Free Garden Catalogs - I am planning a garden along my driveway. My zone is literally on the 7/8 hardiness zone...more below?

I am planning a garden along my driveway. My zone is literally on the 7/8 hardiness zone...more below?

I am in South Carolina, near Augusta Georgia. I want flowers/plants that will look good along the driveway. The front yard gets morning shade, afternoon sun. The front yard has a sprinkler system, so the plants will be being watered from above. I have read you can only water roses from below. Does anyone have suggestions? Flowers, small bushes, ornamental grasses? Thanks.

Public Comments

I love Alyssum... It gives off a wonderful fragrance. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://z.about.com/d/landscaping/1/0/C/U/white_alyssum_bedding_plant.jpg&imgrefurl=http://landscaping.about.com/od/colorfulflowers/ig/white-flowers/white_alyssum_bedding__big.htm&usg=__ST2nzQCsiPcs4Q6LDaYDDAw1Xco=&h=280&w=500&sz=197&hl=en&start=95&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=gmW8e00ltnrEQM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalyssum%26start%3D90%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1 They call this an annual, however it re-seeds itself and comes back every year. Just let the foliage die and in the spring about now, take away the dead foliage and you will see new baby plants underneath and you have it all over again. The white alyssum smells the best, but it does come in a variety of colors.
You are going to have to have plants that will take the heat since you are planting them along a driveway. The radiant heat off of the concrete will raise the need for heat tolerance. I would go with purple fountain grass, dwarf crepe myrtle, sage of all kinds. You could also add in some annuals like portulaca and periwinkles.
Thumbelina zinnias or moss roses would look good and can take the conditions you mention. Roses should be watered from below so the water won't rot the leaves and flowers.