13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

So far this year we haven't had much heat and we've had plenty of rain, so my Astilbes look great. They only died back the first year (2 years ago) during the heat wave. I don't remember if we had a heat wave last year, but they didn't die back then. I wish the flowers lasted longer, but they are nice for that short period of time. My Visions in Red has an awesome color and makes my neighbor a bit jealous.

I had moved my Astilbes in the spring and under estimated how big they would grow, so next spring I will move them again. One is bigger than the other and growing over my new garden path. I haven't decided yet if I want to divide them -- they are still young and not too big yet. Plus I am running out of room for new plants because of my love for hydrangeas.

Mine did this during hot spells each year for the first two or three years I had them, but now that they are well established, they don't do it anymore (as long as I keep them watered).

My ND neighbor has a large patch of it which is, thankfully, bordered on one side by driveway pavement, one side by granite patio & one side by landscape timbers. I'm grateful that so far it hasn't shown its head in my garden in just under 10 years.

I have it several places--most of them dry shade. Our favorite spot is by the mailbox which is 2 football fields length from our front porch up hill sharply most of the way. There's no way I can get water up there! Pulmonarias--Mrs. Moon, ordinary Solomon's Seal, Blood Root, Virginia bluebell, May Apples in spring. Goose neck in mid summer along with perennial woodland sunflowers (came by themselves), several wild asters,and Virginia creeper coloring up in the fall. I brought the pulmonarias and gooseneck from my Vermont sister in law's and everything else brought itself.

Plaidbird, Some homeless may enjoy it. When we meet a new mailperson they mention it, also utility meter readers, and fisherboys, some of whom might go in that chapter you were talking about.

Holes in the leaves: You must have a bug problem. Check at night to see what might be eating them if you don't see anything during the day.

NW exposure: That doesn't sound like a whole lot of sunlight for these to bloom properly. IMO all the plants you mentioned growing in this area are pretty much full sun (or close to it) plants.

Kevin

I was going to say what Kevin said. I grow Black Eyed Susans in the hottest, sunniest spot in my yard. Echinacea gets western (late afternoon sun). I would be inclined t say slugs possibly tearing holes. I had problems earlier this year with Hostas. if it is them you will see them come out at night and mine are usually in the shaded beds.

used to grow brugmansia indoors but got tired of fighting the whiteflies and switched to the annuals. hadnt had any for a couple of years but volunteers sprouted in the veggie garden. dont have hornworms but supposedly they will eat the daturas in preference to tomatoes. datura honey is mildly hallucinogenic with a bitter tang that tastes like the leaves smell.

They come back from the roots here. No problem with white flies.

Very cool!

My orange one has blooms going up and down the stem. I thought they all did that.

Gosh, I never saw the picture. I'm just getting the little box with an "x" in it.

Never mind. Now I see it :)

This post was edited by msrose on Mon, Jul 21, 14 at 17:45

Thanks so much, A2zmom! :-)

You could consider purchasing the below mixture.

Here is a link that might be useful: Broken Colors Four-O'Clock

I appreciate your input but you guys aren't really answering my question :/

The plants go back about 8 years with additional volunteers starting around 4 years ago. All of those are not putting out buds. The volunteers that are blooming go back about 2 years. All my Stokes have started from 3 potted plants and kept spreading.

I have one that didn't bloom last year, which I thought was due to transplanting?

This year it has only two blooms.

Quite disappointing...

Woody, what do feed your clematis and how often, do you top dress with alfalfa pellets. I've never bothered much with that end of it, maybe that's what's wrong with my two wimps. I did throw some fertilizer made for clemies around a couple of years back but it seems to be a job I never get around to doing, I mean to but it never seems to happen.
DH helps me with some of the heavier stuff and I really appreciate his help but gardening is my thing not his. Sooo, if I don't get to it it just doesn't get done.

At our last garden club meeting one of our members gave us a talk and slide show on the clematis in her garden, not an overly big garden but she had, if I remember correctly 127 clematis planted. It was breathtakingly beautiful and some of the things she used to support them were quite unusual to say the least like an old CD rack found at recycle and a pr. of crutches of all things. She had clematis I've never even heard of let alone seen. I think I'm not wrong in saying Clematis are her passion.

Annette

Annette - I usually give the clematises some clematis fertilizer in spring - if I remember! I forgot to this spring and it hasn't seemed to hurt them.... :-) But I figure all that prolific flowering must use up a lot of energy so I will try not to forget to fertilize next spring.

DH likes to garden too - he's largely responsible for the veggies in pots and, because I'm physically disabled, he does the heavier labour like digging big planting holes and pruning tall things. We generally work well together in the garden - although he sometimes misunderstands my instructions and cuts down the wrong thing or does something 'the wrong way' :-) But nothing dire happens... His assistance is vital to the garden here and is greatly appreciated by me!

I know somebody like that clematis person you mention. She has a 10 acre property - and goodness knows how many clematises! She is 'responsible' for getting me into growing more of them. She and her DH are moving to BC this fall, so that clematis lady will have some competition soon... :-)

It's probably due to the fact it's under a tree, the soil is probably too dry, due to the tree taking much of the moisture combined with the fact it's under the drip line (I'm assuming). Brunnera (all of them, not just Jack Frost) prefer moist soil, they perform quite poorly in drier conditions.

