PLANTING WHERE THE SUN SHINES.

Byline: Joshua Siskin

``I have an area approximately 6 inches wide by 30 feet in front of my house in Valley Village. It gets a southwestern exposure, so there is lots of sun. Can you recommend some type of perennial that would look nice there? Something with flowers that doesn't need much space and that would grow in our hot sun.''

- Gene Rubin

Valley Village

The narrow strip you describe in your e-mail could support the growth of a large variety of plants. You could either use a combination of different plants in a tapestry hedge or, for maximum effect, a single species or type of plant all along the 30-foot strip.

A southwestern exposure is the sunniest exposure you could find. If you are willing to allow your perennial to grow somewhat over the edges of your planting strip, the possibilities are numerous.

One of my favorite plants for unremitting sun is the butterfly bush (Buddleia species). The plant seems to bloom nonstop from spring to fall and can rise up to 6 or 8 feet tall. If it grows out of bounds, you can lightly trim it back and it will quickly rebloom. Just prior to spring, prune it back hard to within two or three feet of the ground. Butterfly bushes bloom in all shades of blue from baby to navy, as well as in pink, lilac, violet, purple, white, and yellow. The inflorescences are thick, fragrant wands, each consisting of hundreds of tiny florets. Plant a single color or mix them up. And yes, they do attract butterflies.

Another excellent full-sun shrub is Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha). Unlike the butterfly bush, which is distinctly dormant throughout the winter, it can bloom at any time. Mexican sage has felty violet flowers in nodding spikes and plush leaves that create an effect that is both warm and lush. As a bonus, the foliage has a delightfully sweet scent. Mexican sage really is a stand-alone plant. Its uniqueness is unfairly blunted when it is surrounded by other species.

You would want to grow Mexican sage as an informal hedge, pruning it only when it starts to get rangy at around 4 feet tall. When it reaches that stage of development, prune it down to 18 inches in height and watch it grow back faster than you thought it possible.

If you are looking for a wild, native hedge that never needs watering and will create quite a stir, opt for the Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri). It is known affectionately as the fried egg plant on account of its flowers, consisting of floppy crepe paper white petals that surround glowing yellow discs. It is important that this plant be confined to an area delimited by impregnable concrete borders - not to keep other plants from coming in but rather to keep it from breaking out. The Matilija poppy has aggressive rhizomes which, spreading underground, will invade any and all planted areas in the vicinity. The leaves of Matilija poppy are a frosty blue gray and finely wrought. Cut Matilija poppies and put them in a vase to enjoy the flowers and leaves indoors. Prune Matilija poppy back to the ground in late fall. It can grow as high as 8 feet.

Lavender is another full-sun champion. If the fragrance of this plant is your primary interest, plant English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). If deep violet-petaled flowers are your fancy, then you will want to choose Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas).

If you only want to fill your narrow planting strip with colorful ground cover, consider planting six packs of mixed gazanias. You will get all shades of yellow and orange, as well as a salmon pink in the mix. You will have scads of daisylike gazania flowers opening up throughout the year. As flowers fade, simply trim them down with shears and prepare for the next wave of bloom.

GARDEN WONDER

Reseda resident Thelma Mahaffey has a little piece of Hawaii in her back yard.

Sixteen years ago, a friend brought back a cutting from a Hawaiian plumeria for her. Many people know this plant not for its appearance, but for its soft, fragrant flowers - the same flowers that are used in making leis.

Mahaffey has no plans to make floral necklaces any time soon; she's happy just watching the hummingbirds flitting from flower to flower in the crowns of the trees.

``I don't even know what I'd have to do to make leis,'' she says. ``I just start cuttings from the plants and give them to close friends and family.''

The blooms in one tree are white with yellow centers. The blooms in a second tree, which she bought from a nursery soon after the first, are red. Both trees grow near the west wall of her property, and reach over the roof of her house.

``I find them very maintenance-free,'' Mahaffey says. ``Just cutting the blossoms out every once in a while, and making sure the plants get enough sun.''

Daily News garden columnist Joshua Siskin says he'd be surprised if there were more than a dozen plumeria in the Valley, and fewer still that reach the height of Mahaffey's.

``The Valley isn't the most hospitable place for plumeria,'' he explains. ``They're very sensitive to the cold. You need to expose them to enough sun, while still having them protected enough to not freeze from the frost.''

Plumeria should be planted next to a building, where the plant can absorb the building's heat at night, Siskin says.

``But even then, there's no guarantee.''

- Mike Chmielecki

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Photo:

Thelma Mahaffey grew this plumeria, with its white and yellow blossoms, from a cutting brought from Hawaii by a friend. Another, with red flowers, also grows in her Reseda yard.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box: GARDEN WONDERS