South facing plants for garden: 14 Best Plants for South Facing Gardens
14 Best Plants for South Facing Gardens
Sharing is caring!
58
shares
-
Facebook27
What are the best plants for south-facing gardens? When planning a garden or adding plants to an existing garden, one of the most important factors to consider is sunshine.
If you have a south-facing garden, you are sure to get plenty of direct sunshine.
A north-facing garden will get far less direct sunlight. You will find that certain plants do not do well or may even die.
South-facing gardens can get up to 8 hours of direct sun per day. They also tend to get very hot in the mid-Summer months.
Thus, you need to make sure that the plants you choose can tolerate heat and that they love direct sunshine.
If you live in the southern hemisphere, you will have to reverse your thinking. In these regions, north-facing gardens get the sun and south-facing gardens are much cooler and shadier.
With that said, you can find many beautiful plants that thrive with at least 6 or more hours of direct sun per day.
Join our Facebook Group About Houseplants and Gardening
Let’s take a look at some of them!
Best Plants for South Facing Gardens
- Bougainvillea
- Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile)
- Verbena
- Sedum spectabile (Ice plant or Stonecrop)
- Lophocereus marginatus (Mexican fence post cactus)
- Euphorbia characias (Mediterranean spurge)
- Gaura lindheimeri (Beeblossom)
- Santolina Chamaecyparissus (Cotton lavender)
- Helianthemum (Sun rose or Rock rose)
- Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed)
- Canna Lily
- Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese peony or common garden peony)
- Aquilegia (Columbine or Granny’s bonnet)
- Lavender
Best Plants for South Facing Gardens
Table of Contents
Read about the best plants for the south-facing balcony.
Best Plants for South Facing Gardens
1.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvilleas come in many varieties with flowers ranging from deep red to pink, and purple. They grow vigorously and spread quickly.
According to the University of Florida Bougainvilleas are tropical plants. Its flowers are modified leaves that are called bracts.
Bougainvilleas make attractive hedges and can climb walls, tree trunks, and fences.
Most of all they love the sun and thrive in full sunshine. This makes them a great choice for your south-facing garden or patio.
A Bougainvillea plant wants at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Plant them where they are not obscured by walls or structures that will throw shade.
They can tolerate hot, dry locations.
Bougainvilleas do not enjoy soil that is wet for long periods of time and they do not enjoy the shade.
If your Bougainvillea gets too much shade, it will not be happy, and you should consider replanting it in a sunny spot.
Make sure your Bougainvillea gets full sun and it will delight you with the most stunning flowers through the summer and into fall.
2. Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile)
I love daisy-like flowers and Chamomile is a classic! This pretty flower also has a lovely fragrance that will waft across your garden and into your home.
Chamomile is perfect for south-facing gardens as it thrives in positions with full sun.
Chamaemelum Nobile wants at least 6 hours of direct sun per day to keep it happy.
Plant your Chamomile in beds or in borders. It also looks fabulous in rock gardens.
Because the plant spreads fast and densely, you can use it as an interesting ground cover in place of the lawn.
Ensure that your Chamomile plants are not planted near walls or against the sides of buildings. These structures will throw shade onto the plants and take away valuable sunlight.
Chamomile offers flowers through the summer and into early autumn.
Plant into average, well-draining soil. It does not require much maintenance and will tolerate dry conditions.
Chamomile offers an added bonus! You can pick the flowers, steep them in water and make a refreshing and healthy tea.
3. Verbena
You may sometimes find that plants you choose just do not thrive well in your garden. One main factor to look at is the amount of sunlight that your plant is getting.
Some plants will not thrive in dark, shady conditions and want direct sunlight.
If you have a south-facing garden, you need to look for plants that love sunlight. The stunning Verbena is a great choice.
The Verbena genus contains about 250 species, and one of the most well-known is called The Tears of Isis. Over the centuries it has been used as a herbal remedy and in aromatherapy treatments.
Verbena thrives in full sunlight, making it ideal for your sunny south-facing garden. It wants at least 8 hours of direct sun every day.
Verbena prefers average well-draining soil and can tolerate drier conditions.
When your Verbena is thriving in full sunlight, you will be rewarded with beautiful pink, purple, coral, or blue-violet flowers.
They attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, bringing life and movement into your summer garden.
4. Sedum spectabile (Ice plant)
The beautiful Sedum spectabile, known as the Ice plant or Stonecrop, offers a fabulous show of clustered pink flowers against bright green foliage.
Sedum spectabile wants full sun, or at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. This plant will not grow in the shade, so your sunny south-facing garden is perfect.
Don’t plant your Sedum spectabile under a tree, as the shade from the tree will take away valuable sunlight.
It is hardy and grows vigorously through the summer into the autumn months.
This is a delightful plant to adorn your borders and walkways that are in full sunlight for most of the day.
This plant can tolerate very dry conditions and does not require much maintenance.
It is also disease resistant, making it a great choice for beginner gardeners.
As a bonus, it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Just what you need in your sunny garden.
5. Lophocereus marginatus (Mexican fence post cactus)
One thing you can be sure about when you plant a cactus is that it wants full sunshine. Think hot, dry desert and burning sun.
