Fabulous flower folk, please help!

July 23, 2009 9:32 AM

A flower question in three parts: 1) what are these flowers: a1; a2; b1; b2? (I included versions w/my hand to show scale, since I have a lot of trouble figuring that with most internet pix) 2) what are other potted flowering plants that will do as well as these in my climate/situation? 3) Help me help myself? Suggestions for plant/flower identification sites.

Much Longer: I end up spending quite a bit of time and effort, and a lot more money than I'd like, trying to find potted plants and flowers that will survive our sun-drenched courtyard situation (southern Greece) - especially flowers. Our plants get plenty of water (I water every day during the hottest part of the year), but the sheer intensity of heat and amount of direct sun exposure means that many (way too many, really) don't survive.

The photos of the two flowering plants above do survive, and thrive; the second does well in full exposure, and the first (climbing, vine-y one -- my favorite!) does well in a sort of half-and-half position: strong sun for part of the day, but some shade; with either too much sun, or too much shade, it doesn't flower. But I don't know what they are called, so I can't get more information about them, or find similar flowering plants. I had the idea that the first one might be a primrose, but the photos I've seen of primroses show very different leaves.

Aside from these, I have some of what I think of as "desert flowers" - succulents, that can stand our sun and heat, but most other flowering plants just don't make it. Even the old reliable geranium can't take the heat (actually, the exposure, I guess; I see flowering geraniums elsewhere in our neighborhood, but they get more shade than we have). Chrysanthemums can survive and continue to flower, but not thrive in the summer; they always end up looking sickly. Likewise, petunias, even if they are in the areas that receive the most shade (which isn't a whole lot, compared to what most people probably have). Even bougainvillea don't do that well (which they should, really), maybe because they get too much water... I haven't quite figured that out.

Non-flowering and thriving plants include ficus trees, yucca plants, Australian "bottle brush" plants, and something else I don't know the name of, but which are very common almost everywhere.

All our plants are in pots; they get plenty of water... and way too much sun.

What are these happy flowering plants we have? What plants (especially flowering ones) should we get? What site(s) can I can use to identify flowers/plants when I don't know what they are?

posted by taz to home & garden (18 comments total)

Sorry! It was the second one that I thought might be a primrose!
posted by taz at 9:34 AM on July 23

The first one looks like some variety of clematis.
posted by peep at 9:41 AM on July 23

Second one looks like a variety of red Phlox
posted by sanka at 9:47 AM on July 23

First one looks like the trumpet flower vine we have in our backyard in Southern California.
posted by arnicae at 9:50 AM on July 23

Have you tried marigolds? Our deck (southern US) is HOT and sunny, and the marigolds love it. Note that there are smaller and larger varieties of marigolds - I like the large ones, and I've had them grow larger than 4 feet (a meter and a half) high. They love water; the more the better. You might as well get a large pot & plant some seeds; note that if you thin them so that you just have one to three plants in a large pot, they'll grow taller.

Sunflowers are another idea, but note that they release some kind of chemical into the soil such that the soil can't be reused for a different plant later.
posted by amtho at 9:51 AM on July 23

Actually, amtho... my mistake! - it's marigolds that we have, not chrysanthemums. They survive, but they don't do well. The flowers stay small and the stems and leaves become more and more spindly, withered, and starved-looking. Many of the leaves dry up entirely, even if the soil is damp all the time.
posted by taz at 10:04 AM on July 23

The first one looks to me like mandevilla.
posted by katemonster at 10:04 AM on July 23

Thank you katemonster! That looks exactly right, and the related information that I find makes it a definite match.
posted by taz at 10:18 AM on July 23

My mom grew the second ones and she called them periwinkles. They came in other colors, too. Flower and leaf shape is right on.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:23 AM on July 23

Oops, should have included this: periwinkle.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:24 AM on July 23

The second one looks a lot like impatiens, but impatiens can't stand sun, so that's out.

I've had good luck with lantana and hibiscus in containers in full sun situations. Have you tried those? Lantana is kind of picky - it likes a lot of water - but hibiscus is pretty mellow and relaxed, which makes it awesome.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:26 AM on July 23

Yes, that it, fiercecupcake! The photos are exactly right, and here's what I find:

Vinca or Periwinkle is a prolific heat and drought tolerant annual, perfect for hot, dry areas. It's easy to grow, and requires little or no attention. A grower once reported that he has grown Vinca in the same location for 30 years. It successfully reseeded itself each year, with no effort on his part.

This plant is known by three names: Vinca, Periwinkle (or Madagascar Periwinkle), and Myrtle. Botanists will tell you that there is also a separate strain or variety of Periwinkle. Vinca plants are native to North America, Europe, China and India.

Definitely!

mygothlaundry (hi!) - I think lantana would do great, but I haven't found any for sale, so I might have to go snipe a bit from the nearby park. I've had four hibiscus plants, which all did horribly, horribly (aphids, aphids, whitefly, aphids - and in each case, grasshoppers, katydids, etc. chewing insects). I've come to the conclusion that hibiscus is my plant Damien... the devil plant. I'll never win. They need a tropical or semi-tropical environment for more reasons than the amount of sun/water that they can get in my pots, apparently. Other elements that exist in their more humid home environment must control the pests that find them pretty much the yummisest thing ever here.
posted by taz at 10:44 AM on July 23

How about rosemary? It is native to your area and if you don't overwater it it will thrive and be beautiful and useful.

Oleanders are also tough plants. Drought and heat tolerant, don't over-water these either. Do keep the kids away, all parts of this plant are toxic.

As to annuals, wax begonias with dark leaves (red or bronze) will take the heat.
posted by yarddoccarol at 2:57 PM on July 23

Plant "a" is a Mandevilla. In my experience, they bloom only on new growth.

Bougainvillea would do well in your area. They can take a lot of abuse. They seem to bloom when they are root bound, so I recommend planting it in a container.
posted by JujuB at 4:42 PM on July 23

Now that I read the full question...it sounds like you are over watering the bougainvillea, most people do. Throw a little water near it about once a week. After it blooms, you will want to water it more frequently, not letting it wilt.
posted by JujuB at 4:48 PM on July 23

Moss rose are very hardy little plants. I've used them as a ground covering on a roof top garden. Okay, I'll quit now.
posted by JujuB at 4:53 PM on July 23

Mandevilla & vinca for the win. Oleanders, Bougies and moss rose are also good suggestions. Seconding the warning on oleanders, though. Some people react even to contact with these, so it's not my top recommendation. You might also like abutilon (called "flowering Maple" although they're not related) - very tolerant and showy.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 5:53 PM on July 23

Thanks, everyone! Knowing the identity of those two will make it easier for me to care for them. Based on your suggestions, I will also be adding larger marigolds, sunflowers, lantana, rosemary, oleander, and moss roses. And thanks so much for the bougainvillea tip, JujuB; overwatering is almost certainly the problem. I didn't realize it, because the leaves are healthy - no yellowing, but they aren't blooming and they should be at this time of year.
posted by taz at 11:19 PM on July 23