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| A friend of mine who lives in the same area was telling me that her Gloriosa Daisies that she purchased last summer did not all come back. Out of a half dozen plants, she had only one return. She did not cut the flower heads off and as of right now, there are still a few of the dried, spent flower heads left, but no green growth is showing. She paid quite a lot for these, as they were quite large when she bought them. And now, she's not real happy that they acted more like an annual.
I don't know the specific variety - she doesn't keep tags all the time - but I do know they were gold and had the dark red coloring around the center cone. I told her that These plants are notorious for not being reliable perennials, and that some gardeners treat them as annuals. I also mentioned that sometimes they were reseed themselves, but hers obviously did not. She wants something definitely perennial in that area. Any suggestions as to something that would look similar? I've been thinking, but have not been able to come up with anything that looks like these plants. Thanks for any help you can give her. Linda |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by echinaceamaniac 7 (My Page) on Sun, May 6, 12 at 21:01
| Gaillardia is great and comes in many similar colors. It also blooms longer. |
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- Posted by linlily z5/6PA (westmay2@verizon.net) on Sun, May 6, 12 at 21:48
| Thanks echinaceamaniac. I had not thought of Gaillardia. I need to look up some of the newer cultivars. I know she wants a tall plant with large flowers. I grow some, but mine are all the shorter varieties. She did try G. Oranges and Lemons in a different part of her yard,and they did not return for her. I had one too, and it did not return for me this past year. I'm giving up on that one. Linda |
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| Does she want a similar looking replacement or is she just looking for something tall and colorful and more reliable? Rudbeckia goldsturm would be a plainer smaller version but it's mostly foolproof. The gloriosa daisies wont reseed if she puts down any type of preen weed preventer. I'll just mention that because usually they will come back someplace if the mulch isn't too thick or the old seed heads aren't all removed. |
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- Posted by linlily z5/6PA (westmay2@verizon.net) on Mon, May 7, 12 at 8:55
| She really likes the look of the Gloriosa Daisies. I think she was growing a variety such as Cappuccino or Autumn Colors, by the description she was giving me. I'm aware of R. Goldstrum - I had to pull mine out and give it away. It was a thug here. I think she grows it in another place on her property. And, she want the extra colors in the flowers that the GD was giving her. She does mulch, so that explains why she didn't get any volunteers from her GD, even though she did leave the seed heads. |
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- Posted by wonbyherwits z7b NC (My Page) on Mon, May 7, 12 at 20:34
| I tried coreopsis 'Star Cluster' last year. It is among the "Big Bang" series, but this one is much shorter than 'Redshift' (which I also have). The 'Star Cluster' plants were tiny last year, but bloomed all summer long (zone 7b) until frost. The height was just under 2 feet and it is hardy to zone 5. This year, the foliage tripled in width! These plants are the hardiest coreopsis that I've seen. Mine are planted in good soil in my cottage garden, but didn't flop last year. The yellow is pale, not gold and it develops the burgundy "eye" as the weather cools. I have that first grouping planted with salvia 'Victoria Blue' and echinacea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry'. I added another grouping with eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' to echo the eye color and that group is backed by penstemon 'Husker's Red' with more echinacea to one side that is backed by monarda 'Raspberry Wine'. Cameron |
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- Posted by linlily z5/6PA (westmay2@verizon.net) on Mon, May 7, 12 at 22:12
| Cameron, That combination sounds wonderful. You seem to have a knack to know what to put together. When the right plants share the same space, everything just pops! I am interested in the Big Bang series of coreopsis for myself, and I appreciate the feedback about the one that you tried. I can report success - my friend called me from a gardening center today and when I told her about the Gaillardia, she was able to find some and she loved the blooms. They sound like they may be the regular Blanket Flower, and are nice, big hefty blooming plants. I know she is going to like these. Thank all of you for your help. Linda |
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