These flowers are growing in front of Sweet Tomatoes restaurant in Arlington, dropping seeds all over the sidewalk and I just HAD to pick some up. I think this is the kind of plant for me because it doesn't look like they ever water the landscape there or care for it in any other way and look at all the blooms.
Sorry, I can't say, but when you find out, I'd love to know! That looks like it could be great for a ground cover I need!
Deb
It is not like ground cover but it does kind of flop down on the ground. DH took the photos with his phone and got his finger on the side of this one but it shows the size of the plant better. I wish I would have taken the time to collect more seed off the sidewalk but it was soooo hot I just grabbed a few.
That sure looks like Rock Rose, Pavonia lasiopetala.
It looks so pretty all grown over in your pictures and yes, it does drop lots of seeds. I have two little baby plants that I bought this year on clearance.
Thanks, allwild818. Looking at DG Plant Files http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57756/, I think you are right. Not sure if the leaves are exactly the same but there appears to be a lot of different types of rock rose. Now I surely wish I would have taken time to pick up more seed.
That is what they are. I have a row of them in very bad soil in my alley, in front of a stone wall. They are evergreen, grow fast, bloom all summer, reseed freely, and--since they are a native plant--don't require any care. I do water mine, but once they're established you shouldn't have to. The Texas Highway Dept planted them in a highway-side landscaping near my house, where they get nothing except rain. They do spread out and flop, so you might end up having to stake them.
Yes, they are beautiful.
I haven't been to Sweet Tomatoes in a long time - but I'll be there, shortly! :)
Heheeeee.... a whole bunch of us could descend on Sweet Tomatoes for dinner - we would know each other by who's bent over the sidewalk, picking up seeds. :D
Have fun!
Elizabeth
Quilter_gal, I kept wishing I had one of those little dust pan sets with the duster to sweep up the seed !!! I have started carrying little plastic baggies but got to get better prepared. ROFL.
Glenna
Okay, so along with baggies, a dustpan and hand broom are now required equippage for going out to dinner, hm? ;)
You've heard the phrase, "big umbrella policy?" Well, I go by the "big purse" policy.
Doesn't everyone carry duct tape and side cutters? ;)
Have fun!
Elizabeth
Thank all of you - I just got the best laugh of my day reading these posts! I can just see all these women grabbing up seeds from the sidewalk! Do you think it would work as a groundcover? My DH just built 2 retaining walls and I need something that will grow and hang over.
I have tons of volunteers of these in my flower bed. Who wants one?
This message was edited Sep 9, 2009 6:47 PM
Stephanie, I definitely want one.
With all those volunteers, I'm assuming they germinate easily. The seed is hard as BB's. Would you suggest soaking them like morning glory seed? Should I wait until spring to try the seed, or if planted now, would the plant have time to get established and live through winter in the ground? I just don't like taking care of potted things through the winter. In fact, pot plants have a very poor survival rate in my care. LOL.
Thanks
Glenna
They germinate so easy it's pathetic! I haven't had one of these planted in that bed in 2 years, and I've got so many volunteers it's not even funny! They can get to be about 6' wide if you don't trim them up. They usually stay green during the winter and you can trim them back severely in early spring.
I'd love one, Stephanie!
Deb
Alrighty! Would you please post over on the North Central TX RU thread so I'll see it where I can write it on my list later? They really are great plants.
I got one at an RU and it is blooming for me so pretty. I am excited to know how big it may grow. I can't wait for it to drop lots of seeds for me.
Stephanie, it sounds like I don't need to collect the seeds and pot them up, am I right on that? If so, they will just come up in the bed I suppose, and then I'll put them .......hm...EVERYWHERE!
Charlene
P.S. I wish I had a camera aimed at the backsides of all of the seedpickers from DG that will likely gather for lunch one day. What a shot for the DG Calendar that would be!
Charlene, if you got a shot of me in that pose, I could cover two months on that calendar! ;)
Charlene, I will bring you some seeds to the RU if you want them. I had them last spring but didn't ever get them to you. I've found that they're easier to grow from seeds where you want them, than to transplant them.
Patty, that will be great! Thanks a bunch.
I think a whole calendar of seedpickers would be cute. One bent over picker to the page though. A pic can shrink a lot faster than I can shrink, though I am doing it ever so slowly. LOL
Charlene
Reading about picking up seeds in front of a restaurant makes me think of a story Maggi tells of her Mother and Grandmother. She grew up in Portland OR. and her Mother and Grandmother were both plant nuts ( Maggi comes by it honestly ). In the Pacific NW it rains all the time and is even cool in the Summertime, so overcoats are a common thing. The campus security thought it strange that two older women were paying such close attention to the plants and shrubs. They were both escorted off of the grounds after they were found with snips, cuttings, paper towels, to wrap the ends, etc. At the time, when Maggi found out what happened, she was so shocked that they would do such a thing. Now it is one of her proudest moments of the two women she loved the most.
Ken, that is a cute story. One anyone would be proud of if you are a seedpicker yourself.
I left my daughter's apartment the other day in the rain and saw an unusually pale color of pink oleander. I noticed a lot of growth at the bottom from previous trimmings. I decided that since they had trimmed them, they probably didn't want that growth to return. So, (in the rain) I got out with my scissors and helped them out with the problem. The problems are now in my rooting container with new growth (a good sign).
Charlene
Ken, enjoyed wife's story too! I just recently took a trip to the Outdoor World, a sporting goods store, in the Dallas area off I-30. I don't know if they are all landscaped so well, but there were all kinds of native trees, shrubs and flowers growing. I didn't even want to go inside! LOL (I'll meet you back out front honey!) I'm gonna start carrying a pocket knife to be prepared for such occasions!! *;*
I have transplanted a bunch of the seeds off of my Rock Roses' to another area. I am really excited in hopes of them sprouting!