Your Mexican fence post cactus loves the sun and is happy to stand in 8 hours of direct sunlight all day long.
This makes the Lophocereus marginatus the perfect plant for your south-facing home garden.
The Mexican fence post cactus can grow very tall outdoors. It may even reach up to 20 feet (6m) when mature.
The Fence Post name tells it exactly like it is – they make great fences, barriers, and boundaries.
This cactus thrives in direct sunlight. It cannot get enough light, so any south-facing garden is perfect.
It is also drought tolerant and you won’t have to worry about soil or watering.
For beginner gardeners, planting cacti in your south-facing garden is an easy choice. They are hardy and thrive in the most difficult conditions.
6. Euphorbia characias (Mediterranean spurge)
If you are like me and don’t love a winter garden that is bare and drab, choosing evergreen plants is a must. They offer color and life all year round and make me happy.
A fabulous evergreen plant that loves south-facing gardens is the Euphorbia characias, commonly called the Mediterranean spurge.
It grows as an upright, compact shrub and is ideal to fill in beds, borders and even to create a focal point in the middle of a garden.
When it comes to light, your Mediterranean spurge wants full sunlight to be at its best.
It offers yellow-green flowers in a bottle-brush shape that grow amongst the bright green foliage. Flowers last through the late spring into summer and fall.
Plant your Mediterranean spurge where it will not be shaded by trees, fences, or structures in your garden. Make sure that it gets at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunshine daily.
Your plant is drought tolerant but can do with watering if conditions are exceptionally hot. Do not allow it to stand in continuously wet soil.
7. Gaura lindheimeri (Beeblossom)
If you are worried that beautiful delicate flowering plants need loads of attention, the Beeblossom will put your mind at ease.
It only wants loads of sunlight and is perfect for your south-facing garden. This lovely white bloom is hardy and needs minimal care and maintenance.
This plant looks stunning in rock gardens, next to water features, alongside paths and walkways. It looks glorious when growing in large groups in beds.
The beautiful butterfly-like white-pink flowers are sure to add a beautiful ambiance to your living space.
Gaura lindheimeri thrives best in full sun.
Make sure you choose a spot that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun per day.
Avoid spots where trees and fences will throw shade on your plants and take away valuable sunlight.
Apart from sunlight, you do not need to worry too much about care.
The Beeblossom is not fussy when it comes to soil, watering, or feeding. Plant it in sandy, loamy soil that is well-draining and it will be happy.
8. Santolina Chamaecyparissus (Cotton Lavender)
Cotton Lavender is an attractive shrub with eye-catching white or grey leaves. It creates a fabulous contrast when growing next to green plants.
This plant thrives in hot dry conditions. It does want shade or damp conditions.
That makes the Cotton Lavender ideal for your south-facing garden.
The cotton lavender produces masses of beautiful golden-yellow flowers in summer. You can use it as a filler in beds and borders. It is also ideal as a low hedge.
The leaves of the plant have a pleasant mild aroma that will waft into your home.
To ensure that your Santolina Chamaecyparissus attains its full potential, plant in a dry sunny spot where it will get maximum sun throughout the day.
Cotton lavender does require some maintenance. When you see that the flowers are dying off, snip them off the stems.
They can damage the foliage as they decompose. If you want to maintain the compact bush shape of the plant, you can do some light pruning in spring to keep the branches neat.
9. Helianthemum (sun rose or rock rose)
Another lovely plant that thrives in full sun is Helianthemum, also known as the sun rose or rock rose. Because their native habitat is the Mediterranean regions, they love hot sunny days.
Your south-facing garden is the ideal spot to plant Helianthemums. South-facing gardens get full sun during the day and you can take advantage of this by choosing plants that thrive in hot, sunny, and drier conditions.
Helianthemums offer an abundance of flowers in tones of white, yellow, red, peach, pink, and orange.
To create a focal point in a garden, why not plant many different colors?
The flowers last only for a day, but a healthy plant will continue to offer a stunning display through the summer months.
Plant your Sun Rose in a spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of direct sun every day. This plant does not enjoy being in the shade and will not survive cold, damp, and shady positions.
You also do not need to worry about watering. Helianthemums are happy in drier soil and can even tolerate less than fertile soil. They are ideal for beginner gardeners.
Plant your Helianthemums where it will get full sun. Avoid areas under trees or near walls where the shade will fall onto the plants.
They are great for rockeries and beds. Use them to fill in dull spaces in your garden where you want a smaller, eye-catching, colorful shrub.
Apart from ensuring that your plant gets ample sun, there is very little care needed for these beauties.
10.
Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed)
Tropical milkweed is a stunning plant that offers clusters of red-orange flowers with yellow hoods. They bloom throughout the summer into fall, adding color to any home garden.
The shrub is also evergreen, so in winter you won’t be looking at bare branches.
Asclepias curassavica loves hot sunny climates and is ideal for your south-facing garden. It wants at least 8 hours of direct sun every day to grow at its best.
Don’t plant your Tropical milkweed in the shade, it will not be happy and may even die.
South-facing gardens get loads of sun and are perfect for plants that require low maintenance and are not fussy about the soil they grow in.
This plant is perfect for a cottage garden. It also looks lovely as a backdrop in borders and will grow in containers on a sunny patio.
