13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
A previous post says bulb does not tolerate temps lower than 28F and if they need to be planted in Fall, and growing in January, I probably can't grow it in USDA zone 7, in Maryland? Could over-wintering in a pot in an unheated garage, and then bringing the pot out in March work? Today our temperature is 17 degree F. Is this cold enough to kill potted tubers?
Yes, you can do that and the anemones will flower later but will possibly not come back so reliably the following year. I keep a few of mine outside in pots all winter but in truth, I doubt they would survive extended freeziness in anything but the most free draining and friable of soils.
F. ulmaria has been an aggressive spreader/reseeder in my garden since the evil day I planted it years ago. I've dug out most of the plants, but have to battle the remainder in damp sections of the garden every year.
Attractive only for a short period, plagued by Japanese beetles, invasive...what's not to like?
Babs, that outfit sounds very exotic. [g] But knowing how those black fly bites hurt, I would do the same thing. I didn't realize you had to deal with them the whole month of May. May is such a lovely month, it's too bad. Do you have a screened space to eat outdoors? And does that outfit keep you bug free?
We have a van and normally don't have a problem fitting in all the garden plants and supplies we need, but like you and Thyme2, when I've been in our two seater, I've stopped at the nursery for 'just a couple of six packs' and then 'had to have' that standard Hibiscus that was just the color I was looking for. What else is a convertible for, any way? [g]
Gry, that was the craziest thing! Who would have expected rats to pop out of a birdhouse, but SIX of them, leaping out at you? I can't help thinking of phone booth contests during spring break. ;-)
I have to say that my garden seems pretty boring in comparison to all of yours but I'll take boring, thank you. lol
Beautiful pics, Gardenweed. Would enjoy seeing a pic, Bugbite/Bob, tho I know yours are still young and just starting to bloom. Exciting that you got so many from seed.
My neighbor has a large, old one near the property line with me. I never knew that it came from a native plant originally - thank you, Bob!
Interesting entry on Guara lindheimeri at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center - looks like the native plant grows as far south as the TX/Mex border. For info on Lindheimer himself see last para. above pics âÂÂFrom the Image Gallery."
Here is a link that might be useful: Lady Bird Johnson Ctr, Guara lindheimeri
Gardenweed, Great pictures..beautiful! Thanks
River_C, Thanks for the link. I found a similar link that is for Florida plants; it lists the guara all the way down to Zone 10. I read the history of Lindheimeri before, very interesting.
I will post pictures of these Sparkle plants when they bloom, but I have others that I am really excited about..
1. About 8 guara plants for cuttings I took from an 8 footer I had last year, all looking good.
2. Three really amazing new ones that volunteered this year. They are the biggest, most full guara plants I have ever seen. They are spectacular young plants. Can't wait to see how they turn out.
Bob
If you have a lawn of some size, this could get very expensive! Mondo grass is very popular here, and you could plant tiny spring bulbs in it. Glechoma is taking over my yard, as is lamiastrum and vinca major. Sedums would be nice, but all but the mondo look bad in winter. Weed control could be a headache. Check out the Stepables website. Nothing will be drought tolerant while getting established. I can't grow thyme or lavender to save my soul.
Hi,
Ageratum might be a good fit for you, especially the dwarf varieties. It flowers, is a perennial in zones 3 through 11 (most of them), never grows taller than 12", is very adaptable to various soils; it has average water needs and enjoys full sun. You can mix these too to have various foliage and blossom colors.
Most people grow this as an annual and as a filler in pots, but I think you'll find it will work for you as a perennial.
Here is a link that might be useful: Ageratum
It varies with them. I am within easy driving distance of Plant Delights, they are one of my fav perennial sources b/c of the uniqueness of plants that you find there and their quality is superb. Last year I got a Amarcrinum from them in a 3.5 inch pot. It was defin ready to come out of that pot, but not unhealthy by any stretch. I prefer for them to be this way, so that I don't have to pay a 2 gal price for a 1 gal plant (so to speak). Rather it be ready to come out when I get it, but still healthy.
I also got two different lycoris from them last year. Those had plenty of room still when I got them in the spring. It's not unusual to see both ways there with their 3.5 inch pots. Some are bursting their pots (but still very healthy plants) and others have some room to grow still. Either way, I've never had any complaint with anything from them. Just my experience.
This post was edited by funnthsun on Fri, Mar 7, 14 at 8:47
I haven't stopped by here in a while. I just can't put to words my impatience (did someone say impatiens?) waiting on spring to come. I feel this urge to post things here - I miss it - but I have nothing to say... at least I don't think I do. The only thing I know I have to say is complaints towards this never ending winter we're having, the subzero temps, my concern for what plants may be dying out there (hard to voice that concern when people have water manes breaking but...). They just said on the news we're warming up for the weekend: above freezing!
