Table of Contents

Daylilies

The Daylily is a durable perennial flower available in every color of the rainbow. We love daylilies because they are rugged, beautiful flowers that will continue growing in the same garden for many years requiring very minimal to no care. These flowers grow 1- 4 feet high and have relatively very few pest and disease problems. They also have a nice long bloom period, usually flowering Spring to late Fall. For more information on Daylilies, check out The American Daylily Society.

Dwarf Crape Myrtles (Lagerstroemia species)

Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia species) are popular plants known for their eye-catching summer blooms. In commercial landscaping, these plants are known for their beauty, durability, and longevity. Crape myrtles come in a range of colors and sizes. Our landscapers prefer some of the dwarf crape myrtles, which are typically much smaller and more compact plants. One of our favorites is the Tightwad Red, which was the first real red dwarf crape myrtle.. The Tightwad Red usually grows 4-6 feet high and is drought tolerant as well as deer resistant. Check out this article, “Popular Crape Myrtles Available in Smaller Sizes” by the NC State Extension Gardener for more details.

Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea Quercifolia)

The Oakleaf Hydrangea is a large eye-catching shrub native to the southeastern United States. These flowering shrubs have huge 4-12 inch softly textured oak leaves with lots of large beautiful clusters of white flowers. The Oakleaf Hydrangea typically blooms late spring throughout summer and usually grows 6-8 feet tall and just as wide. This flowering shrub is a remarkable, low-maintenance shrub that grows well in full sun to partial shade. It requires regular watering but it does very well in Nashville’s hot summer sun. We love planting oakleaf hydrangeas as accents or for shrub borders. Hydrangeas are a great choice for any Nashville landscape. For more information on planting hydrangeas for commercial use, check out UT Extension’s article, “A Tennessee Landscape Contractor’s Guide to Hydrangeas”.

Sunpatiens (Impatiens x hybrid)

Sunpatiens are a fairly new impatiens hybrid that has drastically changed how impatiens are used in commercial landscaping. Sunpatiens are large colorful plants producing twice as much color and coverage as most regular bedding plants. Sunpatiens thrive in full sun and typically bloom from Spring to late Fall. They are great for large garden beds or containers. These plants come in three categories: compact, spreading, and vigorous. The vigorous sunpatiens are the best choice for commercial garden beds as they grow vigorously adding lots of colors quickly. Most sunpatiens grow about 18 – 24” tall with a similar spread. Overall, sunpatiens are a great low-maintenance plant to add long-lasting color to any garden bed or commercial property. For more resources on Sunpatiens, check out the article from Gardening Know How, “What Are Sunpatiens: How To Plant Sunpatiens In Garden Beds?”

Petunias

Petunias are some of the most popular flowers amongst commercial landscapers for a variety of reasons. First, petunias are low-maintenance flowers that come in every color you can imagine. Secondly, petunias have a lengthy bloom period from early spring until frost, plus they smell delightful! Lastly, petunias thrive in Nashville’s extreme heat and sun and require very little water. They are also deer resistant, which is good for Nashville properties. Our landscapers like to use petunias in large garden beds as well as in a variety of containers. For more information on different types of petunias and what may work best for your needs, visit the North Carolina State Extension Gardener Toolbox Petunias page.