I live in a housing community where my neighbors home - on the north side- is 25 feet away. I would like to put in a flower bed of some sort along side of my house to soften the "edge". During the day, what sun my side gets actually reflects off the neighbors windows and siding. I am at a loss as to what to put there. Grow Zone 7a....any ideas?
Thanks!!

Answer #2 · Gardenality.com's Answer · Okay, if it's a shady area in Zone 7a, here's some suggestions for some annuals and long-lived and hardy perennials, shrubs, vines and groundcover plants. if you want to see details on these plants just copy and paste one in the search at the top of this page and it will show you all the varieties. Then click on a variety to see all the details about the plant.

ANNUAL PLANTS

Super Elfin Impatiens
New Guinea Impatiens
Prelude Begonias
Torenia
Coleus
Persian Shield
Caladiums

PERENNIAL PLANTS
(These are some long-lived selections):

Hosta Lily - Too many varieties to name
Fern (Hardy) - Autumn, Japanese Painted, Southern Wood are some of the hardiest
Heuchera - Too many varieties to name
Helleborus (Lenten Rose)
Cast Iron Plant
Wild Ginger
Epimedium
Peony
Liriope
Acorus Ogon / Golden Sweet Flag

GROUNDCOVER PLANTS

Vinca minor (Evergreen Periwinkle) - Good low groundcover that perennials can pop through in spring
Liriope
Mondo Grass

SHRUBS

Hydrangea
Fatsia japonica
Mahonia
Aucuba
Azalea
Camellia
Anise
Creeping Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia)
Nandina
Pieris
Winter Daphne

VINES
Climbing Hydrangea

If you've got room for a small tree the lace leaf Japanese Maple would be nice.

Hope this helped. - Brent)

Answer #3 · Trish Skirnick's Answer · Thanks for your help, Brian. I will try and post picture of a before and after hopefully I can get the project done for the season ends!!
Thanks again!!
Trish)

Answer #1 · Trish Skirnick's Answer · It is a shady area.I would like to put a few annuals for color punch but would like a low maintenance perennials. I don't like shrubs very much and try to avoid them as much as possible. But not everything is avoidable. I will try and post pictures during peak light hours (if its possible with horrid weather we are encountering) Thanks so much for your help!!
-Trish)