13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
I have been having a monkshood moment for the last 2 years - not only is it vigorous and competent in my utterly unirrigated woodland, (this is proving a stern test for a lot of plants), it also grows easily from seed...and then obligingly seeds around, thereby fulfilling all my criteria for plant choice - none of that rare and special palaver now - I require survival, willingness to reproduce itself and dirt cheap...and monkshoods are certainly fitting the bill as well as having rather good and varied foliage (I am new to the shady foliage club - but intend to still remain hosta free). I am looking forward to a late summer blue finale (when the c.trachelium get going too)
Was overjoyed beyond reason to see that the ridiculously optimistic mertensia seedlings have returned.
I really agree about monkshoods. I've never grown one which was a disappointment.
My favourite two are 'Spark's Variety' for it's beautiful violet-blue colour and Arend's monkshood for being one of the very best fall-performing perennials here.
Also like Campanula trachelium, a very competent and reliable medium-sized garden perennial (regular and white forms).
So now they have changed Dicentra to Lamprocapnos, or at least Dicentra spectabilis? What a mouthful, and rather more difficult to remember.
Grumble, grumble . . . Learning and using scientific names for plants is clearer than common names, but now they are changing the scientific names. I know that much of it is caused by new genetic information, but even so, it's a pain. It makes finding information on a plant more difficult since some of the nurseries will use one name, some another, and some both, making it necessary to search under both names . . . grumble!
Nice photo, Dave!
Most people seem to have had success with Rudbeckia in general (and R. "Goldsturm" in particular) lightly covering seed with growing mix (i.e. covering seed to its thickness, maybe with an eighth of a inch or so of mix).
That's worked well for my indoor seed starting. I also have R. triloba self-sowing in the backyard with no help at all from me.
I always amend my soil when planting. If I didn't, nothing would grow, as my soil is hard and rocky. I mix compost, good topsoil, dried manure and the original soil together in a blend which has worked very well for me over the years. I dig very large holes before adding in the blended soil, so the roots have a lot of good rich soil to spread out to.
As Ken says, apply undiluted Roundup (or generic equivalent) to the entire outer ring of the stump IMMEDIATELY after cutting. I personally use a sopping-wet q-tip to apply the stuff to smaller stumps/cuts -- dripping it on from the "handy applicator" suggested above would be less tedious with large stumps. Uptake of herbicide through the leaves just isn't enough to kill these guys. On the other hand, even eucalyptus stumps 5 feet in diameter can be kept from re-sprouting by painting herbicide on the cambium of the stump soon after cut.
I don't think that the Dicentra will be dormant by the time the hostas get going. And the Dicentra in my yard (exemia and spectabilis) don't go dormant until the fall, so in the event that yours are similar, don't tuck them in too close to the hostas.
Thanks for your replies. H’mmm…I may have to pot up the bare roots until the hosta emerge in that area. More work, unless I can somehow keep them dormant until I am ready, like putting them down in the cool dark basement. I would expect I’d have an idea what hostas are there in a few weeks. In warmer spots, I see them emerging now, just not in that shady area.
Google Walipini and choose images, there are many ways to do this! Your post about the concrete holding heat made me think of these.
Then there's the term *passive solar* greenhouses.
I'd also love to have one of these--built onto a South facing wall of a brick structure--which continues to radiate heat after the sun goes down--I can dream! Love these too!
Thanks for sharing your spring photos. Nice to see how spring moves across the country. This week early spring bulbs are beginning to bloom. Also have a few wild flowers, bloodroot and pasqueflower flower in bloom.
Those place names are amusing.
you know why it worked ... lol .. because you did the polar opposite of the usual trying to love them to death ... you literally threw them outside.. albeit in a milk jug ... but basically.. you let ma nature do her job.. while protecting them from vermin ...
it sometimes amuses me.. the ends some peeps go to ... when it can be all so simple ...
congrats .. ken
I did exactly what you did two years ago. Then I planted out hunks of those happy little seedlings, and haven't seen them since. Mine were planted in a woodland area that gets lots of oak leaves and pine needles falling at all times of the year, so I lost track of them. Who knows? Maybe this year I'll find them again, grown into healthy big plants.
Martha
I really like thread-leaf coreopsis, both their appearance and their ease of care. So far, the voles have not eaten any of my Coreopsis, a big plus in my book. Of the newer, larger types, I have C. 'Golden Gain' and C. 'Red Shift'. Both have flowers that are about 1 1/2" diameter, more than double the size of my C. 'Moonbeam'. 'Golden Gain' blooms all summer, while 'Red Shift' is late summer into early fall for me. I don't know how they would perform for you since I am a lot colder than you are - you have a lot of choices for new Coreopsis that aren't hardy for me. I have found that both 'Golden Gain' and 'Red Shift' wander less than 'Moonbeam' or 'Zagreb' in my garden.
Golden Gain
Red Shift (with broad leaves from kiwi)
Well today I moved the two larger stellas elsewhere and dumped the rest. The two good performers where much more difficult to dig up, so I am sure I got the right ones.
Last question on May Night Salvia -- when I can plant it? I haven't been to any nurseries yet so I don't know whats out there. Do I have to wait until after Memorial Day like I do with annuals (damn Michigan)?
Yay! Just saw a few tips of my tall one the other day.
Woohoo! That's a great feeling.
I googled it...looks like a beauty!!