Native flower that will grow in a narrow crack

[Anonymous]

Question...

Our DC rowhouse backyard is sadly, cement. Along the sides next to the fence that runs along side the yard, the cement ends with a small soil gap between the end of the cement and the fence, roughly 2-4 inches wide.

I've planted daffodil bulbs in the gap and they came up, but of course they are short lived. Are there any native flowers that would grow upwards from such a small space? It's ok for them to grow tall as it's alongside the fence. Can I plant anything from seed right now?

Of note, it's very shady back there until late in the day and with two large overgrown trees from a neighbor's yard.

[Anonymous]

You can try lobelia (cardinal flower). It likes moisture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can try lobelia (cardinal flower). It likes moisture.

Thanks... will it grow from seed if planted now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can try lobelia (cardinal flower). It likes moisture.

Thanks... will it grow from seed if planted now?

You’ll be better off buying plants this season. It will reseed prolifically if gets plenty of rain or water during the growing season, but it’s a bit late to start seed now.

[Anonymous]

Can you have a vine? You can probably grow something on the fence that can provide a long period of bloom, such as Lonicera sempervirens, or passion flower.

If the soil is well draining, then try something like butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Oenothera fruticosa, Geranium maculatum, or Coreopsis verticillata.

[Anonymous]

Just do zinnias and cosmos. From seed, now. But you’re going to need to water them.

[Anonymous]

Can you use containers instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you use containers instead?

Thank you - no, no containers will fit in this space, it's just a narrow ridge along the fence. I have no desire to develop it further as we're going to move in a couple years and generally stay on our deck rather than go down to the cement yard.

I just want something easy. I'll do the zinnia seed suggestion for now, I'm already over budget on purchasing actual plants for my front yard this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you use containers instead?

Thank you - no, no containers will fit in this space, it's just a narrow ridge along the fence. I have no desire to develop it further as we're going to move in a couple years and generally stay on our deck rather than go down to the cement yard.

I just want something easy. I'll do the zinnia seed suggestion for now, I'm already over budget on purchasing actual plants for my front yard this year

DP to add, the entire concrete area is sloped downward so containers aren't great anyway

[Anonymous]

Brown eyed Susans

[Anonymous]

Is it ok if it grows through the fence?

[Anonymous]

Caladium

[Anonymous]

Impatiens, begonia, hosta, coleus, ferns.

[Anonymous]

Daylilies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it ok if it grows through the fence?

No, my neighbor on one side is pretty cranky. The fence is old wood and in poor shape and I'm hesitant to do a vine. I think I overestimated the gap, it's pretty small, just about 2 inches most of it. So really this needs to be something that can grow out of a very small space next to concrete.