I live near a wooded area with really rocky, sandy (crappy) soil. Very dry. Hard for anything to grow except vinca and english ivy.

It's also a shady area 2-3 hours of filtered sun perhaps.

I really would like to plant some bulbs that have vigor to get more green around here and remember when I was younger we had a lot of those purple bearded iris plants that did VERY well on a wooded slope. (what is technical name? japanese iris?)

Anyway, are there any other bulbs that can be recommended for fall planting that will really kick "_ _ _" ?

Thanks !

On 9/21/11 6:37 AM, mkr5000 wrote:
I live near a wooded area with really rocky, sandy (crappy) soil.
Very dry. Hard for anything to grow except vinca and english ivy.

It's also a shady area 2-3 hours of filtered sun perhaps.

I really would like to plant some bulbs that have vigor to get more
green around here and remember when I was younger we had a lot of those
purple bearded iris plants that did VERY well on a wooded slope. (what
is technical name? japanese iris?)

Anyway, are there any other bulbs that can be recommended for fall
planting that will really kick "_ _ _" ?

Thanks !

Bearded iris is Iris germanica (literally, German iris). It requires
more sun than you indicate.

Japanese iris (I. ensata) requires ample moisture. It will even grow in
a pond.

Let us know where you are, that is what is your climate, before anyone
can recommend bulbs.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Indiana. I forgot to mention, on top of everything else, this soil is very dry. I'm within a mile of a large river, maybe that's characteristic if soil near one, dry and even "rocky" here and there.

On 9/21/11 1:06 PM, mkr5000 wrote:
Indiana. I forgot to mention, on top of everything else, this soil is
very dry. I'm within a mile of a large river, maybe that's
characteristic if soil near one, dry and even "rocky" here and
there.

Dry, shade, snow in winter, possibly shallow soil. Instead of bulbs,
you might try hardy perennials. I can't recommend any because your
climate is too different from mine.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

On Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:37:26 -0700 (PDT), mkr5000 wrote:
I live near a wooded area with really rocky, sandy (crappy) soil. Very dry. Hard for anything to grow except vinca and english ivy.


"Rocky, sandy, crappy soil" fits the description of the home environment for
many, many bulbous plants.

Where are you in the world so we can choose appropriate species?

Indiana -- yes, that's why I was asking because I need some GREEN -- no necessarily blooming plants and I've seen bulbs that grow in pretty bad conditions.

I may try some daylillies also but there are patches of those around here -- some more interesting plants would be nice.

On Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:53:08 -0700 (PDT), mkr5000 wrote:
Indiana -- yes, that's why I was asking because I need some GREEN -- no necessarily blooming plants and I've seen bulbs that grow in pretty bad conditions.

I may try some daylillies also but there are patches of those around here -- some more interesting plants would be nice.

You're in USDA zone 5 or 6, so most of these should make it:

Try
Leucojum vernum
Colchicum spp.
Scilla siberica
Ipheion
Eranthis hyemalis
small Narcisssus like 'Thalia'
Galanthus nivalis
Hyacinthoides hispanica
species tulips
Cyclamen coum
Crocus spp.


If you're just after green find out what holly ferns will grow in your area.

Kay

Thanks Kay.