As you can tell from reading my former blogs, I really like trees. One "problem" with trees is they create a lot of shade. Having shade in your yard is GOOD for your electric bill and great for relaxing away from the hot sun, but it can make it difficult to have a lot of blooming flowers.
Several years ago, I went to visit a friend who had a very shady backyard. All along her fence she had these tall bushes (15') with these beautiful blue flowers. Each flower was a little smaller than a baseball. She told me that the plants were called Rose of Sharon. Since I had just bought a home in Hoover Alabama, with nothing but 2 large trees in the backyard, I was looking for something that would flower in the shade. I went to a big box and bought two of them. One I placed in front of my living room window and the other I placed in the back corner of the yard. They were only 2' at time.
When they started to flower, they were not blue. They were a pearly white with a maroon center - really pretty. I did some research and found out they were a plant called Althea (not the Rose of Sharon as the label had said). They also grow very well in the shade and are quite a treat. The plant in the back corner is now well over 15' tall and makes a nice privacy shield between the next door neighbor and me, and also gives a view of plenty of beautiful flowers for both of us. The plant next to the living room window is not quite as tall (the ground in very hard clay) but it has beautiful flowers as well.
If you have a shady spot and want something that flowers, I would recommend the Althea for several months of summertime blooms.
Looking for tips on fixing your house up to sell in Hoover Alabama or the greater Birmingham Area? I can help. Contact me at www.tonibird.com.
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