Front of the border

[Palmdude]

What's in the front of your borders? I just enlarged my beds and have some room for some good border plants. I might have to hit the other coast for a plant run, you can't beat all the nurseries around Miami. I'm not finding anything too interesting around here.

[Really full garden]

Bromeliads ,all sizes and colors of neos.

[redbeard917]

One of the best choices for here, IMO, is agapanthus, though I'm sure warmer areas have many other options.

[Patrick]

You should try Iceplant.

Just kidding, I have nothing good to contribute. Sorry for the bother.

Here's mine. We have no rain and it's colorful...

[Kailua_Krish]

Crinums, tons of different shapes, sizes, colors, and bloom times. Only problem in florida is the lubbers and the price.

[rick]

How large of border plants are looking for?

Reed stem orchids (Epidendrum)

Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) low groundcover/border

Flax Lily (Danella tasmanica) really easy and tough

Sanchezia speciosa (frost sensitive)

Osmoxylon lineare

Alocasia "california"

Clerodendrum incisum

Lots of bromeliad options and you have Tropiflora right there.

[Palmaceae]

Hello Rob,

I agree with Rick,

Blue daze is great, I use it as much as possible

Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is another I like using as it stays low and is very fast.

[Palmdude]

Thanks for the ideas everyone more broms are always good blue daze is a great plant. Crinums and clerodendrons I already have but use them in the middle and back of the beds as they get rather large. Epidendrons, I have more than I know what to do with and they become leggy and a bit messy looking, I keep cutting them up and making more to neaten them up, they're great when they flower though. Alocasia California is nice, I have that, need to plant it Sanchezia is a great idea and takes some sun which is great. Patrick your ice plant looks great and is also a good suggestion. Rick, osmoxylon is a new one for me, I like it I tried agapanthus and it didn't grow very well for me, same for my neighbor, must be our soil?

Thanks again for all of your suggestions keep em coming

[Kailua_Krish]

Thanks for the ideas everyone more broms are always good blue daze is a great plant. Crinums and clerodendrons I already have but use them in the middle and back of the beds as they get rather large. Epidendrons, I have more than I know what to do with and they become leggy and a bit messy looking, I keep cutting them up and making more to neaten them up, they're great when they flower though. Alocasia California is nice, I have that, need to plant it Sanchezia is a great idea and takes some sun which is great. Patrick your ice plant looks great and is also a good suggestion. Rick, osmoxylon is a new one for me, I like it I tried agapanthus and it didn't grow very well for me, same for my neighbor, must be our soil?

Thanks again for all of your suggestions keep em coming

Check out some of the smaller Crinums, like 'Menehune'. They aren't all large like the asiaticum and procerum...

[Palmdude]

Ok thanks I'll google that......... I like that Menehune! Great color on the foliage and interesting flowers

Edited March 25, 2015 by Palmdude

[NApalm]

Great thread topic palmdude. I'm starting to think about colourful plantings and layouts

[Palmdude]

Thanks NaPalm the front of the border is one of my weaknesses in the garden or maybe it's just the last thing one does when assembling a garden. So many great plants out there that I have yet to learn about

[redbeard917]

I can't get Agapanthus to grow either, yet they flower in profusion in the street medians.

My personal preference is for uniformity in plantings that are viewed from afar, and more variety in plants that are viewed up close, like on the edge of a path. I like to mix types of plants too. Here it is very sunny so I might have succulents like Agave 'blue glow' and Dyckias next to Zinnias and other annuals.

[Palmdude]

Yes Lucas, exactly what I'm going for. A nice uniform blend of color and texture