13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
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.
I always grow them on the allotment anyway, so no problem there. Blimey - you already have flowers? Mine are sitting sulking at less than a foot tall. They look as if they resent being asked to make the effort to climb the netting. I also get my seeds from Kings.
My 'normal' ones are just a bit taller than yours Flora...but have started doing that thickening of the haulms which always signifies a growth spurt...and yes, one tiny Erewhon bloom - while the self-sown ones are romping ahead, easily 5 foot tall with lots of flowers.
I bought a huge tranche from Nickey's nursery when she had a sale on for the Olympics (65p for 30)...still working through the stash...but yes, I also use Kings seeds or, when buying species lathyrus, Roger Parsons or Owl's Acre seeds have been good for me.
I routinely get some five footers in my patch of ostreiches - that corner has a rather prehistoric look about it. They're really up now, but yellow out and die back in September so I'd probably question a 7' height over the short course of our growing season. Anything's possible, and 4' isn't unreasonable.
Looking good!
How about maybe a wrought iron medallion of some sort centred between the trellis?
I know you want summer color but have have you thought about spring blooms? For color, you could put creeping phlox or candytuft (white) on the corners, and maybe the center too? They are very colorful and can be cut back neatly after bloom.
For fall color I would suggest asters...you could place in back corners.
You coul have all season color :)
My beds are all 36 inches wide or less, and I have plenty of perennials and annuals in them. It really can be done. :)
Perennials I have had in them for 3+ years (counting this year):
Penstemon mexicali
Veronica Sunny Border Blue
Day lilies
Hydrangea Mini Penny
Scabiosa
Foxglove
Gaura lindheirmeri
Salvia Heatwave
Dahlias
Asiatic lilies (they spread but can be moved)
Garden phlox
Columbine
Balloon flower
Coreopsis
Dianthus
Blanketflower
Spiderwort (in shadier conditions)
Newer ones Perennials (1-2 years):
Gladiolus
Shasta Daisy
Penstemon Red Husker
Canterbury Bells
Now, I am not sure how these would work with your sun/shade and the brick wall...but, I have had no issues with these guys in my 24-36 inch wide boxes. It looks like you have a plan, but I wanted to throw these out. :)
Thank you all!
Peren..I can see why it's one of your favs...it's a beauty! My neighbor has two very large ones...and they're only getting started :) I hope mine does as well as hers.
Babs..yes that's it...nice to know thanks! Read up on it and it looks as if it could be a real headache!
Maybe it is Anemone de Caen 'Black Eyed Beauty'? I have a feeling the photo and/or flowers may have been altered, similar to how the "blue" phalaenopsis orchids are naturally white or when they paint them.