What is the best flower to use for a mailbox planter that is exposed to direct sunlight all day?

Question

I live in Reno (warm, sunny, and often windy summer days) and have gone through several failed attempts (started with small pansies, then when I lost them, went with marigolds), and now I am trying two 4" pots with gerber daisies. It's not the cost so much but I don't like losing them, especially when they are so pretty.

Answer 1

If you don't get too cold where you are and you want something shorter than daylillies why not try Gazanias (they come in red and pink flowering not just yellow), or Arcotsis.

Answer 2

Daylilies, I agree with but after five or so years they start looking rather awful.  I'm taking mine out this fall and replacing with something that doesn't look so badly after they're finished blooming.  If you've got great soil at your mailbox (mine is rocky and hard) I'd try a short variety of clematis underplanted with the daylilies.  Just keep your clematis under control so the postman has no trouble getting into your mailbox.  There are some varieties now that bloom two and three times during the summer and they can take full sun SO LONG AS their roots remain cool and shaded - that's where you're underplanting comes in!  And daylilies would certainly do the trick for underplanting.  If your mailbox is on a post of treated lumber you may have to wrap in chicken wire to get the clematis going but once established it would look phenominal.  I've tried growing my clematis up a tree and even after it being tied to the trunk it wants to wander instead of wrap; probably not enough sun.  However this is a high grower and once it gets past the crabapples fairly short stature it will be fine.  You do need to make sure the variety you choose (if you do so) doesn't need severe pruning every year.  There are three different types, investigate first.  Besides that....coneflowers do wonderfully in full sun (pink) and there is also an alba coneflower I just bought last week to compliment my pink coneflowers.  I keep thinking vining would be pretty....morning glory or dutchman's pipe aka calico pipe also comes to mind.  However dutchman's pipe gets VERY, very tall.  Mine has surpassed my two story house so forget that idea! lol  You could do a medley of flowers that would keep blooms going all season.  Bulbs of daffodils, paperwhites and tulips, then daylilies and coneflowers and a vine of some sort.  If you've room to do it you could even add some mums to have fall color as well.  Keep mums trimmed back till mid to late summer and then let them go so that they'll bloom for fall!  Darn I wish I had nice soil by my mailbox!!!

Answer 3

Daylilies are easy and will grow anywhere.  They thrive the best in sunlight. You can grow them in pots or in the ground.  Each year they get bigger and more flowers.

Answer 4

Golden sedum or Lavender take full sun quite well and add a bit of color.