Special Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

April 15, 2002

 

     When I speak of landscapes, I always refer to the front yard as an open living room to one’s home. Landscapes often, but not always, reflect the personality of those living there.  With this thought in mind, the landscape around the mailbox would surely be the front door. Mailboxes throughout our county are a true indication of this theory; they adorn the roadsides with all shapes and sizes, from hand-made wooden Williamsburg design to the plastic airplane box. Now, homeowners are providing more interest by landscaping around mailboxes. New and well adapted plant materials have increased interest in mailbox plantings and added sophisticated designs over the past ten years. 

     Located near hot pavement and dry conditions, bed preparation and choice of plant materials can be a limiting factor.  Hard packed clay soil, usually inundated with rock, is a major problem. Remove as much rock as possible and add ground bark or soil conditioner to loosen soil.  Permatil, a soil amendment, also works in conjunction with organic amendments to keep the soil workable.  If the soil is unusually compact, consider raising the bed 4-6 inches with topsoil thoroughly mixed with soil conditioner or compost.

     Plant material planted near mailboxes in many situations need to be both sun tolerant and drought resistant. Vines seem to be the dominant feature in many mailbox plantings. Below is a partial listing vines that may add interest to mailbox design.

 

COMMON NAME

Perennial Vines

FEATURES

GROWING CONDITIONS

 

 

Trumpet Creeper

 

Bright orange trumpet-shaped flowers in summer attract hummingbirds.

 

Full sun. Tolerates heat and drought. Clinging.

Large Flowered Clematis

Many colors and patterns in large flowers are available.

Sun, but keep roots cool and shaded.

Climbing Hydrangea

Glossy foliage and large white flower clusters in summer.

Partial shade to full sun. Moist, well-drained soil. Clings.

Gold-flame Honeysuckle

 

Red flower buds open to yellow flowers in spring through summer.

Full to part sun. Drought tolerant. Attracts hummingbirds. Twining.

Passionflower

 

Beautiful, intricate purple and white flowers on a lovely native vine. The fruit is sweet and aromatic.

Full to part sun. Dies back to ground in winter. Tendrils.

EVERGREEN VINES

Armand's Clematis

 

Long glossy leaves. Fragrant white flowers in early spring. There are pink cultivars.

Provide winter shade to prevent sun scorch..

Carolina Jessamine 

Bright yellow fragrant flowers in early spring. State flower of South Carolina.

.May be too vigorous.

Smilax

 

Very beautiful foliage. Excellent screen on trellises.

Part shade. Rich, well drained soil. Tendrils

Annual Vines

Moon Vine

Large, 4-inch, fragrant white flowers open in the evening and last through the night.

Full sun with well-drained soil. Notch seed coat with a file and soak overnight before planting.

Purple Hyacinth Bean

Purple blossom spikes followed by bright purple bean pods.

Easy to grow, requires a sunny growing area.

 Morning Glory

Fast-growing vine with 4-to 5-inch-wide flowers in white, blue or red.

Warm sunny location, tolerates some drought. Soak and nick the seeds before planting.

 Cardinal Vine

Small brilliant red flowers above ferny foliage.

Warm sunny location, tolerates some drought. Soak and nick the seeds before planting.

 Sweet Pea

Blue, pink, purple, red or white fragrant flowers in spring. Grow as winter or spring annual.

Cool temperatures, moist, well-drained soil. Remove old blossoms to keep the plant flowering

 

 

Mandevilla

 

Pink funnel-shaped flowers, leathery dark green leaves.

Sun or light shade, well-drained soil. Mandavilla is a tropical vine and can be brought in for winter.

 Scarlet Runner Bean

Fast-growing vine produces clusters of brilliant red flowers and edible beans.

Full sun. Rich, well-drained soil.

Mailbox annuals

Sun tolerant coleus

Ageratum

Verbena

Dusty Miller

Petunia species/Wave Petunia

Portulaca

Zinna

Vinca

Marigold

Ornmental pepper

Ornmental sunflower

Mailbox perennials

Name

Exposure

Shade

Partial Shade

Sun

Alyssum

 

 

*

Artemisia

 

*

*

Asters

 

 

*

Begonia

*

*

 

Candytuft

 

*

*

Carnation

 

 

*

Caryopteris

 

 

*

Gaillardia

 

 

*

Hemerocallis

Daylily

 

*

*

Heuchera

*

*

*

Hosta

*

*

 

Iris

 

*

*

Lantana

 

*

*

Ornamental Grasses

 

*

*

Phlox

*

*

*

Poppy (Oriental)

 

*

*

Purple/White Coneflower

 

*

*

Rudbeckia

 

 

*

Salvia

 

*

*

Santolina

 

 

*

Sedum

 

 

*

Shasta Daisy

 

*

*

Verbena

 

 

*

Veronica

 

*

*

Vinca

*

*

 

Viola

 

   *

 *
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

     Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of
horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other
information visit the Master Gardener Website at web site at
www.rowanmastergardener.com