13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
First of all don't be too sure that those clematis are dead. My Gravety Beauty has just emerged from the crown. This is one that is usually very full and flowers prolifically. Will be interesting to see if it flowers before frost. I have another that did not appear last year and is growing this year. Maybe give yours some alfalfa pellets (or if on a farm part of a bale) and keep them watered to see if they return next year.
Though I grow both P2 and P3 clematis I treated most of them as P3 and cut them back hard either in November or early spring. Proteus I wait until spring and cut back to new buds as it blooms double on old wood.
Clematis are my favorite vine and I have over 100 plants though some are duplicates. Not sure I have favorites as each has its attractions. Here are some that grow and bloom very well for me.
Asao First to bloom in the spring and covered with bloom from top to bottom
Fireworks: Though this one has some light purple color it mostly fades out so blooms look pink and white Another prolific bloomer top to bottom
Perrin's Pride blooms early, prolific, dark purple
Elsa Spath gorgeous bluish purple blooms
H. F. Young another good bluish purple
Natasha three year old plant covered with bloom from top to bottom
Warsaw Nike a trooper, good reliable bloom every year
Blue Angel have these two together on a trellis, BA starts about a week after WN good blooms
Hagley love this pale pink bloomer
Proteus both single and double blooms at the same time
Prince Charles didn't think I would like this pale bloomer but it
has been a prolific bloomer and good contrast with darker clelmatis
Gillian Blades an early white with hint of purple, ruffled edges
blooms top to bottom
Ernest Markham reliable bloomer
Mme Julia Correvon small blooms cover plant from early summer until frost (this is my oldest clematis--10+ years)
c. texensis Duchess of Albany huge plant mid summer to frost blooms
c. texensis Gravety Beauty closest to red that I have
V. Purpurea Plena Elegans prolific bloomer,
Integrifolia Bushy Blue Bell non-climber blooms from early summer until frost
Inspiration lax climber that needs to be tucked into trellis
blooms early summer until frost
Others that do well for me
Jackmannii, Comtessa de Bouchard, Rhapsody, The President,
v. Polish Spirit, Piilu, Rouge Cardinal, Ville De Lyon, Voluceau,
Alionushka, Recta, Roguchi, t. Etoile Violette, Petit Faucon,
Bourbon, Bijou,
Because I grow so many clematis some are planted in less than ideal conditions, too much shade, tree roots, etc. Those varieties may grow well in better conditions.
And I can not keep Sweet Autumn alive. The first one I had was wonderfully fragrant and prolific but died three years later, too much shade and disturbing the roots. Others since survive one year and don't return. I know it is invasive in many areas and have decided that I will not replant.
I have a new computer and lost my bookmarks and now can not find my Photobucket albums. If you want to see photos of my clematis you can go to the clematis forum and search with mnwsgal in the search box on both the discussion and gallary sites. Lots of other posters have photos as well.
V. Purpurea Plena Elegans
I am glad you asked this question. Don't believe the advertised height. I have two plants, one is more upright than the other, but they are both about 18".
This is the more upright one.
I was a bit worried because it doesn't look quite right. The petals are sparse and the center doesn't look the way it should for this variety.
Here is the one that has flowers that look more the way I think they should look.
Good thing I took these photos for you, because I looked closer and realized it has asters yellow. Bummer! They will both have to be removed.
I'm very fond of primula and see them as one of the most useful and engaging spring plants in our mixed perennial beds.
Not sure re leaves, but I do feel that our Primula vulgaris (= P. acaulis) are a bit disproportioned. To me, that's related to not having a stem (acaulis = stemless).
Personally, I find our Polyantha hybrids more attractive.
powdery mildew. physocarpis is somewhat susceptable to it. (but no one told me!)
I've had several ninebark for about 3 years and this is the first year one of has mildew. Check the web for controls, because I don't remember and haven't done anything about it.
Good luck.
marie
Nice! I love a good fire (no I'm not a pyro). I see more and more burns on the east coast too, some of the local pine barrens shape up nicely after a good cleaning out of leaves and brush.
I have some time off for the next few days and I'm trying to get my annuals done. I'll probably finish in July, so if planting this late is failure then count me in! I did save plenty since most were discounted, and I know enough to pick the ones that will take off in the heat.... The only problem is I don't take off in the heat. It's slow going with lots of watering of the plants and myself but the delay will have everything looking fresh until frost. It drive my MIL nuts though, she seems to think summer is all downhill after the fourth.
I think If your not failing here and there then your not really pushing yourself.
This weekend I just spotted Little Titch and scooped it up. It looks very promising! I hadn't seen any dwarf nepetas until now.
Some of the foliage in some of the containers was yellowing, but I would hope thats from container culture problems. I hope to get mine in the ground asap,
luckyladyslipper, you just reminded me that I have done the same thing.... TWICE. Twice with the same plant! I planted a - I don't even remember what it was! - in my friend's garden, and then "weeded" it out that fall. I didn't realize till the next spring that I did that. Got another one of the plants, planted it, and once again, "weeded" it out!
The second time I pulled it out, I realized what I had done immediately. I replanted it and babied it all year, but it died. Which made me wonder why if you pull a weed and just toss it back on the top of the bed it will re-root and grow spectacularly, but why this plant, lovingly replanted and tended to, died.....
Dee
Cheryl, I was kidding about the shooting. Rednecks do that to Prairie Dogs here LEGALLY for sport if you can imagine. Its sickening. Most of the reasons P.D.s are fair game is based on false notions & ignorance. They are an important part of the prairie ecosystem. There is a large group with that mindset in these parts that approaches such problems with the solution of "just get the guns out". They have gun racks in the back of their pick-ups.
I was wondering if your cars had been hit yet . A friend of mine keeps his hood open to discourages them thinking the car is a place to hide from snakes. He says that works, just hearsay repeated. I don't know if that is for sure. He has lived out in the non developed desert for a LONG time in one of those abundant old Hippiedom areas that NM is famous for.
mine are mostly mahogany too-as i weed them out by the dozens i keep thinking-maybe this is the one with the great color, oh well into the mulch. the echinacea blooms a month before the others so the seed may be true-next spring. temps this week in the 100's with humidity at 5% or lower so survival mode here as well. reno has had 5 in. of precip. in the past 2 years with very hot summers so drought is in uncharted territory-expect sand dunes and true desert. :)
david, I love this landscape. I always get in trouble on the subject but a wide panoramic view like this with no trees, no fences for roosting & seed dropping and endless vast sky is like heaven on earth to me. You can post as many photos as you want on this thread, I never get tired of seeing this kind of landscape. That looks virgin. There is very little original landscape left here that remains as it once was.
Jenny, see this thread for more discussion re ES
Here is a link that might be useful: Tired of Mophead's lack of flowers
Both of my Endless Summer plants came through the winter fine. They are growing well and forming blossoms. I surround them with chicken wire and add leaves for the winter. Perhaps yours are just late.
Keep them watered and maybe give them some alfalfa tea or pellets/loose alfalfa.