It is a fast-growing plant and can reach heights of up to 4 feet (1.2m).
Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to the large amounts of nectar in the flowers of the tropical milkweed.
They will bring sound, color, and movement into your garden.
As always, for plants that want full sun, ensure that you are not planting it under a tree or near a fence or wall that will throw shade as the sun moves overhead.
This will reduce the number of hours of direct sun that the plant gets and will affect its growth.
Tropical milkweed is not fussy about the soil. Just make sure it is well-draining and not constantly damp.
11. Canna Lily
Growing Canna lilies does require a little more attention than other plants. If you are a gardener who is happy to spend time and adhere to some basic rules you will be rewarded!
The Canna lily is a sun-loving plant and will thrive in a south-facing garden. Although it can tolerate some shade, full sun will allow it to produce its most spectacular colorful flowers.
The Canna lily brings a tropical vibe to your south-facing garden. It has large exotic banana-shaped leaves in tones of deep green.
The flowers vary in color from vibrant pink to cream, yellow, orange, and red.
When grown in full sunlight, they will bloom from mid-summer to the start of the first frost.
Ensure that your plant gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun per day.
Canna lilies look spectacular as a focal point in your garden when massed in groups. They are also great to plant in containers on south-facing patios.
South-facing gardens attract more sun than north-facing gardens and deciding which plants to choose is simple!
Ask your local nursery about perennials that want at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun per day.
As I mentioned earlier, Canna lilies do require some attention. But don’t stress. Ensure that you fertilize every alternate month during the growing season.
Give them water at least once a week. They do enjoy a richer soil. You can add organic compost or mulch to your flower bed and they will bloom beautifully.
12. Paeonia lactiflora (Common garden peony or Chinese peony)
The Peony flower symbolizes romance, good fortune, and prosperity! Even more reason to grow them in your home garden.
And, because they love the sun, they are a perfect choice for a south-facing garden.
The Peony is a shrubby plant with dark green glossy foliage. It produces lush showy flowers in late spring and throughout the summer. The flowers are known for their beautiful fragrance.
The are many varieties of the Peony, the most popular being the Sarah Bernhardt and the Festiva Maxima.
Ensure that your peony plants get at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun every day. They won’t do well in dark shady spots.
That is why they are perfect for a sunny south-facing garden.
You can plant them along paths, walkways, next to water features, in borders or beds. They look great against fences but ensure that the fence will not throw too much shade onto the plants and deprive them of the sunlight that they need.
When it comes to soil, Peony plants enjoy rich, fertile, medium moisture and well-draining soils.
Before planting, prepare your spot with rich organic compost and some mulch to retain moisture.
Once established give them a watering once a week and feed with fertilizer once again during the growing season.
Peonies make a delightful display in a south-facing garden. Make sure you include them in your shopping list when heading off to your local flower market.
13. Aquilegia (Columbine or Granny’s bonnet)
Columbine is an attractive garden perennial that loves the sun. It is the perfect choice for a sunny south-facing garden.
If you have a garden that faces south, you need to take advantage of the many hours of full sunshine you get and choose plants that thrive in hot sunny conditions.
The Aquilegia, known as Columbine or Granny’s bonnet offers delicate lacy foliage interspersed with eye-catching clouds of bell-shaped flowers.
Flowers vary in hue from bright yellow to white, red, blue, violet, and pink.
If planted in full sun, your plant will bloom profusely for 4 to 6 weeks from mid-spring through the summer.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fresh-aromatic-culinary-herbs-in-white-pots-on-windowsill--lettuce--leaf-celery-and-small-leaved-basil--kitchen-garden-of-herbs--1064116816-0300284b3e8f422eb9ac70802b92149c.jpg)
Ensure that you choose a spot that does not get shade and is exposed to at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per day.
In a south-facing garden, this should be an easy choice. These gardens are blessed with light and sun, offering the perfect conditions for Columbine to flourish.
Columbine is not fussy about soil, but it does prefer average, medium moisture, well-drained soil. It will not be happy in soil that remains constantly wet.
Aquilegia is easy to grow in your south-facing garden and is a great choice for beginners. Plant them in borders, rock gardens, and beds.
They are also a fabulous addition to cottage gardens. If you don’t have a garden but have a sunny south-facing patio, plant them into decorative containers. They will look stunning!
As an added bonus, Columbine will attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds into your living space.
14. Lavender
Everyone knows Lavender! It is a beautiful herb that soothes the mind with its aromatic fragrance and stunning bluish-purple hues.
Lavender is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. That makes it perfect for a newbie gardener.
You can plant it and forget about it and simply enjoy the charm that it brings to your living space.
Lavender also enjoys sunlight, so your south-facing garden is the ideal spot to plant it. Lavender wants 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. It will not be happy in shady, dark spots.
Soil is also not a concern. Start your plant in well-draining soil and add some organic fertilizer. Ensure that your soil is not constantly damp as the roots will rot and your plant will die.
After that, you can neglect it and it will not mind! You do not even need to worry about regular watering. A real bonus for gardeners who don’t enjoy fussing too much over their plants.
Ensure that your Lavender plant does not fall into shade. Your south-facing garden is the ideal spot to find full sunlight all day.
