perennials that you will have a hard time destroying.

Ostrich Fern

Named after its appearance, which highly resembles the feathery tail of an ostrich, the Ostrich Fern spreads aggressively, making it perfect for spaces in need of ground cover.

Hosta

Perfect in dry soil, the hosta is a classic perennial that will turn any garden from drab into fab. Every year you’ll be rewarded with a fuller, more lush plant that yields white flowers in the peak of summer. For a little dimension, we recommend selecting the “Gold Standard” Hosta variety, as it boasts light green leaves with darker green edges.

Perry’s Blue Siberian Iris

A stunning purple flower that lasts as long as four weeks is what you can expect from this perennial. Perfect in full sun or part shade, the Perry’s Blue Siberian Iris will grow and bloom in just about any soil type. Dry soil? You’ll just have a shorter stem. Often paired with the Shasta Daisy, this flower is very hard to kill.

Shasta Daisy

She’s a classic, this beauty. The Shasta Daisy lives well in nearly any condition in any garden or yard. They require minimal water and only need your attention when blooms die off. Clipping spent blooms will extend the life of the daisy for months.

Photo Cred: ufseeds.com

Lily of the Valley

It’s true. This beautiful perennial can live a long, prosperous life in your garden. Ideal in mostly-shaded areas, Lily of the Valley perennials will bloom and make for lovely flowers in a vase.

If you’re in need of some shade for Lily of the Valley, stay tuned for next week’s blog on trees that you cannot kill.  

You Can’t Kill It: Shrubs

Roses from your significant other. Potted plants from your mother. It doesn’t matter. You kill everything with your not-so-green-thumb. It’s OK, you’re not alone. That’s why this month, we’re featuring a series of blogs on plants you cannot kill (or at least you’ll have a hard time killing them).

Don’t be “that house” on the street. Grab your gardening gloves and toss-around shoes. This week we’re featuring our favorite shrubs that you cannot kill.

Japanese Flowering Quince

Otherwise known as the “Pink Lady,” this flowering shrub gives your landscaping a blast of color, even into late winter. If you’re in need of a hedge and love colors like pink, coral, bright orange or even white, this shrub is perfect for your space. The flowering quince works well in wildlife gardens, so if your property backs up to trees, the dense interiors will provide great shelter for birds.

Black Beauty Elderberry

If high-contrast is what you’re hoping to achieve with your landscaping, the Black Beauty Elderberry might be the shrub for you. Its beautiful dark leaves are complimented with pink blooms which appear mid summer, followed by berries. You won’t want to eat the berries, however if you love birds, you’ll notice they’re drawn to these berries.

Rose Satin

More popularly known as a hibiscus, the Rose Satin brings beautiful, bold color through huge blooms in colors such as white, red, lavender and pink. If birds aren’t your cup of tea, but you prefer the likes of butterflies and hummingbirds, you’ll find they are attracted to the Rose Satin.

Photo Cred: gardengatenursery.com

Bridal Wreath Spirea

This mid-spring blooming shrub forms a beautiful fountain of white flowers, which linger on for about a week. It’s an extremely low-maintenance shrub, but it just needs room to spread, so the branches can do what they do best: cascade (and take up a ton of room in your yard so you don’t have to worry about planting a huge variety of other plants).

Bridal Wreath Spirea is best combined with perennials, so if you like this shrub the most, stay tuned to our blog next week on perennials that you cannot kill.