13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

I dug up one of mine approximately two weeks ago and transplanted it. It is growing new leaves already and is looking healthy and didn't go through too much shock. I'm thinking that if yours are "sad" looking, you may wind up going back to return them again.
It could simply be as Kevin said that it is because they are in pots. Did you pay full price?

Good luck!

Thanks, Judy!
Yep, I paid full price, but they looked fine when I bought them. I planted most of them, but replaced the 3 worst looking ones since my last post. I have 2 left to plant, I'm shooting for tonight. Most of the ones I've planted are looking fine, but two are a little wilty. I'm afraid to overwater them, how often should I water them? Oh and are the roots supposed to be mostly brown?

Thanks again for any help!

I started Echinacea PWWB from seed last year, and they bloomed this year. I would agree with others, they are a compact and bushy Ech. with lots of blooms.

I reserve further judgement however - my Echinacea didn't exactly have a banner year. Almost all the plants were transplanted to new locations this past Spring. Partly to fill in where the voles had wiped out the original plants, partly to plant out a new bed. They are still getting established.

I started them from seed last year, they bloomed the first year and were gorgeous, unfortunately this year they were hit with aster yellows and were yanked. Guess I'll be starting some more next year.

I've never met a Sedum I didn't like, although some need a special spot so they don't over-run an area, like dragon's blood. I left them all behind in OH, but I still remember Lida Kense and Bertram Anderson, both with beautiful bluish foliage and pretty pink flower heads.

I agree with everyone here...there are only a few Sedums I don't care fore. My fave, at the moment is 'Matrona'...those bronze leaves and deep red stems are just gorgeous...especially when backlit. Of the most prostrate forms, 'Angelina' is a winner...and so welcome in winter. 'Blue Spruce' is really nice...and recently, I found a few (to me) variety called 'Blue Carpet', which is the most wonderful shade of blue/purple. Just planted 'Hab Gray', as I was intrigued by the yellow blooms...can't wait to see how it does!
Oh, here's a post I did on 'Matrona' a while ago!

Here is a link that might be useful: Post on 'Matrona'

Thanks! Wasn't sure if it was common for this to happen or not.

They get huge fast! It must be the perspective but that Coral one shown above is almost 4' wide.

The red is fading a bit on this one, but still nice!

They are both very pretty! I will have to look out for those mammoth mums.

Yes in my experience seedlings can have a lot of genetic variation - just like kids can from their parents and siblings. It makes things interesting, although if you're looking for more uniformity then clones work better.

I'm glad to hear about the hellebore/forget-me-not combo. Thanks for your post.

If you have H.orientalis, it is unlikely that groundcover beneath it is going to be an issue since mine make dense evergreen mounds of rather good foliage which persist all year,ting cut back completly (and briefly) as soon as the new blooms appear. For a very short time, just the stalks and flowers are visible then the new growth roars in and it is totally dark under the hellebores again. Same with many ferns -the leaves tend to recurve back to the soil level.You could add height though, maybe growing something much lighter through the hellebores (thalictrum, grasses, one of the taller anemones) to hover above.

Kevin, I agree that it won't hurt anything. But peat moss that constitutes the bulk of many potting soils err...media (sorry Ken)...is not compatible with clay because it holds water when wet, which is the last thing you need clay soil to do. It also adds no nutritive value to the soil. But yeah, I've dumped it out in my garden with no qualms because it isn't enough to matter.

Just don't dump it in the same place year after year or you will get a soil borne disease like someone I know did and it won't grow anything,

hey al .. that reminds me..

i bought from a CHEAP seller ..

and waited 5 years .. to find out.. it was NOT THE PLANT I ORDERED ...

now that will piss a guy off .. lol ..

and of course you MIGHT get ONE flower next year ... i was setting newbie up to be thrilled.. she beat the odds ... rather than disappointed.. if you dudes are wrong .. lol ..

ken

Thank you all for the info!

Well...I only planted once and I didn't get to see the blooms even once because we moved. Then the new owner took absolutely everything out and put rocks because she had a dog. :( I don't want that to happen again. :) But I get what you mean.

I'll try to be optimistic but still realistic. ;)

And I did go to Hallsons. They were really nice there and had a lot of nice hostas. Thank you again for that.

Sunnyborders wrote: it's currently providing more colour here than the traditional and recent Coreopsis cultivars that we have

I agree Sunny that AA is extra noticeable this time of year as many other plants have finished flowering but don't sell some of the coreopsis short in this regard. Here is a picture I took just today of my 2 year old "Cosmic Eye" coreopsis. It has been flowering as long as has AA.

Very pretty, Rouge.
Got to look into that one.

I have 1 Arizona Sun for the last 5 years and it came back every year, on mended clay soil. I do not do anything special prior to fall and winter time. However, I do notice that the new plant emerges pretty later in spring. Actually every spring I thought I had lost it but it came back, first as very tiny little plant, most likely from seeds. So if you do not see them emerge next year, be a little patient give them a little more time to be sure. This spring I almost planted something over it as I was not sure if it is still alive or not. Tt was as tiny as my finger nail but grew to be a regular plant in no time.

Since you have several Arizonan Apricot, you can experiment different things and see how they work. But please do post back with your results next year so we can all learn.

Best of luck,
Vivian

Thank you mistascott for your follow-up and I will report back Vivian next spring.

Here is one of my ten AA as of today. They are all in clay soil.

The Prairie Splendor I bought is shorter and has nicer flowers than the purpurea in my garden. As others have said there is variation in Prairie Splendor since it is seed grown so pick the best ones you can find.

Re 'Sundown' (above) and what was said previously about the Big Sky Series:

The 'Sundown' I planted in flower, in 2009, now "blooms" with no petals at all on roundish cones. It's time for it to go, but I'm going to try to keep it in a pot as a curio.

I gather the problem is inherent to this (interspecific) hybrid series. Big Sky cultivars are destined to lose their looks over time. Another mean trick played on we gardeners!

Here in the PNW fall is better than spring. Better weather for the gardener and warmer soil temps for the plants.

I am in north of Chicago so it is colder here. I do most of my new planting, dividing, moving of perennials in early to mid September. For several years, I also put new divisions of the plants in my IL house to our 2nd house in Michigan (also zone 5a). Except 1 shasta daisy, I have not had any plants die on me. For me, September is the best time to plant. Only need to water a few times, then plant settles in for the winter. I do not do any extra mulching or winterizing.

Hostas are amazingly easy and robust plants. I planted a couple hostas my neighbor gave me as divisions mid of October last year, watered it once, then rabbits ate the leaves a few days later. But they came out this year as nice and big hostas.

So plant them now in your zone. put regular amount of mulch. You will be fine.