You can also grow lavender in a decorative container.
It will flourish on a south-facing patio.
Create a beautiful me-space spot with a bench, a water feature, and loads of lavender that wafts beautiful scent into the air. This is your perfect little garden retreat after a busy day!
Read about the best plants for a southwest facing garden next.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
Let us improve this post!
Tell us how we can improve this post?
Daniel
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.
plantophiles.com
Page not found | Plantophiles
Home – Error 404: Page not found
We didn’t find the posts for that URL.
Latest Posts
Many people grow peppers in their home gardens because they are available in different varieties, including hot and sweet, making them useful for making different dishes, creams, and salads. Peppers do well in average temperature conditions. Those people in cold places can still grow pepper. This article will cover how cold can pepper plants tolerate …
Read More about How Much Cold Can Pepper Plants Tolerate? Really?
To have the best garden in the neighborhood, you might need a little help to improve the growth of your favorite plants around you. Even if it seems like your garden has all the nutrients it needs, it may still require some effort to improve things. To grow your grass quickly, you will need to …
Read More about Best Grass Fertilizer for Winter – A Buyers Guide 2023
Houseplants are called houseplants for a reason.
But what exactly makes a plant a good houseplant? Well, there are actually many factors that play into this. First of all, plants that don’t need that much sunlight in order to survive and thrive could potentially make great houseplants. Then parameters like the humidity also play a …
Read More about How Cold is too Cold for Houseplants? Here’s the Answer!
These are the best flowers for Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a special occasion to celebrate our love and affection for our mothers. Giving them flowers is one of the best ways to express gratitude and appreciation. The classic choice is red roses. But there are far better choices for your mom; I will reveal them …
Read More about 12 Best Flowers for Mother’s Day [2023]
The longer we nurture our plants, the more we understand them. When you see their leaves curling inward, you know your plant craves your attention to correct something. The terrific news is that inward leaf curl is entirely reversible.
So, relax, take a breath, and continue reading to explore the causes of this seemingly irrational …
Read More about Leaves Curling Inward — 7 Possible Causes & How to Fix It
The Anthurium andraeanum is a heart-shaped indoor plant known as Flamingo Flower or Tailflower. Anthuriums are native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The andraeanum is native to Colombia. It belongs to the Araceae genus and the order Alismatales. The aroid family of plants has over 1000 Anthurium species. One species that is …
Read More about Anthurium Andraeanum Care
Today I will share my review of the Mars Hydro VG80 Seedling LED Grow Light. I use it in my grow tent. There is a rack installed where is grow my chili seedlings. Currently, no sunlight enters the tent. This is why I use multiple grow lights. I already use two Mars Hydro Grow Lights to …
Read More about Mars Hydro VG80 Seedling LED Grow Light Review
In this article, I will discuss the reasons for Anthurium root rot.
Root rot in Anthurium plants is quite common and is caused by improper care. By identifying the signs of root rot correctly, you may be able to save your houseplant and achieve a healthy root system. Indoor plants signal through their leaves whether …
Read More about 11 Worst Signs of Anthurium Root Rot — Fix Anthurium Root Rot
In this article, I will discuss what Anthurium roots above the soil are. The roots seen above the soil are air roots or aerial roots. The Flamingo flower produces roots above the soil and below the soil. The roots below the soil are just regular roots. They’re also called soil roots. If you are growing a …
Read More about What are the Anthurium Roots Above the Soil? This is it!
How much light do Anthurium need? Anthuriums, such as the Flamingo flower, grow in the understory of tropical rainforests. They are mostly epiphytes that live on other trees and objects. The Anthurium genus consists of more than 1000 species and belongs to the Araceae or Aroid family.
As Anthuriums outside grow under trees and are protected …
Read More about How Much Light Do Anthuriums Need? Anthurium Light Tips
How cold can Anthurium tolerate? Anthuriums, such as the Flamingo flower, grow in tropical forests from Colombia to Ecuador, according to Missouri Botanical Garden, where houseplants are native to influence the temperature they prefer and need. I grow all my aroid plants in a grow tent. The grow tent is in a winter garden in …
Read More about How Cold Can Anthurium Tolerate — Temperature and Humidity
What are the easiest Anthurium plants to grow? Anthuriums are often grown as indoor plants for their gorgeous foliage and blooms. But some Anthuriums are harder to grow than others. In this article. I will write about the easiest and most difficult Anthurium plants to grow based on my experience. I have grown Anthuriums for …
Read More about What Are the Easiest Anthuriums? Easy & Difficult Anthuriums
There are more than 1000 varieties and species of Anthurium plants.
The anthurium genus belongs to the Araceae family of flowering plants. Araceae stands for Aroid plants. One of the best-known Anthuriums is the Flamingo flower laceleaf, tailflower, and tail Anthurium. Anthurium plants are often epiphytes. They grow on other objects and plants. Anthuriums produce …
Read More about 46 Anthurium Varieties — Most Stunning Anthurium Species
14 beautiful southern plants: not suitable for the Moscow region, but worth a try
Have you noticed that southern plants always look chic – lush bushes, huge bright flowers, large leaves of an unusual shape or color. But this is at home, where most of the year it is warm and light. Is it possible to settle such beauty with us?
