Plants for birdbath?

[Godslamb]

Hello you wonderful people,
Must be getting close to Spring as I am back on the forums.
Anyways, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what I could plant in a spare birdbath I have. It is about 4-5" deep, so the plant has to be something that has a shallow root system and would grow in something like that. I have seen sedum suggested, but I am unsure what that is, and if it grows in my zone. I like the idea of something trailing down the side, but again, unsure what that might be.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Smitty]

Spring is definitely in the air!
yep sedum will grow in your zone and would work well in the birdbath but definitely wouldn't survive a winter there in fact I'd be surprised if anything would survive a winter. hens and chick would also feel right at home there. thinking bacopa would look nice trailing over the edges.. 5" is a fairly decent depth so with close attention to the watering I think the sky is the limit.

[Godslamb]

Hens? chick? bacopa??
Obviously I am not a great gardener.

[Smitty]

LOL!!!!! I've been in your shoes...not overly long ago I was new to gardening too. Your local garden center should be a huge fountain of information for you.

let me see if I can find you a few pictures

hens and chicks

hens and chicks.JPG

sorry this is all I can find in my files but if you do a google image search you'll find lots

[Godslamb]

Thanks Smitty
I have been gardening for about 12 years, but still feel like I know nothing. I have killed so many poor plants that I feel the poor little things trembling at the nursery as I walk by.

[agedgardener]

I have a birdbath that cracked during the winter I planted Wax Begonias very successfullySome years I have grown the pink ones with equal successJOY

[Countryboy]

Dianthus *Pinks* will root in shallowish soil. And will trail. And probably will last thru the Winter. Or find some decent looking rocks, make a circle of them around the edge of the planter and build up more soil inside the circle.

Best of luck.

[uhiratsuka]

What a great idea! Something trailing over the edge would look gorgeous. Will it be somewhere really bright and sunny, or a bit shadier? If you want a perennial, you could try one of the vines, like virginia creeper, that would have great red color in the fall, or even one of the hardy clematis, like clematis recta, integrifolia, and tangutica. They all grew really well for me in Edmonton. If you use those, just set a rock over the soil on top of the roots, to help it keep cooler. There are lots of annual vines that would look great, like English or Swedish ivy, or green or purple potato vine. If you want more color, there are lots of options for trailing flowers, like trailing petunias, trailing snapdragons, and trailing lobelias. You inspired me, I have an old cracked birdbath, and now I can't wait to plant something in it!

[Godslamb]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I now have to plan a trip to our nursery in May...maybe June here in "balmy" Calgary
I like the idea of building it up a little with the rocks. I have some great ideas now. Thanks again!

[Smitty]

will we get to see pics of the finished product???
Smitty likes pictures