low-maintenance gardening

Question

Hi – thanks for taking my questions. We live in Southern California near the coast, and are looking for low-maintanance options for a rose hedge and some deck planters. Two questions:

1. I love miniature roses and am looking for a type that do not need to go dormant and will shape into a nice hedge. The two candidates I have come across are iceberg roses and carpet roses. Are these the best options, and/or do you have a better suggestion?

2. We’re looking for something to add a little green and ideally some flowers in four 16″ round (and deep) planters on our sunny deck (gets almost full sun). We’re looking at miniature bougainvillia and gardenia as two options, but wondering what grows nicely with them and/or if you have something else to suggest.

Thanks!
Amber

Answer 1

Rose bushes that grow between 3 and 7 feet tall are best for defining garden spaces. Polyantha and China rose varieties typically grow between 3 and 4 feet tall. In particular, Ballerina rose (Rosa "Ballerina") thrives in U.S. plant hardyzones 5 through 9. Its pink or white flowers provide color well into August, making it a literal "late bloomer." The Ballerina rose also attracts butterflies. The La Marne rose also makes a good hedge. It is hardy in zones 5 through 9, blooming with a mixture of pink and white flowers. It prefers sunny areas.
At heights of only 18 to 24 inches, miniature bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.), also known as dwarf bougainvillea, is generally grown as a ground cover where it sprawls to a width of 6 to 8 feet. The plant also does well in containers, and is grown indoors in cool weather climates. Bougainvillea is suitable for growing outdoors all year round in plant hardy zones 9b through 11, where it provides pink or purple blooms throughout the year.
Although the ornamental perennial plants only grow 2 to 3 feet high and spreads 4 to 5 feet.
Grow the dwarf gardenia in well-draining, fertile, slightly acidic soil exposed to full sunlight or partial shade. If growing the dwarf gardenia in a container, use one with adequate drainage holes through its base and fill it with quality potting soil and organic matter. Provide the plant good air circulation to reduce chances of fungal disease.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/bougainvillea/bougainvillea-in-containers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gardenia/gardenia-plant.htm