Many gardeners will be skeptical about such an idea – they say, our southern guests will definitely freeze or get wet, and they will not have enough daylight hours and heat. But if you still really want to see such a riot of colors and shapes on your site – why not try it? Yes, maybe in our latitudes exotic plants will not be as large and lush as in the south, but they will still add joy to your garden.
It is still not necessary to choose completely tropical “southerners” for middle latitudes, keep track of the initial frost resistance zone of a particular crop. For the Moscow region, this value ranges from 4-5. But remember that with the help of the correct placement of plants (in a warm, calm place), as well as hilling, the use of covering materials and “laying” shoots to the ground for the winter, you can increase the climatic zone of your site by 1-2 units.
1. Wisteria (Wisteria)
This southern beauty liana, capable of blooming throughout the summer with unusually spectacular lilac or white-pink falling racemes, has long been classified by gardeners as a climate zone 7-9.
Indeed, the humid subtropics have been the ideal place for wisteria all these years – it was there that this climbing tree-like plant had plenty of warmth, light, and humidity. However, today the situation has changed – breeders have bred many varieties and hybrids of both Chinese wisteria and profusely flowering wisteria (they are most often used in landscape design).
Moreover, some of these varieties can withstand temperatures down to -35°C, automatically transferring this plant to the climatic zone 3-5! Why not get such beauty on your site?
Be careful if you have children or pets on the site – all parts of this plant are poisonous!
Frost-resistant varieties of wisteria – Blue Moon, Pink Ice . The plant is easily cut, over the summer it gives an increase of 1-3 m, it begins to bloom in the 3-4th year after planting.
Plant a liana near the south side of the buildings (they will be an additional heat accumulator, which the plant needs so much), choosing a calm and most illuminated place with fairly fertile soil without stagnant water. Be sure to arrange a strong support for her, along which the wisteria will curl vertically. From spring to late summer, the plant is watered regularly to keep the soil slightly moist. From mid-September, watering is gradually reduced.
To achieve spectacular flowering, during the growing season, the plant needs to be fed once a week: alternate mineral and organic fertilizers.
And in order for the shoots to grow in the right place, beautifully braiding the gazebo, they must be constantly directed and tied up, minimizing pruning. For the winter, the plant (especially the first years) must be covered by carefully laying the shoots on the ground and sprinkling with foliage and spruce branches.
2. Common almond
This warm and light-loving shrub is native to the Mediterranean and Asia. The climatic zone of the plant is 5-6.
In the middle latitudes, its close “relative” is most often grown – the three-lobed almond (luiseania), blooming with double pink flowers. It is less capricious, especially in terms of temperature. But with a certain amount of diligence, you can very well start on a plot in the Moscow region as an ornamental, soil-protective and valuable early spring honey plant Almond ordinary, which in the spring will delight you with a snow-white blooming cloud.
Varietal almonds are propagated by root offspring or summer budding on the rootstock, easily tolerate transplantation, resistant to most pests and diseases, begin to bear fruit from 4-5 years, live for a long time.
It prefers light, sandy, calcium-rich soils; it does not tolerate heavy and acidic soils. An ideal place in the garden for him would be a well-lit sunny area. Almonds are very drought-resistant due to a well-developed root system and economical transpiration, tolerate frosts down to −25 ° C, but they are very afraid of waterlogging and especially return spring frosts after the start of the growing season – and we remind you that it can begin to bloom in March, or even in February !
Therefore, almonds should be watered very moderately, as needed, be sure to feed every two weeks in spring and summer, spray against aphids, prune regularly and cover for the winter.
3. Large leaf hydrangea
Large-leaved hydrangea differs from its well-known relatives, paniculate and tree-like hydrangeas, by more spectacular large spherical inflorescences, but, alas, much greater requirements for care. In addition, the optimal zone of its winter hardiness is 6-8, so this beauty should definitely have problems with wintering in the middle latitudes.
However, as is the case with many other southern plants, special frost-resistant varieties of large-leaved hydrangea have already been bred, which are perfect for growing in the Moscow region – for example, Expression, Early Sensation, Endless Summer, Forever, Eternity, Romance, Symphony etc.
The plant is easily propagated by division and green cuttings. Planting large-leaved hydrangea in the garden is in partial shade or in places with diffused sunlight, preferably in a calm area with light, loose, nutritious and fairly acidic soil. It is not recommended to plant it under trees, because. plants will compete for moisture. Hydrangea needs to be watered abundantly, especially in summer, and fertilized with special compounds (you can use top dressing for azaleas and rhododendrons). After each watering, loosen the soil, and to strengthen the shoots and protect against fungal infections, periodically spill it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
So that hydrangea plants (especially young ones) do not freeze out in the Moscow region in winter, they must be properly prepared for the cold.
It is worth feeding with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the fall, insulating the root system with covering material and mulching the soil under the bush (fir branches, sphagnum, fallen leaves, sawdust), bending the stems to the ground (or tying them with twine) and cover them with spunbond or burlap. The more carefully you protect the hydrangea from frost, the more abundant the flowering will be next season. It is also imperative to protect this ornamental culture from return spring frosts, which it tolerates worse than winter frosts.
