13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Oh right Ken - nothing like missing the obvious. Still, I do think this scenario merits further investigation (and defoliation from drifting herbicide is a serious contender, as well as the (over)watering issue (which is, I agree, quite plausible). Does the plant rock at all or does it feel securely anchored in the soil?
Thanks yet again for being so helpful, everyone! I just got home and went outside and tried to weed a bit around it. It looks like at one point there was a clear circular area, but it was overrun with (I think) wild violets? I apologize for my ignorance, I'm new to gardening. Also, I'll do a more thorough job later when I'm not getting soaked :) Anyway, it does seem (to me) to be securely anchored. Here are a few other pictures of what foliage it does have(in case it's not even a lilac at all!) 
Also, there seems to fresh/new growth at the bottom. It's raining here (finally) so I apologize for the rainy wet pictures 
This is my third attempt with Lucifer and it did come back this spring! I have another one that I bought from Seneca Hills Perennials that has come back reliably for many years. I just think this genus north of zone 6b is a very iffy thing unless you dig up the corms for the winter. Something I just am not willing to do.
I think I'm moving into early summer at this point? I don't know. I really need a better selection of perennials, but I keep banking on my roses filling in enough that I won't really need that much.
Just some assorted dianthus for now, and my wisteria, which has decided to bloom like mad.
I ended up just using a shovel to split mine, as in the bull in a china shop method I mentioned on the other thread. They all look great.
I still have more to divide and am definitely going to try cutting the roots into sections like Marlorena. Lots of space to fill. Thanks for the pictures!
Floral_uk, I think your original thesis around "invasive" is an extremely interesting one, but I feel it deserves more than speculation.
From my involvement in gardening, I tend to see gardening in terms of the Little Dutch Boy with his finger in the dyke. But is the sea invading the land or is the dyke invading the sea?
To the latter, I do agree that what I take to be gardens are temporary. As they say "Gardens die with their gardener" or, without knowledgeable and diligent intervention, very soon thereafter.
Entities that sell garden implements and packages of stuff have an interest in "educating" the public about aaaaaaall of the little tasks they're "supposed" to do to "control" plants and the wildlife in their yard. A guy with a Scottish accent is constantly on TV commercials reminding everyone to "feed" their lawn (almost certainly a monoculture of non-native grass, if in the US.) And the Roundup commercial constantly reminds that you're delinquent in your duties if you have a dandelion on your property, or anything growing in a crack in pavement.
Foundation shrubs are the biggest mystery to me. Most people hate to do anything in their yard, but most houses have them, usually meatball or hedge-shaped. When they don't get mangled often enough, then it becomes a "creepy house" where shrubs block most of it, especially the windows.
By cultural in origin, I took that to mean learned behavior, following the cultural norm. I've read a couple books about this, how government and garden associations, the golf/turf industry, has gone to great lengths to influence the attitudes of homeowners and appearance of neighborhoods, at least in the US. Most municipalities have laws about "weeds" growing above a certain height. A front yard full of native wildflowers would likely get attention from an enforcement officer in most incorporated areas. There is a definite attitude and assumption that, through the miracle of products and implements, one *can* (and should) control nature.
In the US, this seems to have started with the first boatload of pilgrims, who cleared native vegetation to have a spot to grow the edibles they knew from the mother land. Then they started chopping down the biggest trees to build things.
I also reserve the term invasive for non-native plants that have gone feral and displace natives.
In my experience when I formerly used shredded wood mulch or now just using shredded leaves, weeds are going to germinate and start growing on top... Regardless of what's below the mulch (soil, plastic, landscape fabric). These are easily pulled or you can use a variety of tools to ruff up the mulch and expose their roots to the air. For me the only weeds that would work their way through the mulch from the existing soil are dandelions. Organic mulches just reduce the weed count and make weeding easier.... But the don't elimate them.
I don't have a problem with seeing the foundation; I just think visually there needs to be something taller, under the windows. I had also thought of a trellis of some kind, not necessarily an obelisk, against the house with something climbing. But I still think I would go with a taller evergreen, for winter interest.
BTW, you mentioned roses - is this a sunny spot? I see the hostas, so just curious. The amount of sun will obviously affect your choice(s).
Oh right- cardiocrinum envy time rolls around again. Once more, I have to sip the bitter taste of failure (not to mention the green lash of jealousy). Years of waiting though. I am already committed with the bloody martagons and sprengeri...and forgive myself the lack of patience or stamina...and then you post those pics again and I am back to cursing my failure as another year rolls by in indolence and apathy
Camp, do give them a shot it should be easy peasy for you, the var. 'yunnanese' the one with the bronzy new foliage blooms from pups in just a couple of years in fact I had one bloom this year it was separated from the mother bulb only last year. They really aren't that difficult, I think your climate is pretty similar to mine so you shouldn't have a problem. Mine are planted at the base of a mature Robinia tree, no special attention and they are thriving.
Annette
Yes, pinching snaps encourages them to branch out more, resulting in a fuller plant that gives you more flowers. The first thing I do when I plant my snaps outdoors is to pinch out the tip of the main stem. Be sure to pinch off the seed pods after flowering so they form more flower buds. If you don't, the plant will set seed and stop flowering.
@floral_uk - yes, it is a buddleia alternifolia. We bought a house 2 years ago with large gardens but head-scratching placements. This beauty is in a back corner of one of the beds that get am sun that turns into shade around noon and then gets late day sun around 5-6 to sunset. When we first moved in and cleared out the 5' tall weeds that had overtaken the beds (the house was vacant for over 3 years), there wasn't a single bloom on this plant. The second year there was one. This year - you can see how many blooms there are now. I read that this can be "sloppy looking" which I can see how that is. I was trying to prune it to be bushier, but I've seen pictures of buddleia alternifolia (fountain butterfly bush) where the branches have a weeping or fountain-like look. That will now be my goal.
Yes - this one will never be bushy. It's natural growth habit is very lax. In fact it might even need a stake to keep the main stems up straight so the 'fountain' can cascade down effectively. Yours appears to be growing back into its natural form now. It can look great planted on top of a retaining wall and allowed to hang down. When not in flower it is a bit drab but still provides a nice foil for other stuff.
Have had four since 2012.
For the first time, this year, one of the four is showing changes. It's newest leaves are overwhelmingly green, but with an extremely narrow cream margin around the edges.
Great to know - thanks for the input!