13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

Actually, Achillea millefolium has a rather shallow root system , so it should be possible to control it's spreading. I think in many cases the problem is the seeding and not the runners. I cannot keep them alive for long, neither the spreading ones nor the clumping ones that I've bought. But I've got some seedlings that are MUCH better and now are going into their sixth year.The only survivor from the bought ones is Martina.

Besides, with so many clumping cultivars , why bother with spreading ones at all? All respectable growers always give information about the habit of the particular yarrow.

I grow A. 'Moonshine' which never spreads at all and needs division occasionally to keep it alive; 'Terracotta' also never spreads, and 'Fireland' which spreads very slowly and needs digging around the edges every few years or so. I NEVER let any of them go to seed.

I think people should plant both of these plants! What was I thinking? They look awesome together. I added Black Pearl Ornamental Peppers too. What a plant! I leave the peppers and it comes up each year like a perennial, though from seeds. Highly recommended! Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' looks great with them and really pops. I also recommend Penstemon 'Sweet Joanne.'

I think people should plant both of these plants! What was I thinking? They look awesome together. I added Black Pearl Ornamental Peppers too. What a plant! I leave the peppers and it comes up each year like a perennial, though from seeds. Highly recommended! Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' looks great with them and really pops. I also recommend Penstemon 'Sweet Joanne.'

My 'problem' is slightly different. Once I fell in love with Corydalis scouleri. I was not aware that it has a very aggresive running habit. Now I have it all over my north-facing part of the garden in shade. Love turned into hatred.

Lamb's ear. Fortunately, is easily controlled, so every other year or so I do the spade and yank. Same thing with sedge.

My Japanese anemones always try to take over - I have to stay on top of this, yanking through the season as necessary, or else I'd have beds of anemone and little else. Can't imagine being without them, though. :0)

Melaroma, see below for the link to the thread that I think aachenelf was referring to.

I've started liatris from seed, by wintersowing. I've had success growing them, but it does take some time from seed. I can't recall exactly, but I think it's at least a second-year bloomer. I think that while I'll continue to throw some seeds in a container every winter, I'll also supplement by buying some to plant. I'm trying to grow more and doing so by seed is just taking too long. I want a LOT more of these!

Currently, I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why mine all grow so strangely. They all seem to start off sideways, then straighten up, kind of like the letter "L". I wish I could get them to grow straight!

Good luck,
:)
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: liatris thread

The roots of liatris are like caviar to rodents. I have given up on them. No matter where I planted them, the rodents have always found them.

I was just reminded of another Phlox div. My niece had some plant growing in her garden that she couldn't identify. She said I gave it to her, but I had never seen it before. Anyhow,I ID'd it as Phlox div. Her's is in full sun! It was quite robust.

When I took that photo of Phlox div., I remember thinking how lovely that one, single tulip looked in that clump of pale blue and the possibilities of planting Phlox div. and tulips together intentionally. My pairing was an accident. I have no idea where that tulip came from. In fact, it's the only tulip in that particular bed.

I may have had tulips there years and years ago and this was the only survivor. I have no idea, but I like it. It also proves my theory you don't have to plant masses of any one plant or bulb to create something visually pleasing.

Kevin

Pulmonaria, maybe? But generally they have silver/grey spots or blotches in the leaves.

Karen

Can you post a picture of your flowers in question?

I use this one for "House Plants"

and this one for "Perennials"

The MGB Kemper Center Plant Finder lets you specify plant requirements and characteristics as well as tons of other search options like groundcover, fragrant, etc. I love it. Someone here suggested it to me a few weeks ago and it's become a place I can spend hours at!

Here is a link that might be useful: MGB Kemper Center Plant Finder

You can prune it too.

Thanks everyone! I will give it a try. I will loosen around the plant with a fork and then divide with a shovel down the center and plant the half lifted out some place else. Well that is how we learn. Elizabeth

I have seen them too. Mixed messages concerning hardiness and whether the plants are really perenial. No information whether the seeds germinated 'normally' or developed in a laboratory. They are marketed as Rudbeckias: Berlin, Dublin, Peking.

wieslaw, I've seen those too and they look like just regular R. hirta type strains, at least to me. The Echinacea x Rudbeckia plants that I saw were very different.

I agree. It's a really bad neighbor.... Spent much of a summer doing nothing but trying to dig these up. Didn't work.

Similar to ken, I now cut them back to about 2 inches above ground, and then hack them with a knife, through the middle, at least with a cross-cut, if not three, depending on size. And then drizzle roundup. For the really large ones, a piece of rerod stuck down through the pith, and then circled around some, leaves a good cavity for pouring in the round-up.

There will still be sprouts that come up in the vicinity of the plant, from the side roots. Zap them, too.

And, Ken, the 'food' references on this one come from the fact that the earliest sprouts of this plant in the spring can be eaten, when cooked. And in areas and times when *any* fresh edible in spring is gold, they were worth it. When the plant is more than a sprout, it becomes less and less edible. And the roots aren't.

Doesn't mean we want it growing, and spreading by seed and by root, in our gardens.

The poop of the birds eating the berries is the same colour as the berries, and can make a real mess if it hits your laundry.