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Posted: Sep/16/2005 8:20 PM PST
I need to plant a few low-growing plants under my small crabapple tree for a nice show in the spring when I will be trying to sell the house again.  It gets lots of sun (tree is quite small). I will be putting in a bunch of crocuses for the early show, probably flowering around April. So I need something for May and something for June. The crabapple flowers around June, darker pink flowers, so I was thinking something purple maybe. Or purple and white. Something that will cover a small area about 6 feet by 3 ft. First I thought creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) but I think it takes a while to spread, doesnt it? Then I was thinking bulbs as they make a good show from the first year if you plant enough of them. Just not sure which to plant to get the flow of flowers. Any suggestions?
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Posted: Sep/16/2005 8:48 PM PST
Hmmm....what about some Aquilegia? Mine bloomed like crazy in May... Are you buying another house Bluebelle? |
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Posted: Sep/16/2005 8:55 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Daisy Hmmm....what about some Aquilegia? Mine bloomed like crazy in May...Are you buying another house Bluebelle? I wanted something lower, Daisy, and something that will spread. I never sold this house, Daisy, I took it off the market. I need to replace the carpets, and this dreaded laminate flooring, then I'll try again in spring. |
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Posted: Sep/16/2005 9:10 PM PST
How about Pansies, they are reasonably cheap and showy until the heat comes. You don't want to get into a big investment if you are leaving. |
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Posted: Sep/16/2005 9:13 PM PST
Good and cheap and colourful....yes, pansies are a great idea. This past spring I bought some of the most lovely ruffled pansies I have ever seen--they came in purple and white...mind you they were not quite as cheap as the regular pansies but talk about a show-off...they do not spread but they are a fuller plant than the typical pansies as well. |
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Posted: Sep/16/2005 10:36 PM PST
 Definatly Pansy's and violas in the spring. They are pretty chheap then. White alyssum spreads well fer the empty spots and really accents the other flowers. Ye could start the Pansy's from seed inside early and it would be even cheaper!! Good Luck!!
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Posted: Sep/16/2005 11:47 PM PST
I've never had luck with pansies. I neglected to mention that it's very windy in the front yard. That always does them in.  Herby, alyssum wouldn't spread until summer here. I do like it then, though. |
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Posted: Sep/17/2005 1:18 AM PST
something that's really stiking is white anemone blanda interplanted with those low growing red species tulips. trouble is the anemone's take awhile to get established. have you thought of sweet woodruff or are you looking for a bigger flower? |
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Posted: Sep/18/2005 12:45 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by fozbot3 something that's really stiking is white anemone blanda interplanted with those low growing red species tulips. trouble is the anemone's take awhile to get established. have you thought of sweet woodruff or are you looking for a bigger flower?Yeah, something more noticealbe. The white and red sound nice, but I wonder how they'd go with the pink crabapple blossoms. I had some muscari there for a while and they looked really good with the pink blossoms. Maybe I could plant some of those, and some white anemone. Or white chionodoxa? Or maybe blue scilla and something white? Hmmm... |
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Posted: Sep/18/2005 1:05 AM PST
What do you mean by spread? I don't know of anything that spreads [I]that[/I] fast the first year or an annual that spreads that quick between planting time April/May and June...unless I'm mis-understanding spread which is why I'm askin My viola 'Johnny Jump-up's' laugh at our windy location....no protection from frequent winds of 15-30 mph and 2 wind storms this year at 50-70mph. A few plants will mean about a gazillion the following spring....they re-seed like no tomorrow! They will stay pretty low unless too crowed or heavily shaded. In my yard they often begin blooming before the crocus even and right on thru July. I wouldn't invest too much if it were me, but you could also try starting some creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) around the outer perimeter....a few plants will spread quickly if spaced about 1 foot apart and double the spread the next year. Mine flowers in pink spikes to about 8". How about a spreading/trailing type of Nasturium? Vera |
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