13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Regarding possible roundup resistance, the plant with the resistance is horsetail or mares tail, ie Equisetum hyemale, not horse weed, Conyza canadensis. In fact Equisetum is resistant to pretty much any herbicide simply due to its structure. Common name confusion strikes again.
Thanks for the clarification. This is why I normally use Latin when talking plants. Too many similar common names.
Floral_UK, I was under the impression that some other weed strains have developed a resistance to round-up since GMO seeds are marketed as Roundup resistant themselves, there by encouraging farmers to use much heavier concentrations of this pesticide than they normally would.
I've never moved an entire plant, but I've divided several of mine many times and always do it in the spring. No problem. I know the earlier the better, but I have always divided mine after they show some new growth and it doesn't even faze them. I just take a spade and cut out the size plant that I want. They keep right on growing and bloom the same year.
I just realized that Blue River II is nit the shrub (which is Rose of Sharon), but is the perennial. Based on my experience, move it any time, they can't be killed!!!
A frield gave me a division a few years ago. I expected a small start, Instead he gave me a plastic shopping bag with a humongous root, with a huge plant attached and some dirt. I left it there for weeks, occasionally throwing water on it. I eventually got around to planting it, after I first hacked it into several smaller pieces (I just didn't have room for the monstrosity he gave me.)
It started blooming yesterday, as it so happens.
A long shot:
Close up:
That sounds like a nice surprise. Are there enough that you could try moving a couple now? They might grow a little better with some space. Just give them a bit of shade for two or so days after moving.
that reminds me, I have a bunch of biennial and perennial seeds I should be starting now.
The pink spectabilis are 95 % dormant now. A little foliage left in shadier locations.
Ditto Goldheart
Valentine has stopped blooming but foliage is present. Not too raggedy, but looking worse for wear in the shade after 90 degree days.
wonder what happened to its tail
thx for the pix...
ken
i would have guessed moth .. go figure...
Apparently, this is a very long lived butterfly (relatively speaking, of course), so by the end of its life, it starts looking a bit ragged. I can sympathize.
I once watched an Eastern Swallowtail do battle with a hungry praying mantis. The butterfly managed to escape but left part of its wing behind. It could have been a similar circumstance.
I've actually seen a lot of these in my garden this year, but normally, it's hard to get a decent photo.
My moth vs butterfly is based on the antennae. If they are feathery, I assume a moth.
Go ahead and plant it in the shade spot. I have grown Cimicifuga in the spot described above with just a couple hours of sun for part of the growing season, but I've also grown a green one in a spot that started mostly sunny and is now entirely shady and it did fine in both spots. I did have to dig up my Brunette once for some underground work, and it didn't have any visible issues with sitting in a plastic grocery sack (with holes) set in a box for a few weeks. Even after 2 years in the ground it had a huge bunch of fleshy roots.
I'm glad you are backing off the pear tree. The hated tree has been planted around here for some decades now and they literally disintegrate over time. Any wind or storm results in more big limbs being blown down. If thats not bad enough, they stink when blooming but the worst part is the way the surrounding countryside is becoming invaded.
Wherever there is another new subdivision, they are planted, 9 times out of 10, with more of the ever popular pears, lining the streets which is done so often because the tree is (in the beginning) so "perfectly" formed & behaved making a nice, very unified look so everyone seems hell bent on planting them or maybe they are just unimaginative, I don't know.
This is the inevitable result in the surrounding countryside--wall to wall trees all of one kind-- its awful --- an ever widening Callery Tree Forest Monoculture pops up very quickly. I mean, does anyone notice?? This is scary stuff in my opinion.
Just remember, the hydrangeas will be dormant in winter. So you'll have a line of bare sticks along the driveway. Maybe that will be okay with you, especially with the evergreen hedge behind it, but just wanted to make sure you were aware of that.
Tex, I agree completely - that is indeed scary stuff. I'm sure there are some who drive by and sigh and say how pretty it is, without really thinking what is happening there.
You have lots of other options besides Nellie Stevens holly! I agree that boxwood is so ordinary.
You live in an area where both coniferous and broadleaf evergreens are very common. It's certainly possible to maintain many of them for a time in a small container, but Nellie has such a big frame.
Make a list of your specifications....full sun or shade, narrow or wide profile, height at which you plan on keeping it pruned, etc., and visit a few locally owned garden centers or nurseries where some reasonably knowledgeable assistance might be available.
I love Sedum "Angelina'. Does it spread? Definitely? Is it easy to rip out? Even easier. And if I want to plant something where it currently is, simple dig a hole right in it and plant. It will surround your new plant, making a delightful weed suppressing mat.
Here it is underplanted with Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
and here it is with Coreopsis 'Zagreb' (and a whole lot of other stuff.
Sure looks like it. One thing good thing is the plant doesn't mind dry soil or heat. It seems like the hotter and dryer it gets, the more mine bloomed last year. I had it planted in unimproved soil last year down by the street where the reflected heat baked it everyday and it never stopped blooming. It would make a great background plant. In my experience it beats any sunflower or rudbeckia by a landslide when it comes to numbers of flowers and length of blooming time (May through Frost) and the leaves stayed looking nice + I like that blue.
Seedlings were up by early March this spring, last year was my first year growing it.
Native American Seed says its one of the larva food plants for bordered patch butterflies.
Yay! Thanks, TR, for your comment. I thought it looked like cowpen from photos but I've never seen it in real life as you have, so I'm really glad to hear you think it sure looks like one. I can see it would indeed be a good background plant. I will try to collect all the seeds before they drop so I can put them where I want them to come up next year. I really appreciate all your useful info about it derived from your personal experience.
I sure wish I could visit your beautiful gardens. Would be like walking in paradise! Those phlox are amazing. I fight so much disease with mine. Thanks for sharing your lovely gardens. lesley
Thanks, Huckdog.
You'd be welcome to visit. I don't always feel comfortable posting pictures because they tend to emphasize what happens to be working in particular parts of the garden at a particular time. Assume we all have problem areas in our perennial gardens and we don't tend to advertise those with pictures!