# What can I plant that's easy, colorful, and inexpensive **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032 "2010-04-22T21:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/21 "2010-04-23T02:27:51Z")
I vote for pansies, but not from seed since that’s difficult if you get a lot of rain. There is one question I have about annuals, though. Pansies, unlike some of their smaller cousins, are annuals. At least theortically. Last fall I planted the new “sub zero” pansies, and to my utter amazement, more than half of them survived an average NH winter. They’re all happily enjoying the sun right now. But…annuals are supposed to die in winter. How long are these guys going to live? My my point of view they’re already living on borrowed time, but if the winter doesn’t kill them…is there any chance of having them survive the upcoming winter _too_? ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/22 "2010-04-23T02:32:08Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I got a packet of nasturtium seeds from the dollar store last year and they made for a fantabulous garden! Also, I learned that the flowers are edible (and kind of yummy). True. So are the leaves, though quite peppery. Use the little ones. If you get the variegated type they look lovely in a tossed salad with a few flowers on the top. They also make pretty little open-faced sandwiches with butter. Pansies are edible and decorate baked goods nicely. So are marigolds, though I don’t care for the flavor. A double-duty garden! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/23 "2010-04-23T03:57:06Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I vote for pansies, but not from seed since that’s difficult if you get a lot of rain. > > There is one question I have about annuals, though. Pansies, unlike some of their smaller cousins, are annuals. At least theortically. Last fall I planted the new “sub zero” pansies, and to my utter amazement, more than half of them survived an average NH winter. They’re all happily enjoying the sun right now. But…annuals are supposed to die in winter. How long are these guys going to live? My my point of view they’re already living on borrowed time, but if the winter doesn’t kill them…is there any chance of having them survive the upcoming winter _too_? Pansies are damned close to winter-hardy here (zone 3) - they bloom and survive well into winter. I can see them easily breeding winter-hardy pansies. I would love to have perennial pansies (I love my violas, but they’re not as spectacular); I’m going to look into these. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/24 "2010-04-23T04:04:20Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > \ > Though if you truly want to make things easier on yourself in the long haul, you’ll mix in a few perennials. They cost more than annuals like impatiens, more in the $10-$20/plant range, but you only have to buy and plant them the once, and many types will propogate themselves. If you buy a couple a year, after a while you’ll never have to plant again. Columbines would work with your light situation, and they’re incredibly low-maintenance and spread pretty readily. Perennials do take a little more planning, but I think they’re worth it. I plan my perennials for foliage and for bloom times (some early, some mid-season, some fall bloomers). Lady’s mantle, daylilies, all heuchera varieties (coral bells), pulmonaria for full shade, the aforementioned hostas for shade, too, and peonies - they have spectacular flowers in early summer, then are a gorgeous, almost shrub-like plant for the rest of the growing season (if properly propped up). ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/25 "2010-04-23T04:10:01Z")
Violas (Johnny Jump-Ups and the like) are also cold hardy here in New England, and their flowers are edible, we have the purple violas growing wild in our lawn, and in garden borders, I pick a few and snack on them when I come home from work, sort of a sweet lettuce-y taste ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/26 "2010-04-23T04:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > What can I plant that’s easy, colorful, and inexpensive My second girlfriend would seem to fill the bill in all respects. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/27 "2010-04-23T04:48:25Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I use marigolds for the purpose the OP describes. > > In the fall I save the seeds produced by the plants and replant in spring. Haven’t had to buy seeds for marigold for, oh, about 12 years now. I love marigolds, and they grow well for me. Practically nothing grows for me, except those marigolds…and one thing I really love about them is that I can save the seeds. Sure, the marigolds that I have now don’t look exactly like the ones on the front package pics of long ago, but they’re quite pretty and festive looking. And you can’t get cheaper than free. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/28 "2010-04-23T06:15:53Z")
I’ve always had really good luck with Petunias and pansies. They even do well where I live. I don’t have a yard, I live in a condo, so I grow them in baskets and pots on my balcony. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/29 "2010-04-23T07:22:10Z")
Geraniums. They survive even my black thumb, come in all kinds of colors and the flowers last a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/30 "2010-04-23T08:28:50Z")
Border Dahlia Cone Flower Black Eyed Susan Delphinium Cosmos Nasturtium Forget Me Not Babies Breath Zinnia ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/31 "2010-04-23T17:31:19Z")
Just to add a caveat here: I’ve never had a flower garden that was truly easy. I’m always having to deal with weeds trying to take over. Putting down mulch helps, but only somewhat. Maybe I’m doing it wrong… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/32 "2010-04-23T17:53:56Z")
Pulling weeds is part of the zen of gardening - going out in the nice warm day, plucking away at the weeds, becoming one with nature… Yeah, a good layer of mulch helps quite a bit with that, though (and retaining water, too. I mean in your bed, not YOU retaining water.) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/33 "2010-04-23T19:01:38Z")
