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What is a good plant or flower for a rock garden where it will get hot?

Hi- I have a small rock garden that is in the strip between the sidewalk and curb by my front yard. The rock is all with reddish tones. There is no lawn left in that area, just gravel. But I want to be able to plant some plants or flowers in that area. I prefer perennials. I'd need something that could handle all the heat the rock is going to soak up. I live in Nebraska, so I don't think that a cactus will work due to the cold. I know that salvia would be an option, but I'm not fond of that particular plant. Any other ideas? Can you plant aster in those conditions? I don't have a huge amount of space.

Public Comments

1. Creeping sedum would grow well. There are many varieties. http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/creeping-sedums.aspx Snow-in-Summer too. http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/snowinsummer.htm I live in Canada, Zone 3, and grow both Russian creeping sedum (Kamtschaticum) and Snow-in-Summer along my full-sun sidewalk.
2. Many cacti are cold hardy. Sedums and Echeveria which are related to cacti (they're all succulents) will tolerate the heat and cold you get. If the area is very gravelly, amend the soil in the area you want to plant with a bit of compost. You don't have to go hog wild with the compost, but the succulents will do well with a bit of soil mixed in with the gravel. You still want the soil to be more sand and gravel than compost. These links have some good info on them, including pics. http://echeveria.com/ http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Crassulaceae/Sedum.html
3. Succulents would be my choice. They are very low maintenance, hardy, and many flower on an annual basis.
4. Day lilies! Perennials are those flowers which reliably bloom year after year. They die back to the ground each winter after flourishing for a full growing season only to reemerge again in the spring. They're also noted for their texture and vibrant colors. Generally, perennials are a bit maintenance though there are those require almost no maintenance. These perennials are some the easiest to care for. They also provide colorful flowers and long lasting foliage. Daylilies are a very common perennial which do remarkably well with very little maintenance. Their flowers, which are available in a wide range of colors, bloom on stocks which grow up from clumps of long pointed foliage. A profuse bloomer, daylilies flower for weeks. They prefer a bit of shade in the afternoon when the sun is strongest. Easy Care Perennials - http://www.perennial-gardens.com/flower-articles/easy-care-perennials.htm