Question
I would love to start a small garden in the front of my house. I live in zone 7 and I have tried my hand at this and I haven't not been able to keep any of them alive. I like leafy plants like Croton and Peace Lilies but I still enjoy flowers. I need a plant that like sunlight, high humidity, 100 degree summers and can survive my red clay soil. I live on a hill so anything that likes well drained soil would be a plus. It also needs to make it through my 20 degree winters. If you have any ideas I would be very grateful.

Answer
Hi Blandy

If your like foliage plants; why not try the Aloe Aristata which is the hardiest of the Aloe family. It can survive frost and temperatures down to -1. It is a succulent and it loves the sun and produces 3ft stalks of flowers in summer. The flowers are orange tubes that attract bees, butterflies and in your country they also attract hummingbirds. They like well drained soil and the heat of summer and cool of winter as this triggers better flowering.

Another leafy plant is the Pachira Aqautica which is a tree from South America but it is slow growing. It has long leaf stalks and on these stalks are five leaflets. As it reaches 3-4ft, it will flower and produce seed pods. It like moist soil but tolerates well drained soil and it likes to be humid. The common name is 'Money Tree'; as it brings wealth and fortune to whoever grows one. Even though I have one, I have no luck yet and I live in the UK and they are kept as house plants here. They do not flower in cultivation in the UK but they should flower in America as far north as Colorado. They are quite hardy plants too.

If you want a flowering plant, try a Fuchsia like the borderline hardy 'Swingtime' or for something similar try the 'Tennessee Waltze'. They flower in summer and are very attractive when in full bloom. These two varieties are the smaller shrubs of the genus and have double flowers. All fuchsias like the sun and well draining soil. These shrubs come from Brazil and some are hardy in my country and they should be the same in North America. If you want the hardiest type and you like foliage and flowers; try 'Genii' that has single flowers and gold  foliage but needs some shade otherwise the leaves burn. Another attractive foliage type is the semi trailing 'Tom West' that has single flowers and the leaves are variegated green, cream and red. This is not has hardy as 'Genii' but hardier than the two I mentioned earlier.

For foliage groundcover, try Plectranthus Fosteri 'Variegata'. It has a trailing growth habit and is evergreen. It has dark green leaves edged in white and its blue flowers are a bonus.

Another plant that is very similar in growth and habit is the Glechoma Hederacea 'Variegata'. It has round dark green leaves with white blotches. It needs more shade than Plectranthus and its purple-blue flowers are a bonus.

An half hardy perennial is Gazania that needs the sun and tolerates dry soils. They have large daisy flowers and have dark green leaves with felted undersides. They need sun to open their blooms.

I can tell you about different plants all day and if you need any more suggestions, I will do some research ready for you and I have experience in dealing with plants for difficult situations. I will tell you about one more plant.

It has flowers that attract hummingbirds and the blooms last about two days but more come through the summer. It is evergreen and likes free draining soil and loves the sun. In this country, they can only be kept as houseplants and they come in shades ranging from white to purple. It is called the Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis. It is a shrubby plant and is easy to look after.

I hope that this information helps you and as I said, you can ask me for anymore suggestions but please research the above plants, so you know what they are.

I will be happy for anymore questions.

Take care  and enjoy your gardening.

Jonathan....