One bit of advice for **INRS** - be careful about planting anything under a tree like a Japanese maple. You don’t want to plant too close to trees, because of the potential for damaging roots (lots are near the surface) and injuring or even killing a tree. It’s even worse to add soil around a tree for planting purposes - trees are sensitive to changes in soil levels and even a few inches of extra soil can kill an established tree. Also, tree roots tend to be greedy and rob nutrients from whatever is planted close to them. “Partial shade” can mean different things. If it’s light filtered shade (like that provided by some trees) all day long, that’s better for shade-loving annuals and perennials than no sun most of the day interrupted by direct glaring sun for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/34 "2010-04-23T19:06:00Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > It depends on your sun. Does the front of the house get a lot of sun? I’d rip the bushes out. That look is over. I’ll be ripping most of the bushes out, since they are dying, misshapen, and hideous. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/35 "2010-04-23T20:39:01Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > One bit of advice for **INRS** - be careful about planting anything under a tree like a Japanese maple. > > You don’t want to plant too close to trees, because of the potential for damaging roots (lots are near the surface) and injuring or even killing a tree. It’s even worse to add soil around a tree for planting purposes - trees are sensitive to changes in soil levels and even a few inches of extra soil can kill an established tree. > Also, tree roots tend to be greedy and rob nutrients from whatever is planted close to them. > > “Partial shade” can mean different things. If it’s light filtered shade (like that provided by some trees) all day long, that’s better for shade-loving annuals and perennials than no sun most of the day interrupted by direct glaring sun for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. I’ve been wondering about this - I’m planning two fairly large beds on either side of my back yard - the north bed will be between two established _Acer negundo_ (Manitoba Maples), and the south bed will be between two white spruce. I have a feeling I will end up hardscaping where the shade and roots are the thickest, but it will still look better than the patchy grass that’s trying to grow there now. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/36 "2010-04-23T21:53:44Z")
No love for begonias? These are some of my favorites–especially the scarlett ones. The leaves are very dark and waxy-shiny and look fabulous against the bright red blooms. Added bonus–they do great in the shade and are near-impossible to kill. ---
**Author:** ![pabstist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pabstist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pabstist)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/37 "2010-04-24T01:05:11Z")
I just bought a box of mixed perennial seeds at the local hardware store for $2 (half off!), says enough to cover 750 square feet. I just rough up the dirt with a shovel, dump the seeds on, scratch the dirt around and try to cover the seeds, water, and wait. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/38 "2010-04-24T04:26:56Z")
> [@pabstist](#): > > I just bought a box of mixed perennial seeds at the local hardware store for $2 (half off!), says enough to cover 750 square feet. I just rough up the dirt with a shovel, dump the seeds on, scratch the dirt around and try to cover the seeds, water, and wait. I hope this is a wry observation about the fallibility of the “instant garden” concept. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/39 "2010-04-24T13:17:27Z")
> [@pabstist](#): > > I just bought a box of mixed perennial seeds at the local hardware store for $2 (half off!), says enough to cover 750 square feet. I just rough up the dirt with a shovel, dump the seeds on, scratch the dirt around and try to cover the seeds, water, and wait. I tried those (the ones in the big shaker cans) - I was not impressed with the results. The thyme one was okay if not spectacular, but the other one (I think it was moss) was a dismal failure. I hope you get better results than I did. We got our first shrub of the season yesterday - a [dwarf Alberta spruce.](http://www.design-a-yard.com/Shrubs/images/Dwarf%20Alberta%20Spruce_jpg.jpg) Who’s a cute little bright green shrub? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032/40 "2010-04-24T13:37:16Z")
Some of my favorite perennials. I like perennials because they are really easy. Daisies - invasive, but bloom like crazy pretty much all summer and take zero effort. Hostas - not colorful, but easy green. Deer love them though so I don’t bother because otherwise I open a salad bar for deer. Daylilies - the “not day” kind so you get longer blooms. Although if you mix in some of the daylilies they have really dense foliage that keeps the weeds out. Coreopsis - just friendly looking. Light and airy as opposed to some of the denser stuff here. Again, blooms all summer. Salvia - again, dense, purple (my favorite color) and impossible to kill. At least the variety I have planted is dense. Hardy Geraniums - I love this plant. I only have one and need to get more. Peonies and tulips for the spring and a few mum plants for the fall and its a garden. Most of this stuff you can ask friends to divide out. Or find a garden club that does a perennial swap. The single salvia I bought ten years ago is now twelve huge plants. The few daylilies a friend gave me at the same time cover the side of the house. If you want to do it on the cheap, you need patience and the willingness to dig it up every two years and hack it into two or three parts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-plant-thats-easy-colorful-and-inexpensive/537032.md?page=3)