4. Magnolia
Magnolia climate zone – 7-9, because This plant is native to East Asia and southern North America. Therefore, growing a truly large, profusely flowering magnolia bush in our mid-latitudes is not an easy task. But you can still try.
Of more than 200 varieties of magnolia for growing in the Moscow region, the most suitable are star magnolia, magnolia kobus and their hybrid, magnolia Lebner (they all have different, including quite frost-resistant varieties).
Magnolias are propagated by grafting and cuttings. The plant prefers humus, evenly moist, very loose and well-permeable, acidic soils in sunny and well-protected places from the wind (optimally – under the cover of a wall or a high fence).
Magnolia is moisture-loving – watering should be regular and abundant enough, it is a good idea to mulch the trunk circle (eg with peat or pieces of conifer bark). Top dressing begins to be carried out 2 years after planting the seedling in the ground – in the spring they apply a complex mineral fertilizer, and then alternate mineral fertilizers with organic ones. And magnolia does not need formative pruning, since this does not affect either the splendor of the crown or flowering. After the inflorescences wither, dried and damaged shoots are only removed from the tree.
For winter, magnolia (especially young bushes) in mid-latitudes must be carefully covered – insulate the root zone with abundant mulch, non-woven material, protect the near-stem circle, wrap the trunk with burlap, and cover the crown (while there is a possibility) with spunbond.
5. Holly (holly)
Most varieties of holly, a highly ornamental plant with glossy, leathery leaves and colorful berries that adorn trees throughout the winter, have a hardiness zone of 6-9. However, there are those of its hardy varieties and forms that will feel great in the cooler climate of the Moscow region. These are unpretentious, durable and frost-resistant varieties of holly holly, whorled holly, holly crenate and naked holly.
Although these plants also look great as tapeworms, gardeners generally prefer to use them to create very durable hedges. The simplest and most popular method is the propagation of holly by cuttings. It is important to remember that most varieties are cross-pollinated plants – they need neighbors for abundant fruiting.
Hollies grow best on nutritious soils with good water permeability (they can be either sandy or heavier, but loose). Holly prefer sunny places protected from the wind, although they will grow well in partial shade – only the brightness and contrast of the color of the leaves in this case may decrease.
When it comes to care, hollies do not require much attention. They practically do not need additional watering (there is enough natural precipitation), for normal life, a single spring top dressing (compost mixed with complex mineral fertilizer) and preventive measures to prevent late blight are enough. Hollies lend themselves well to curly haircuts after fruiting, so they make beautiful garden figures.
6. Rhododendron (azalea)
These profusely flowering shrubs of the genus Heather from the Caucasus and the Far East belong to the climatic zone 4-5, so it is quite possible to grow their winter-hardy varieties and hybrids in the Moscow region, although they probably will not be as large as in their homeland.
In horticultural classification, you can often find azalea as a separate plant, although in common botanical practice this is only a collective name for some beautifully flowering plant species from the genus Rhododendron.
Among the huge variety of rhododendrons (azaleas) you can find plants for every taste.
It can be both shrubs and small trees, evergreen or deciduous, with flowers of various shapes and colors, with a bright or slightly noticeable aroma.
Be careful if you have children or pets on the site – all parts of this plant are poisonous!
Rhododendrons prefer shaded areas with acidic, well-permeable soil, protected from wind and direct sunlight. At the same time, deciduous species do not need shading and are less demanding on soil conditions, and even better tolerate our winters.
For good health, azaleas “require” you to obligatory high mulching (their root system lies quite superficially), regular fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers, good watering three times a week and shelter for the winter with non-woven material.
7. Hibiscus
The natural climatic zone of this delicate “oriental” plant is 6-9, although today many more winter-hardy varieties of it have been bred with a frost resistance zone of about 5.
Hibiscus is propagated by seeds or cuttings.
The soil he prefers is fertile, well-drained, rich in humus. It grows well on loamy soil, with a slightly acidic environment. In the garden, a brightly lit sunny place is ideal for him.
Caring for this deciduous shrub in the Moscow region includes competent watering (the plant loves moisture, but does not tolerate its stagnation), mandatory top dressing (mineral complexes should be alternated with organic matter), timely pruning for abundant flowering, starting from the age of three (usually it is carried out before the start of the growing season, preferably in February).
In the conditions of the Moscow region, a mandatory item for caring for hibiscus is its good shelter for the winter. After dropping the leaves, the trunk circles are mulched with rotted manure, and the plant itself is covered with spruce branches or agrofiber. In areas that are characterized by severe and prolonged frosts, it is better to dig up hibiscus and place it in a tub for wintering, and return it to open ground in spring.
8. Bobovnik
These southern deciduous trees and shrubs have been cultivated since the 16th century and thrive in climatic zones 5-8. However, today the adapted forms of the bean tree successfully grow in the conditions of the middle zone.
Most often in the gardens you can find the anagyroleaf bean, which many people know under the poetic name “Golden Rain”. By the way, unscrupulous sellers can offer you this plant under the guise of an unusual bright yellow wisteria, with which it has nothing to do.
If you also want to admire the large bright yellow drooping racemes of bean inflorescences on your plot (and it blooms for 2-3 weeks with good care) and its large trifoliate leaves, remember a few rules for growing this curiosity.
