Colored Plants/Flowers that last all year.?

Question

I have quite the brown thumg. If I plant it, it WILL die... therefore, I want some tough plants or flowers that will last. I would like to have something that will last most of the year. I have a flower box along the front of my house that is full of red bark, and the dead remains of attemted flowers.... If plants are easier, I'm up for that, buit I'd prefer modern, sleek ones.

ex: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/476062062_b1da29ef72.jpg

I'm lost... please oh please help..

oh and i'm near Sacramento, CA.

Answer 1

Well geraniums do very well in window boxes and containers. They flower and flower and flower-but you must water them. They don't require any attention and they come in quite a range of colours these days from wonderful flame reds to purples and orange. Petunias are also good for containers with a good show of flowers and they come in practically all the colours of the rainbow. Good luck.

Answer 2

Before you even consider planting anything in the window boxes you have to remove the red bark and replace it with soil. The plants you have been planting are dieing because they are planted in bark. Plants need soil around their roots. If you would like you can put a 'small amount' of bark ON TOP of the soil.

Once you have the soil in the boxes, almost anything will grow – if you keep it watered.

Answer 3

I am guessing that you need plant's that are very low maintenance.  The plant you showed is purple flax, very hardy, but no flowers.  If you are going to plant in the box, it is a bad idea, flax grows very large, above 6'.  Maybe try a variety of ice plant, lots of flowers, spring through fall and very drought resistant if you forget to water.  They don't need much fertilizer, and is perfect for a planter box, provided it gets some sun.

Here is a pic of one variety, but there are many, ranging from red, to yellow, to orange, to purple....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar...

Answer 4

Lantana or Dianthus. Geraniums require a lot more care than you want to handle and they are touchy-too much water and they rot, too little and they die. Ice plant is another good one, but my favorite is the Dianthus.

Answer 5

Agree with Bird.

You could try:

Dracena:  http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi... (click on pic to enlarge)

Ti: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi... (cordyline, red sister, very showy)

cyperus:  http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi... (likes lots of water)

coleus:  http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im... (many colors and variations, super easy to grow)

Or anything beautiful that suits your taste.  You're in a wonderful climate to grow just about anything.

Think your main problem is the soil in the planter as Bird said.