|
Sun, Jul 17, 11 at 8:08
| I started some foxgloves from seed 3 yrs ago. The first year, no flowers which is normal for a biennial. The next year, beautiful flowers. I thought that was the end of it,because as I understand biennials, I thought they died after they bloomed.. This year, the 3rd, I saw the plant was coming up, bigger than last year, green and healthy so I decided to leave it and see what it would do. It bloomed beautifully in June, and I cut the fading flower stalks down. Now, in July, its in full bloom again. What is going on here, as far as I knew, it wasn't even supposed to bloom the 3rd year and I thought you only got the one bloom period in June, and that was it. I think the variety is the Excelsior hybrids, which the seed packet labeled as biennial. And I know this plant is not just a reseed from the original mother plant, as it has gotten bigger each year. I thought only the digitalis mertonensis and thapsi were perennial? Do some biennials act like perennials if the conditions are right? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Yes they can persist longer than 2 years and I've gotten blooms for a 3rd year with Digitalis purpurea, especially if you deadhead it the 2nd year. That way it won't expend all its energy going to seed. This year, I pulled out most of the foxglove after blooming and only left a few of my favorites. I started so many from seed this year, and just replaced what was pulled with new seedlings. D. mertonensis is a short lived perennial. Of the foxglove I've grown, only the D. grandiflora has been perennial so far. |
|
- Posted by coolplantsguy z6 Ontario (My Page) on Sun, Jul 17, 11 at 10:17
| Any of the 'Camelot' varieties are known to flower a second time in the same year, if finished flowering stems are removed. In my experience the older strains do not do this. |
|
| I have an unknown foxglove from a swap. IT had pink/purple flowers. It also came back and bloomed for a second year. It's not a big one, only about 2 feet tall. I was guessing it was a species, not a cultivar. I have been unsure if I should cut off the blooming stalk or not. Or leave just a few pods on the bottom, in hopes it does seed itself? |
|
- Posted by buyorsell888 Zone 8 Portland OR (My Page) on Mon, Jul 18, 11 at 15:45
| If I want seeds I don't cut off the bloom stalk. I let them go to seed and then I pull them up shake them over the part of the bed where I want more seedlings. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Perennials Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.