Be careful if you have children or pets in your garden all the time – all parts of this plant are poisonous!
Ornamental leguminous forms are mainly propagated by cuttings or grafting onto the main species.
The plant tolerates most types of soil, including poor calcareous, although it reaches the best development on rich, loose, well-drained soils. Golden rain for lush flowering, of course, will prefer a well-lit place, although it will not die in partial shade.
All varieties have brittle roots and require support. A one- or two-year-old beaver should be let along the walls and arches, tying the still thin and flexible branches to the trellis. It grows rapidly, in warm summer it is able to give more than a meter of growth and even bloom on summer shoots.
For the winter, if possible, the beaver requires shelter and even bending the branches to the ground. In addition to frost, small rodents can threaten him, gnawing the bark in the cold. The plant must be protected from them by wrapping the trunks with a net or dense material.
9. Action
Oriental beauty action belongs to the climatic zone 6. So, if you make some efforts to adapt it, it is quite possible to grow it in the Moscow region.
You can choose among the numerous winter-hardy hybrids of this plant, dwarf or medium-sized varieties, early and late flowering, with white, pink and even carmine flowers of simple and double forms – any action, no doubt, will decorate the site.
This woody perennial of the Hydrangeaceae genus prefers nutritious, moderately moist soil and tolerates transplanting well. He is photophilous and drought-resistant, does not like places with a draft, although otherwise he is extremely unpretentious.
Care of the action includes mulching young plantings, watering 1-2 times a month (it is worth watering more often only in exceptionally dry hot summers), top dressing with mineral fertilizers and organic matter in the first half of the season (so that the plants have time to finish growing and prepare for winter ), thinning bushes and sanitary pruning as needed.
The action requires bending branches and shelter for the winter, especially for young plants. In adults, branches are carefully tied with twine (they break easily!) And tightly wrap them with breathable material.
Although even freezing trees can release new shoots that will bloom in the same year.
10. Tannery (paradise tree)
Mackerel is a branched deciduous shrub with unusually bright foliage of all shades of red – from orange to dark purple. In addition, it blooms with spectacular fluffy panicles (and in warm areas also several times a season).
Wild mackerel belongs to the climatic zone 5-6, and many cultural varieties can be safely attributed to the range of frost resistance 3-5.
This is not only an excellent ornamental plant, but also an excellent honey plant. In ancient times, the roots, leaves and shoots of skumpia were used to obtain yellow and red dyes, and the leaves are still harvested as medicinal raw materials.
This shrub is propagated by layering and green cuttings. In the garden of the Moscow region, skumpia will prefer a sunny or slightly shaded place with light, neutral or slightly alkaline soil (the foliage may change color in shading).
Heavy soils and excess moisture are detrimental to her.
The main care for skumpia is its regular (once every 2-3 years) spring shaping pruning. An old bush can be completely rejuvenated by pruning “on a stump”. The plant practically does not suffer from pests and is not susceptible to disease. Mackerel tolerates drought well and requires minimal watering only in exceptionally dry summers.
In winter with little snow, without shelter, shrubs can freeze a little according to the level of snow cover, although then they easily overgrow. So it is very desirable to tie the young with lutrasil after the onset of cold weather.
11. Holly mahonia
Mahonia (an evergreen shrub of the Barberry family) belongs to the climatic zone 5-6. Its homeland is Central America and Southeast Asia, where the natural range is strongly elongated from north to south, but now it has successfully acclimatized in our climate.
The plant forms a low bush, conspicuous by shiny leathery foliage that changes color from reddish to dark green and golden-bronze during the season, yellow panicles of inflorescences in summer and blue edible berries in autumn.
Magonia is shade tolerant, although it frankly prefers sunny areas. Suitable for fresh, humus-rich soil. The shrub tolerates city conditions, pruning and crown molding well. Young plants in the first 1-3 years of life can freeze slightly in winter, and in early spring they can burn in the sun without shelter. Therefore, as a covering material for them, it is necessary to use spruce branches or fallen leaves, on top of which a film or non-woven material is laid.
12. Tree peony
Tree peonies bloom earlier than their herbaceous counterparts, already in May-June. These tall deciduous shrubs originally from China generally belong to the 5th climatic zone, although its numerous varieties and hybrids feel great in the 4th, and even in the 3rd.
Tree-like peony is unpretentious, resistant to diseases, blooms for more than 2 weeks, decorative even after flowering due to large leaves and unusually shaped fruits, it can stay in one place for decades without a transplant.
But in order for it to please you all these years, when growing a tree peony, certain conditions must be observed. So, this plant will prefer a quiet shaded place to a sunny and windy one, needs fertile, constantly fertilized permeable soil, and requires very careful handling during planting and transplanting.
Tree peonies are propagated by dividing the bush, cuttings, layering or grafting. Caring for them includes regular watering and loosening the soil around the bush, mandatory full-fledged top dressing (it is only important not to overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers, which lead to excessive susceptibility to gray rot) and an indispensable spring formative pruning, on which the quality and volume of flowering directly depend.
Many varieties of tree-like peony endure winters near Moscow very well even without shelter. In a really severe frost, the uncovered parts of the shoots can even die to the ground, but the adventitious buds at the base of the stem give new renewal shoots the next year.