Do I sound like I'm complaining? This is why I haven't posted anything. I'm such a Debbie Downer right now. I just want to go outside and grow grow grow. But for now I'll oogle at everyone's pictures :)
Oh good! More posts & pics ;-)
-hoovb, O.M.G. That is an absolutely amazing transformation. I'm in love with your front design. So many textures. I'm surprised your garden isn't on the cover of a magazine ;-) Ps. much improved taking those bulky blue shutters off your house!
-kato, I think the color of the Picea might be difficult. I've long debated whether a blue (even a "mild" blue) might end up looking odd because I tend to go more for gold or green evergreens. Although I have decided to take a 'Gold Coast' Juniper out in that area (you can kinda see it in the Main Garden 2008 pic). It is old and getting too big. Plus it makes me itch whenever I brush up against it, lol.
I tend to really like the look of weeping evergreens and trees in general. I thought it would look pretty good there, but am open to suggestions if you have any. ;-)
Ha ha. Funny your SO doesn't like the weeping look. Until I started working at the nursery I didn't realized how polarized opinions of weepers are. People either love or hate them. One customer even said they were "depressing" looking. LOL.
Ps. is that an Arundo donax at the end of your bed?? What did you end up ripping out in that area and what annuals do you plan as replacements?
CMK
Over the last years I have slowly replaced many perennials with shrubs and small trees. Just lessening the amount of cutting back in season and at the end of the season has made a considerable difference. I've also increased the groundcovers in some areas and use bulbs in them where they allow it--leadwort, for example (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides). And leadwort can be mowed with the mower at the end of the season. I also long ago eliminated perennials that need regular division or beating back every few years.
How about more power tools? I use my hedge trimmers to trim all the old perennials into about six inch lengths, rake it out into the lawn and then run over with the lawnmower to bag it up. I've been known to just run over the perennial beds with the mower on mulch mode when I'm really short on time.
There are always little bits and pieces in the lawn and beds, but in a week or two you'll never notice, so don't kill yourself picking up every last leaf.
Like Laceyvail mentioned, groundcovers are great. Thicker ones such as pachysandra can give a nice green cover and absorb most of the fall leaves that blow in or onto them.
And did I mention power tools?
I would love to grow red currants here - but they are an alternate host for White Pine Blister Rust and are not recommended for planting within 300' of white pines. I don't want to endanger our pines so don't plant currants - a neighbour up the street has them and lets us harvest theirs.
It occurred to me that this spring I should send DH with his camera up onto the (limestone) Niagara Escarpment to see what's flowering up there. Those things would likely have a good chance of doing well here, although I think our soil is probably closer to neutral - I did some Googling and found a report that says most home garden soils in the area influenced by the Escarpment have a pH 6.5-7.3 so we probably fall into that range.
Campanula - perhaps you'd be interested in the information in the attached link. Maybe some of those might grow for you and give you something new to try :-) I'm going to go through it for ideas for here....
Here is a link that might be useful: Niagara Escarpment wildflowers
Compost seems to kill cornus, and to a lesser degree, gaultheria. In the wild, both seem to grow on granite with a very thin layer of peat moss.
When I grow them in pots, I am very careful about the amount of compost I use in my soil mix, mixing instead, large amounts of peat.
wantanamara, how lucky you are to live close to the LBJ Research Center, must be the Mother Lode for finding great native plants. I'd empty the bank account if I lived that close. I'm further north, slimmer pickings. My soil is a bit friendlier but its hot and dry here too.
I'm growing:
P. pseudospectabilis
P. palmeri, gets huge & armed with sharp edges on blue leaves
P. eatonii, pretty sure, seed came in desert mix from Az, might be another red
P. ambiguus
I sowed P. barbatus, cyananthus & more ambiguus, I'm still waiting to see results.
The only one that hasn't done well was P. pinifolius. The inferno summers of 2011 & 2012 did it in both years.
You mentioned drainage. Agree. Its a classic xeric plant, to my mind the SW native types are the prettiest. All are low maintenance and good re-seeders.
I'm wanting to order P. virgatus, it doesn't need cold strat. so I may order some seed on a short list from PoSW.
campanula, I believe the P. ambiguus would work well there if you have a sandy spot. Its a very long blooming 2ft bush rounded type native to the US central plains. Smells great, surprisingly bright flowers.
Yes,Texas Ranger, I am looking to pick up a couple of Penstemon laxiflorus. Mine died in the big drought and had not had a chance to make a lot of seed. Nor has it been rainy enough for the seed to sprout Lately.
This post was edited by wantonamara on Sat, Mar 15, 14 at 23:13