13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'-- rich soil, mulch, crowding from other perennials, & winter wet did it in. After reading about warnings that it's invasive, I planted them right next to tall sedums ('Autumn Joy') to corral it, but maybe that wasn't a good idea.
In my opinion both C. takesimana and glomerata should be banned or be sold with a BIG BLINKING RED WARNING. Both of them are impossible to remove once they are in the middle of another plant(I don't use chemicals),unless you dig it up and wash the roots, pulling all the pieces of the campanulas out. It took me years to kill C.glomerata(I hope it will not come back). C.takesimana was a little easier to get rid of.
Smilacina racemosa(unbeatable in all respects), Cimicifuga(all of them), Actea , Trilliums, Primula elatior, Geranium phaeum album, Podophyllum, Lilium martagon, Anemone nemorosa, Kirengeshoma palmata and koreana, Rodgersia, Brunnera,Uvularia, Disporum flavens, Gentiana asclepiada, Veratrum album and nigrum, Clematis macropetala, Clematis alpina, Meconopsis cambrica, Asiatic lilies(but fewer flowers), Oriental lilies.
Combination of all these plants will provide flowers through the whole season in heavy shade.
All the above plus Anemones will give you blooms in the fall, too. I have mostly Honorine Joubert, but there are lots from which to choose.
Astilbe really like moisture or they fry, even in shade. The ones near my bird baths do best because I dump the water every day when I put in clean. Hosta are addictive and I think I will never have enough.
I am quoting from a different post here on Garden Web...
"Some users of insecticides feel the need to observe the instant results of their efforts in order to be convinced of the effectiveness of what they are using. The application of neem derivatives does not provide this immediate gratification. There is virtually no knockdown (instant death) factor associated with its use. Insects ingesting or contacting neem usually take about 3 - 14 days to die. Its greatest benefit; however, is in preventing the occurrence of future generations. It is also interesting to note that in studies it was found that when doses were given, purposefully insufficient to cause death or complete disruption of the metamorphic cycle, up to 30 surviving generations showed virtually no resistance/ immunity to normal lethal doses, so it appears that insects build no �resistance� to azadiractin. "
What hostaholic2 and wieslaw59 write here is true. I checked my Bluestone catalog but their description of this new variety is written exactly as follows:
Rudbeckia fulgida var. Fulgida
There is no descriptive name for this plant as there are for most other plants. Gloriosa Daisies (also a Rudbeckia) have names such as Cappuccino, Cherokee Sunset, Indian Summer, etc., but not the Rudbeckia I'm interested in.
I put a call into their help desk this morning and left a message asking for clarification as to the exact name of this flower. I'll post back when I hear from them.
Meanwhile thanks for the reply Vivian 2010. I'm glad the foliage is smaller as it will expire less water here in Zone 7. Too bad about the flower size though. Maybe they'll work to increase it.
There are several "natural" varieties of R. fulgida:
var. deamii
var. fulgida
var. speciosa
var. sullivantii
As mentioned, the popular cultivar 'Goldsturm' is a selection of R. fulgida var. sullivantii.
As advertised in the OP, R. fulgida var. fulgida is typically later and/or longer-flowering than the more common 'Goldsturm'.