13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Catananche caerulea/Cupid's dart. It's quite pretty. I grew it from seed via the winter sowing method but even that couldn't bring it back after Y2. Mine did bloom lovely the second year after being grown from seed but it wasn't long-lived or reliably hardy in my garden. Could be due to soil conditions, moisture or other factors but I don't count on it returning year after year the same as false indigo, coreopsis or lots of other long-lived plants.
I've had good luck with Sluggo Plus for earwigs - suggested by a local organic nursery. This is the year of the bug in Southern CT. Every time I turn around, another new species is eating something. On the plus side, I am no longer squeamish about insects - I pick them off the plant and squish them with my bare hands. It's a bit like how intimate you become with snot when you have a 2 yr old! TMI??
Thanks for the information! I never heard of aster yellows before. The diseased one is removed; time will tell about the other two. I'm assuming I shouldn't put a new plant in the hole anytime soon....
This post was edited by sjharris53 on Sat, Jul 13, 13 at 16:31
I think there is just differences in the plants, even from seed. I guess they are like children. I grew several Arizona Apricots from seed, and all are shorter than 12 in. Two are about the same diameter clumps. One died altogether, and one is about 6 in. in diameter. They are planted in a row, so its not like they have different growing conditions. One bloomed earIier, one is blooming now, and one is yet to bloom. I don't fertilize my xeric plants, unless I see significant yellowing. I grew Arizona Sun at my other house, and it did get bigger over time, and it did reseed. The plants didn't last forever, but the seedlings that I had weren't ever really tall, not more than 18 in. They got about an inch of water every month, including rain. Here is AZ Apricot in its second year here:
The A. canadensis bloomed weakly this year because May was quite droughty and I don't water where they are growing. But the did bloom.
When I start columbine from seed, they sometimes don't bloom the 2nd year, if I get don't get the seedlings planted out until mid-late the first year.
Have no idea why established plants that have bloomed for years would not bloom! Very odd.
Thank you all for your wonderful input! I decided to try out Plant World since their selection looked amazing. I e-mailed a question and was surprised to see a response from Ray in less than two hours! I ended up ordering:
Geranium 'Syabru'
Aquilegia fragrans
Aquilegia 'Perfumed Garden'
Aquilegia 'Fragrant Fantasy'
Aquilegia 'Honeydew'
Aquilegia 'Oranges and Lemons'
Aquilegia yabeana
Silene 'Ray's Golden'
Helleborus foetidus 'Miss Jekyll's Scented'
And I have been so happy with the quality of seeds from Jelitto that I placed another order, this time for:
Meconopsis cambrica (Gold Nugget; pre-treated for quick germination)
Silene fimbriata
Aquilegia chrysantha 'Denver Gold'
Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett'
Aquilegia viridiflora
So, yes, I have gone a bit columbine crazy! I have been so pleased with my pre-existing swarm of granny's bonnets that came with my house that I would like to work on them a bit and add different colors and fragrance into the mix.
I'm thinking tall and skinny as well. My first thought was that while tall and skinny works for the placement of the pots, it wouldn't work in those tall narrow urns, making it TOO tall and skinny and bottom-empty to boot. But now, in looking again and again at your photo, I'm rethinking that. Perhaps these pots will complement and enhance the tall and skinny look.
My first thought was ilex sky pencil. I'm not a great admirer of its form, but it does work well for these types of spots, and I believe it would be hardy and do well in the light conditions as well. You would have to double check the hardiness as I don't recall the exact zone off the top of my head. I think it calls for full sun but I grew one in part sun (in a pot) and it did fairly well. I ended up giving it away when I found something better for the spot.
I'm also thinking of ilex Castle Wall and/or Spire, which I think are more pyramidal. Not sure again exactly of zone or conditions, or even if this is "skinny" enough, but just going off the top of my head here.
Maybe ilex Earlibright? Again, sorry, not sure of zone, but I think this is a fairly narrow, upright form and would give great winter interest (if you have a pollinator nearby).
I seem to have ilex on the brain today, lol.
As a person who is terrified of pruning, I don't know if any of these would be amenable to pruning for size. I would think the Sky Pencil and Castle Wall would be, but not sure about the Earlibright.
And this may all be for nought if the zones aren't right....
Oh, one last thought - yucca? Golden Sword is quite nice, and while in bloom would give you the height you are looking for. And I think it is zone-4 hardy, so might work for you over winter as well. Not sure about sun exposure. I did grow these in pots on my back patio for winter interest, and they looked great over the winter, but died on me in spring from some kind of (I think) fungal thing.
Please let us know what you decide. This is kind of a challenge, in terms of perennials!
Dee
For anyone thats interested I have an up date on Montrose White. All three plants came thru winter fine all thou the raccoons tore one too shreds while gobbling worms. I think my soil is too rich to successfully grow mw or it just doesn't grow as advertised. That said one is 3x31/2 it flopped open and continues to grow happily. The other I cut back to 1x1 after it flopped open. Neither has started blooming yet. MW has beautiful foliage and nice branching. Will keep it just for that reason and what will be late season bloom for me. Long term survivability in rich soil is questionable at best. I think this plant would be super in a garden spot that not so well amended.
OK - if you Google the name John Warren you will find information on that specific cultivar of Clematis. It is in pruning Group 2 which means it may bloom again this year although perhaps not as it is very young. There is detailed information on pruning it at the link.
Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning group 2 Clematis
karin....
you can NOT reply to an email from GW ...
to reply privately to steve... you would click on his name.. go to his members page.. and then hit the SEND ME AN EMAIL link ...
but both of you.. when you do that.. you should include your direct email in your note.. so you can continue the discourse between yourselves...
just trying to teach you how.. not complaining or anything ...
i will be looking for the new wall post ....
ken
ps: you could have found his members page.. by putting his name in the GW search bar ...
I really like the way the window frames the plants.