13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Those are exceptional Paul. I particularly like that pink/purple spotted one. Are these all named cultivars? Are they fairly long lived plants for you?
I've managed to kill the two Belemcanda I tried years ago. Maybe I ought to give it another go with the Belemcanda or the X Paracanda.
PS. kudos for using the giant "X" to indicate it's a bigeneric/intergeneric hybrid!!! It always kind of annoys me when I see one listed without it, lol. What can I say, it is one of my plant pet-peeves. ;-)
Thanks for sharing those awesome pics.
CMK
I've grown citriodora for a few years - didn't start any this year. I really love the blooms and the bloom pattern on this.
I may go back to this next year, as I am sick and tired of trying to grow didyma - never does well for me and this year I discovered I had that horsemint moth worm. Eh!
The citriodora was nice and easy and looked great. Admittedly I've never tried any others, but I do love the citriodora.
Dee
PeterâÂÂs Purple is beautiful but I donâÂÂt have full sun and it grows too tall and skinny at my place. Entirely the fault of my conditions, not the fault of the plant, I think. One of our many violent rainstorms will knock it over. I give it a haircut and it comes back but takes awhile to start blooming again.
Natural hybrid of 2 different native monarda created in the yard of Texas native plant expert and namesake Peter Loos. Nice smell like its M. fistulosa ancestor, but does not taste as good. Vibrant color that can stand up to Texas-size heat!
My apologies Gyr_Falcon,
I'll revise the list, without photos to share. I have no intentions to use them for commercial gain. It was for anyone that did not know what a plant was and wanted a quick look at what it looks like and how many different ways it can look (spring flowers/fall colors for example).
In the near future I will probably add descriptions of each plant for more practical use of the list. Height/width, bloom color/time, light requirements.
I've been cutting back Joe Pyes to tidy them up for over ten years. It makes a huge improvement. The plant is shorter, more compact, not likely to flop, and produces more blooms -- but a bit later. When they get to be about 18" tall, I shear tham back by half, and about a month after that, I cut them back again, but by about a third. I stop cutting them back around July 4th. The timing might be different in your area, but you know how to figure it out.
Rabbits did the job for me early in the season. In fact, they kept chewing my Little Joe to the ground over and over. I was afraid it wouldn't make it. For some reason, they stopped and it did recover. It just started to bloom about a week ago and is only around 2 feet tall, but I can't say it branched out like normal pinching does. It's definitely very full however - more from the base of the plant.
Kevin
GP1, love that Desert Four OâÂÂclock and the Blue Hair Grass is very cute. I'm planning on ordering that 'Blond Ambition'.Thanks!
Karin, no problem with a thread drift, I like penstemons too, although mine all disappeared on me this spring.
Babs, IâÂÂve seen a car dealer near me that used ribbon grass in the ground, wow, what a job they are going to have keeping that in control, itâÂÂs spreading in a dense matt. Japanese and Siberian Iris are a good substitute and they look nice with your SolomonâÂÂs Seal. Thanks!
CMK, I have a lot of part sun and IâÂÂd have to watch the moisture levels, I may give that Blue Oat Grass a try. Putting the aggressive plants in under a tree, good idea. ItâÂÂs not easy finding something that grows vigorously under trees.
I do like that âÂÂAureolaâ and IâÂÂm going to keep my eye out for that. Thank you!
The leaves do look oakish, but if you look at the back part of the plant you can see the red bracts similar to a poinsettia. Compare it to wild poinsettia, an euphorbia related to the Christmas poinsettias and also a southeast native plant.
Here is a link that might be useful: NC wildflowers website
Woodyoak, the crabapple in my photo is an American Spirit, but the fruits on my Profusion and Prairiefire look identical. I don't think these fruits are edible, except by the birds. Last spring, flocks of robins, and other birds, dined on them. Before that, I didn't think that even birds would eat these fruits. I think these trees are all some sort of Asian ornamental trees.
My grandmother had one of the old varieties of crabapple trees that you refer to, and she put up delicious spiced crabapples one year. I'm nostalgic for them too!
That's a pretty apple, Woody. I am sure everyone feels this way, but don't you think certain foods, fruits and vegetables especially tasted better when you were young? I wonder if it is an illusion, or if it was our 'young' taste buds or is it actually that it was tastier? :-)
Ha you always make me smile when I read your comments! Its like what a fool person asks such a dumb question. Haaaa Thanks for the answer. I was hoping I didn't have to tear the plants out. Let me ask another question. Is it time to cut things back in zone 5? I need to clean up things before I can move anything or before I can plant out my summer sown things. Oh lovely summer sowing . Free plants!
I'm not sure if that is new growth. It seems a bit early for the plant to be doing that. I enlarged the photo and compared the leaves in the center to the leaves on the blooming stems and they are very, very different. Are you sure something else didn't self-sow right in the middle of the plant? That happens. It's hard to say. I'm aware that new growth leaves look very different from the older leaves, but there's something about these leaves that just doesn't look right - almost like another plant right smack in the middle.
There isn't much you can do about it now, but make a note and see what's going on with this plant either after it's done blooming or next spring. You might have to lift it out of the ground to see if something else is growing there.
Kevin
This post was edited by aachenelf on Mon, Aug 26, 13 at 6:34
I almost bought a 'Little Spires' yesterday. I'm thinking about taking out my Perovskia after 15 years in the same bed because it is flopping & driving me crazy. Especially this year, since we've had a lot of rain. But regardless, I do have other things in the bed that need water and I do have clay soil. I heard that 'Little Spires' remains upright, so if anyone has that variety, how is it doing?
I bought 'Little Spires' this past spring and so far it is completely upright. I like it - lots. Seems very sturdy. I'm not so sure about the ultimate height however. I think it's advertized at 2 feet, but I'm sure mine is taller which makes me wonder what it will do in year 2 and after.
Kevin
seriously ....
the orchard 2 miles from my house.. has a 6 foot stack of them for sale..
and somehow.. a woman who drove 65 miles to meet a total GW stranger.. is too shy to go ask an orchard.. if they have baskets for sale..
crikey woman ... which on is it.. franklin.. want me to call them for you????
ken
Here is a link that might be useful: i called.. no one answered ...
We bought a half dozen baskets on line some years back. I can't locate the receipt, so not sure where we purchased them, but here are a few places that sell them:
http://wooddowels.frankedmunds.com/category/wood-baskets
http://www.wasserstrom.com/restaurant-supplies-equipment/cooking_woodbasket_1000148
http://www.groworganic.com/1-bushel-basket-with-2-handles.html
Many years ago, when I first started gardening, I tried these and loved them, only to find out that they didn't overwinter. I haven't grown them since, although I often toy with the idea of growing some as annuals.
I actually did buy some from my nephew's school fundraiser last year, but now that I think of it, I don't think I ever saw them, lol. Guess they were brought by him to a family function to give to me and forgotten there, lol.
Dee