Please help me choose!

9 years ago

I have a bed between my azaleas and my wood porch that I thought I had the perfect solution... Purple Fountain grass.. it covered the front of the porch but didn't over take the azaleas. Much to my dismay when trying to find out why they weren't coming back turns out they are annuals! The space is partial shade and I'm just stuck on Purple Fountain grass and can't seem to get past it. This picture is a couple of years old but it gives you an idea of what I'm wanting to do. Any ideas are appreciated!

Featured Answer

PKponder TX Z7B

9 years ago

It's not purple but I love inland sea oats for shady areas. It will reseed but the volunteers are easy to pull up. Are you specifically looking for a grassy type plant? How tall should it be and how wide?

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Comments (9)

lucillle
9 years ago
You could try containers of Purple Fountain Grass

Purple Fountain Grass
mellowd_tx
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, I don't have the room or place to store them in the winter. I would like a compact plant that would come back every year and over take my azaleas
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roselee z8b S.W. Texas
9 years ago
How about HIMALAYAN INDIGO? It's a fairly new plant for me which I'm very pleased with. It would give you the height, beautiful ferny foliage and purple/pink flowers all summer, doesn't leave a lot of debris when it dies back in the winter and it reliably returns. Chocolate plant also comes to mind for it's big purple brown leaves and purple flowers. Neither plant would overpower your azaleas.
mellowd_tx thanked roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Jules
9 years ago
Loropetalum (there are lots of varieties, look for the ones that stay more compact), smaller oakleaf hydrangeas, ginger, hostas (watch for slugs, or go ahead and put slug collars on), elephant ears, or turk's cap. Hope that gives you some ideas!
mellowd_tx thanked Jules
mellowd_tx
Original Author
9 years ago
@PKponder I love Island Sea Oats but they grow too big.
mellowd_tx
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
@roselee & @jules thank you for the ideas!!!
mellowd_tx
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
When I got home I measured the bed... No more than 2 feet spread and about 3 feet high and 20 feet in length. I would like something dense, there is Mondo Grass under the porch which will not die!
danita
9 years ago
A GA lurker here, so I can't vouch for their performance in Texas, but have you tried the hybrid Pennisetums like ‘Princess Molly’ and ‘Princess Caroline’ ? They are supposed to be a bit hardier than Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' and the two cultivars that I mentioned stay on the smaller side compared to others of their type. Here's some more info: /http://www.greenhousemag.com/article/gm_1109_culture/