If you really want brunnera in this location, I would suggest digging up and re-planting in a spin-out bag or digging a large hole, lining with plastic (with bottom cut out or large holes for drainage), filling with top-quality soil and replanting. Or, you could use moisture-absorbing crystals (e.g. SoilMoist) mixed into a large, freshly amended planting hole to help get the root system well-established and better able to withstand some dryness. I've used these tricks in the past, and they do work, but it is imperative you offer supplemental moisture if the plants are under the drip line.

These are the most pitiful plants I've ever tried to grow. They can't take the heat here. I'm trying a new one called 'Sea Heart' that seems to be doing much better.

Do we all have a love/hate relationship with hoses? LOL! What would we do without them, but they really can be a pain.
I have both. We invested in multiple 50' heavy rubber hoses years ago and they have been great. We stretch a couple out permanently during the season through shrubs to where we need them so we don't have to continually drag them around. The others we do have to drag around and put back into place when done. The issue I have with these huge hoses is they do take a lot of space when they're coiled up and they are SO heavy.

I do like the flexable hoses because they are so light they are just tons easier for hand watering and when I'm done I hide them in my potting bench. They shrivel up to nothing. I mentioned in an earlier post that we don't have the greatest of water pressure which is why I probably haven't had any issues with them bursting or failing. Maybe folks who have great water pressure would be best to turn on the spigot halfway to see how it goes. I do find the spray goes quite far even w/o good pressure.

Does anyone have any feedback on the newer models made with latex? I purchased a 100 ft. expandable hose on ebay that claims to be an improved version of older models with metal connectors and a more durable inner hose made of latex. It's not the X-hose pro. The brand isn't specified but for $30, I was willing to risk it for the incredible convenience of a secondary hookup to a faucet in my garage.
So far, with about a dozen uses, I've had no problems with a 50ft Pocket hose which was a gift but needed something longer. (And no, I'm not giving up my "workhorse" hose. I know these lightweight hoses just can't take the abuse but it sure is nice not to lug that beast around for the other side of my property). Just wondered if anyone noticed a difference with the next generation.

Most of the geraniums I grow are species - rarely do I bother with named varieties, especially those which have to be vegetatively propagated (having a tight streak and growing 'em from seed)....and honestly, Tex, there are some stunners which would easily survive the searing southern heat - am thinking now of the mediterranean G.renardii, the New Zealand g.riversleanum....or a number of gorgeous south africans such as G,robustus, G.incana and various naturally arising hybrids (such as the above mentioned Silver Cloak). I know you are generally wedded to natives (isn't the US geranium g.maculatum?... which is essentially a woodlander?) Flora's maderense originates (along with palmatum) in the temperate but frost free zone of the Canary Isles - as does a number of rather brilliant succulents) For me though, I have no such boundaries and will look anywhere for a good plant which survives my negligent care (hence my new-found interest in US plants such as leadworts and species penstemon). Of course, this is ultimately the source of my usual difficulties - a vast curiosity and desire to grow everything.....although in all other aspects of life, I have usually been more able to demonstrate a bit more control and restraint.

Should you ever venture out of native species, SA plants are quite fabulous (have been down that road numerous times) with Namaqualand daisies and Karoo plants to the forefront of every arid gardeners wish-list (not to mention the maquis and guarrigue plants of southern europe). Have not dared to venture too far into s.America as that way disaster (and poverty) lies (those weird southern hemisphere inversions and strange tiny little flora and fauna of Chile, odd Andean root vegetables (have a friend doing that stuff with Oca and mashua etc.).....in Jerry Garcia's immortal words - 'what a long strange trip we are on' .

Sigh, Flora, my camera is also doing that sticking lens (and enraging screen message) thing....and no birthday in sight till October. Ever tried the white maderense? Debating whether to get seeds.

Sorry, Campanula, I meant to reply to this thread sooner, but it has been an exceptionally busy summer! That is too bad about 'Crystal Lake' being a dud. Mine has been growing a lot more than normal in this mild, relatively rainy summer, but it has still been pathetic in both quality and quantity of blooms. You practically need a microscope to see the flowers! It must perform well somehere, otherwise I can't imagine why someone would have wanted to introduce it and put it on the market.

The geraniums that perform best for me so far are:

'Blue Cloud' (probably my favorite overall)
'Rozanne'
'Sirak' (takes a few seasons to establish but spectacular!)
'Orion'
'Brookside'
'Wageningen'
'A.T. Johnson'
'Rebecca Moss'
'Tiny Monster'
Geranium sanguineum variants
Geranium erianthum
Geranium maculatum variants
Geranium phaeum variants
Geranium soboliferum 'Butterfly Kisses'

Most of these have been growing so well this season that I have already had to whack them back to the ground one or more times just to prevent them from overwhelming neighboring perennials!

TexasRanger10, not all hardy geraniums are created equal. You need to research those which will perform well in your own climate. But the genus is vast so it is likely that one or more will thrive.