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| Another post or two on a semi-related note got me to thinking (scary thought that!). When you obtain a plant that you know is not supposed to be hardy in your area -- or supposed to be able to handle the heat for others -- it comes as no surprise when they croak after a season. Knowing this, you either plan on going through the hassle of digging the plant/corm/bulb up and storing in indoors or otherwise sheltered/milder area, or you accept the fact that for you it will be an "annual". However, what about those plants which have apparently not read the "manual" and survive/come back anyway? For myself ....... Glads ... have had them overwinter -- with no lifting, mulching, or fussing -- for 15+ years now. And, no, these are not the "winter hardy" varieties. Just the regular ol' standards one sees at all the BBSs. (In fact, the time I DID try the "winter hardy" strains/types, THEY all died.) Now some of my returners are planted up against the house in a raised bed. But a bunch of others are out against the shed by the woods. Dusty Miller, Jacobaea maritima (formerly known as Senecio cineraria), is supposed to be an annual in our northern zones. However, I had a number of plants -- both in aforementioned raised bed as well as under a red maple (again no mulch or special care) -- which returned year after year. Finally, got tired of them and ripped them out. Snapdragons, used to have quite a few in the raised bed as well as against the house in the back. Had several plants that came back for several years running. And, no, they were NOT reseeds (though always had tons of those). The growth was coming from the prior seasons stem/root system. Considering how extremely shallow rooted Snaps are, I was really amazed by their return. Eventually got tired those and ripped them and their offspring out. Then there were the two calla lily bulbs that I planted out by the birdbath (middle of the yard). I had originally picked up the bulbs more for the foliage interest than the flowers, and fully expected them to die over the winter. Two of the bulbs came back for several years. Then decided to redo that bed. One of the bulbs was about the size of a softball. Gave that one to a friend of mine. The other was a bit smaller and got moved to a spot about 2ft from where it had been. Wouldn't you know it died that winter? So what about you? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by GreatPlains1 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 3, 13 at 14:12
| delete post |
This post was edited by GreatPlains1 on Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 1:28
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- Posted by Gyr_Falcon Sunset 23 USDA 9 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 3, 13 at 16:25
| I don't really qualify on the cold question, because it does not get very cold where I live. But I routinely have pushed other range limits, many times. So your question got me to thinking, Paul, and I don't have many pushed plants at the moment. Some I tried didn't survive the experience, or look about to give up the ghost. The Arenaria montana is my most heat/zone pushed, I believe. It was actually thriving in its little microclimate--until a raccoon or opossum squished the heck out of it last week while raiding my pond fish. And my other pushing has been in regards to light levels. I have Choisya (Mexican Orange) growing in full shade, and it even blooms strong. Not much other pushing going on here at the moment. But it is fun when plants surprise us and return strong, isn't it? |
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- Posted by aseedisapromise z4.5 SD (My Page) on Tue, Sep 3, 13 at 17:45
| I have an historic iris that blooms great in full shade. I also have had snaps and dusty miller come back, or rather I was too lazy to clear the beds and they were still growing in the spring when I went to do it. I had one kind of yellow leaf caryopteris that croaked over the winter, so I am trying Little Miss Sunshine and so far it is doing fine, and blooming right now. I am trying a Helenium, even though it probably wants more water than I am likely to give it. We'll see if I remember to be generous to it. So far so good. |
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| Um, it tends to work out the opposite way for me - those supposedly cast-iron reliable plants....which never see another summer in the blasted wilderness of a windy public allotment. Naturally, I blame pigeons, envious neighbours, weather (always handy), rampaging pets (mine) children (unfortunately mine also), random thieves....anything really, other than the true culprit - my neglectful self. |
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- Posted by carolinaflowerlover 7b (My Page) on Tue, Sep 3, 13 at 23:22
| I had a bunch survive last winter that should not have: Begonias (annual--come in 6 ct at Lowes): Sone came back, but they never got very big this year, though. Star sister dahlias: I am seriously excited about these. They were puny-looking last year, but came back gorgeous this year! Black and blue salvia: my one clearance plant, bought last year, is HUGE. I have 8 total now. The hummers know me due to this. I love it! Million bells/calibrachoa: It came back on the old stems. Snapdragons: I had some survive. Hyacinths: I heard they did not come back, but most of mine did. |
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- Posted by princessgrace79 8 PNW (My Page) on Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 3:06
| All the zone 9 stuff seems to come back for me :) calla, dahlias in certain locations. Our house sits south facing on a hill so perhaps it's warmer here...this has been with no mulch, although I will be doing that this year now that I have cursed myself :) |
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| LOL to campanula (only because I know what you mean - I feel your pain). I especially have to laugh at "rampaging pets (mine)". I tell all of my dogs "You're the reason I can't have anything nice!!!" But yeah... I managed to kill mint on a few occasions... yup... mint. |
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| Carolinaflowerlover - I am so excited to hear your starsister dahlia's came back. I think these are some of the prettiest dahlias I've ever had, and I can only find them at Walmart of all places. Two years ago I put some in pots, but this year I put them in the ground. I'm anxious already to see if they'll return next year! Thanks! I have a bare space in the bed in front of my porch where I can't get anything to grow because the dog jumps off the porch to chase some random squirrel and lands there every time. Some lily bulbs I planted there a few years ago send up shoots every year, get a few inches tall, and are smashed at which point they retreat until next year. But they always come back and put out those couple of inches. I don't even know what color it blooms. I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. |
This post was edited by sara82lee on Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 19:20
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- Posted by carolinaflowerlover 7b (My Page) on Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 20:27
| Sara, I bet they will! I did mulch my stuff with leaves. They are sooo pretty! :) |
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