Sun or shade? Will it be an area that you will water, or do you need native plants for xeriscaping?

Sorry I left out the important stuff. It will be in the sun until about 3:00 pm as it faces south and a bit west. I can water as needed. More than one can be used like something really short on the outside and something a little bit taller right beside the birdbath. Thank you so uch for helping out. Vicci

How about Feverfew? They are pretty and winter sow very well. Mine has always been short, maybe because of the HOS planting? There are so many plants you can use. Other ideas that I'm thinking about for plants that are carefree and easy to grow are corepsis, salvia, gaillardia, bachelor's button, annual verbena, and much more. Those are what I can think off the top of my head...

I had good success with white verbena this year. It's short and it spreads out real pretty. How about little marigolds? They'd be cute around a bird bath.

My old favorite, profusion zinnias. Or melampodium, which will reseed freely for next year. Both are carefree, drought tolerant, and self cleaning.

Karen

You might want to start by deciding on the color scheme. One mass color can be dramatic, but a couple of colors together can be stunning. What color is your house, front door, etc? Do you have other plants in the front or evergreens? Any pictures of the location?

I have never grown balloon flower before this year, well this spring I did start some. Ha ha yes I was late on wintersowing. Anyway, mine is in full bloom right now and you know that plant is shorter than what I figured it was going to be, but the blooms pack a punch. They are extremely vivid and worth a shot at growing.

Thank you so much. I will check out each of these suggestions. I definately need some balloon flower seeds. I want to put some in my yard someplace either around the birdbath or in the butterfly garden. Thank you all again. Vicci

Well in this picture I have one seed pod going now. Three in bloom and one bud. So hopefully I will have some seeds to share this fall.


{{gwi:435863}}


I had to add this one to show you the size of the bloom so I stuck my big hand in this picture. The one bloom is bigger than my index finger.
{{gwi:251178}}


I will admit though the color does look a little more blue in the picture, it tends to have more of a purple color. Though I may only notice such a huge difference in color cause I have it so close to my leadwort or perennial plumbago which is a vibrant true blue color.

I have LOTS of balloon flower seeds for anyone who's looking for some to WS. I have regular blue, lots & lots of dwarf purple (12-16" tall). I have a limited number of trades of white. They're yours for SASBE.

Eileen

I would second Melampodium - and it self sows nicely. It took me two years to get it to WS but once it germinated, it took off and I have a nice patch by my front sidewalk, not watered often and it survived our ery hot summer.

Looks like the Melampodium and the balloon flower would look nice together. Sounds like you wouldln't have to replant each year between the perennial balloon flower and the reseeding Melampodium. I love blue and yellow together!