looking for suggestions on smaller (12" or so) decorative perennial flowers to line an area of ivy. Pretty big area and paying $800+ a year on annuals is starting to make me upset.

tia

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paying $800+ a year on annuals

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Wow!

Blackfoot Daisy
Pink Scullcap
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Lamb's Ear
Damianita
or try some grasses:
Mexican Feathergrass
Dwarf Fountaingrass "little bunny"

lantana in full sun

mexican sage

thinking about a nice red mulch for a ton less!!!

blue sage
day lilies, foilage will stay at a foot or so, blooms are higher

$800 a year on annuals? I just paid about $900 to get enough perennials and compost to finish out our front and side flower beds.

yep, it's pretty sad.

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thinking about a nice red mulch for a ton less!!!

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FTW

CJS

I have a small area in yard that gets early morning sun and is in the shade the rest of the day.

I'm looking for a perennial with flowers in spring or summer. Height of plant 2 feet or less.

Any thoughts.

I'm not the smartest person when it comes to this stuff. I use a nursery in Fort Worth (Weston Gardens) - they are very good. Based on my very limited knowledge - I think Bleeding Hearts would probably do ok, but you'd have to control the height.

For a GREAT small, colorful perennial, try a dwarf crepe myrtle. They're awesome and put out colorful blooms all summer long. With the right cultivar, you can get them as small as 8 inches, or ones that will be to 2-4 feet mature. Plus, they are virtually maintenance free.

If you have heavy shade, try an aucuba. They have great leaves and they are evergreen and thrive in the shade.

Try purchasing a book by Dr. Welch
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/perenngc.html

We're extremely happy with our snapdragons we put down last fall. They're blooming up very nicely right now.

Try Turk's Cap. Planted some in our front that gets early morning sun and mostly shade the rest of the time and seem to be doing well. Spreads to about 2-3' and about 2' tall.

I went to Home Depot last week and they had a section marked Annuals and one marked Perennials,
so that will make selection easier.

I just did a 350 sf perennial garden in all native/adaptive plants to minimize on maintenance and watering. My garden is full sun, so there's a little difference, but I used these plants: Texas Columbine, Salvia, Lavendar, Lantana, Verbena, Autumn Sage, Texas Sage, Blue Mealy Sage, Mexican Heather, Society Garlic, Red Yucca, Flame Acanthus, Wine Cup, and Lily Turf. The sages are shrubs and will all get much bigger than you want. The verbena is a low spreading, beautifully flowering plant available in many colors; however, it will take over if you let it. Tons of great options.