So that the early snow suddenly does not open the winter buds to the spring sun ahead of time, it is still recommended to cover the peonies, for example, with spruce branches.
13. Buddley David
This ornamental deciduous shrub, reminiscent of lilac in many ways, comes from central and western China and is most comfortable in climate zone 6.
Buddleya is propagated by cuttings, grows very fast, and from the beginning of summer to autumn pleases the eye with large clusters of purple flowers with a distinct honey aroma.
This is a photophilous plant. For better growth and abundant flowering, buddleia should be planted in a sunny place, protected from cold winds and drafts. Soils are preferably loose and permeable. The shrub is regularly watered, and in the evening its crown is sprayed. The plant responds well to mineral supplements.
The main difficulty in growing buddleia in the Moscow region is to provide it with optimal wintering – in the cold season, the above-ground mass of shoots of a heat-loving shrub almost completely freezes over, and in the next growing season new ones grow, and they are very resistant to spring frosts.
Therefore, in autumn, after the first frosts, when the leaves turn black and droop, it is necessary to cut off the buddleia shoots almost to the ground level, and carefully mulch the soil under the roots in order to keep dormant buds at the base of the shoots.
14. Cercis (crimson)
Light and heat-loving cercis (aka crimson, aka Judas tree) is an infrequent guest in our gardens, although its native climatic zone is only 5. That is, growing it in the Moscow region will not be an extremely difficult task, subject to some important rules.
And there is something to grow it on your plot, believe me! This tall tree is decorative both at the time of flowering (4 weeks the branches are covered with large lilac-pink flowers), and at the time of maturation of unusual brown bean fruits, and during the vegetative season due to the foliage changing color.
In total, there are 7 types of cercis, for our latitudes the Canadian cercis is more suitable, the most cold-resistant.
In the garden, the cercis will prefer a sunny site protected from the north wind with fertile soil containing lime. The ground should always be slightly damp, as the tree does not tolerate drought well. Good drainage is also required.
Having planted a seedling, be prepared to wait – the first years the tree develops quite slowly – the skeletal branches will begin to fully grow only after the root system is well formed. Prior to this, at the end of the first year, the aerial part of the plant dies off, and in the spring 2-3 new shoots grow from the dormant buds of the root neck, which also die off in the fall. Only in the 3-4th year, the grown shoots will reach 20 cm.
From care, as we have already mentioned, cercis needs regular watering, spring feeding with organic matter, preventive treatment against diseases and pests, and sanitary pruning of the crown.
The main thing is to provide a plant (especially a young one) with a high-quality winter shelter by wrapping it with spunbond or burlap, and in autumn it is imperative to mulch the tree trunks high.
As you can see, if you want and make some efforts to get an unusual plant on the site for a thoughtful gardener – the mission is quite feasible. In not the hottest suburbs, southern curiosities can also grow. Maybe you grow them too? Share photos and tips in the comments.
What southern plants can be grown in the middle lane? | Flowers | Dacha
Evdokia Mironova
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
4399
Category:
Garden and vegetable garden
It turns out that some perennials, which we admire in the warm regions of our country, can be grown even where frost cracks and snow lies in winter. Of course, you will have to work hard for this, but the result is worth it.
1. Cannes
“Picking up the key” to these regal beauties with huge leaves and bright flowers is not difficult at all: their agricultural technology is not much different from dahlias.
In the middle lane, cannes cannot winter in the open ground, therefore, in the fall, after the first frosts, the ground part of the plants is cut off, leaving a stump of 5-7 cm, and the rhizomes are dug up, washed, dried and stored until spring in a cool place. In order for cannes to bloom as early as possible, they are germinated at home and planted in the ground with sprouts after the threat of returning frosts has passed. In the garden, they need a sunny, wind-protected place, regular watering and top dressing.
Yucca is filamentous. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org/ Sten
2. Yucca filamentata
This plant from the Asparagus family is remarkable for its luxurious flowering. From the center of the rosette, which is formed by numerous narrow gray-green leaves, a powerful peduncle up to 2 m high, decorated with a panicle of large white bell-shaped flowers, rises. The secret of successful cultivation of yucca in the middle lane lies mainly in the correct choice of planting site and preparation of the substrate.
The plant needs a warm sunny place without the slightest stagnant water. It is best to plant a yucca on a slope oriented to the south: then it will get plenty of heat, and moisture will not stagnate in the root zone. She needs light permeable soil without excess organic matter and mandatory drainage. For winter, yucca is better to build an air-dry shelter. Although the plant itself, surprisingly, can overwinter without it, the flower buds will die in severe frosts. Yucca practically does not need watering, and it needs to be fed no more than once every 2-3 years.
3. Opuntia
The cactus growing in the garden of central Russia is not a newspaper “duck” at all. Representatives of the Opuntia genus are really capable of surviving in seemingly completely unsuitable conditions for them. These cacti with stems consisting of flat rounds studded with needles are well known to many lovers of indoor floriculture. The success of growing them in the garden is based on three pillars: maximum heat and sun in summer, minimum moisture in winter, and soil based on sand with an admixture of expanded clay and gravel (as for any succulents).