Good Plants for Landscaping in Kentucky

Beginning a Kentucky Landscape

• In order to decide which plants suit the needs of a landscape, evaluate the growing conditions, such as soil, sun and water; the desired mix of perennials that return each year versus annuals that bloom and die within a year or season; and the garden's desired composition, whether flowering plants, woody plants or leafy plants.

Annual Flowers for Shade

• Snapdragons, known for their bright conical presence, come in a variety of colors and sizes, ranging from dwarf to tall. They work well as a border or edging to a landscape but tend to attract mildew, aphids and mites if they are not in well-drained soil. Snapdragons grow best during the cooler seasons of spring and fall, preferring full sun or partial shade, but they can get scorched during an intensely hot summer.

  Boston and Marguerite Daisies remain popular with Kentucky gardeners for bedding and container plants through the years. They attract few pests and tend to flower freely during the spring and fall; however, like snapdragons, they do not flower well under the intense heat that often characterizes Kentucky's mid-summer weather.

Annual Flowers for Sun

• Powis Castle Wormwood comes from the genus Artemesia. Artemesias grow reliably in Kentucky and have an attractive silver tint to their green foliage. They get few pests and grow best in full sun and rocky or well-drained soil. Dividing and pruning the plant will encourage it to flower.

  Petunias perform outstandingly in Kentucky gardens. Their showy flowers in diverse shades of red, white and purple bloom throughout the summer in a variety of soils, locations and circumstances with little interference from pests.

Perennial Flowers for Shade

• Daffodil plantings can last as long as 100 years in Kentucky landscapes, making them a beautifully reliable garden addition. They perform best in full sun and well-drained soil but will blossom under the shade of deciduous trees as well. Daffodils are easily recognizable by their yellow to off-white trumpet flowers.

  Hostas provide landscapers versatility and easiness that make them quite popular in Kentucky gardens. They are the best plant for ground cover in shady areas of a landscape but can withstand full sun with enough water. Recognized primarily for their lush variegated foliage, they bloom lavender or fragrant white flowers. Hostas are the most commonly planted perennial in Kentucky. They attract, slugs, crown rot and deer but tend to defend the garden against weeds and require little maintenance.

Perennial Flowers for Sun

• Hollyhock has grown in Kentucky as a traditional perennial for many years. It grows well in full sun and well-drained soil. Like a true perennial, hollyhock will return year after year as long as a harsh winter does not damage the seeds. The plant has an appearance noteworthy enough to stand on its own as a landscaping focal point. However, hollyhocks are prone to attacks from the Japanese beetles that infest Kentucky counties during certain years.

  Summer orchids boast a unique structure and elegant colors that can make a decorative addition to a Kentucky garden. They bloom well through the intense heat of the summer and encounter few pests. As a perennial, they may grow few flowers in the first year but should return with more splendor the following year. Summer orchids make beautiful cut flowers for indoors.