I know these are fairly common, but would love to have some in my garden. I took this photo with my phone at the Baptist Church yard in downtown New Bern.
I don't remember seeing them in nurseries - are they a pass-along plant?
Thanks in Advance,
Entlie
Kind of looks like Ruellia, Mexican Petunia .. very invasive. If it is, you might want to rethink it since you're in a zone where they can survive the winter. I had one in a pot tucked away in a corner and forgotten about .. when I discovered it again, there were hundreds of babies growing everywhere. Took 4 weekly applications to kill everything since they were apparently growing from seed .. almost up there with Sweet Autumn Clematis that almost got away from me. That took 6 months of active pulling and spraying weed killer on it.
X
They're mexican petunias, and they come in blue and pink. If you plant one, you'll have many within a few years. They spread like canna lilies. Enjoy!
I've got em..........everywhere! LOL
Now cannas, I cannot grow for anything. I dont get it. I get lots of leaves, and no flowers....plus the leaves are short. I'm about ready to pull them out.
Wow, HostaLily, I'm surprised cannas don't bloom and spread like crazy for you. My father in law gave me lots of the tall red and yellow variety 5 years ago. I liked them until I realized they were japanese beetle magnets. (I didn't have japanese beetles in NJ) This year I mowed over them until late June, hoping to delay their growth until the j. beetles went away. They must be very sunlight sensitive, because they've grown very little since I stopped mowing them over 6 weeks ago. I moved lots of them 3 years ago to create a garden space, but every year quite a few return, even though I've dug down over 2' to try and get all of the tubers out of my garden. I've also had ground voles munch on just about everything in my yard, except cannas. Go figure.
Thanks for the Mexican Petunia id info. I'll have to think about it if they are somewhat invasive, but so far the only thing I have invasive is mint, and it's everywhere.
As far as cannas, I have Journeys End, which this year haven't turned crispy around the edges, but they sure aren't blooming much. A few blooms in the late spring is all. And they aren't very tall, only about 10 inches. I know these aren't one of the taller cannas, but they did better last year, their first year in my garden.
Entlie
My cannas are in full sun, and I feed them probably once or twice a month. I get lots of leaves...but I have NEVER had them bloom! I dont get it. At least the leaves are attractive! LOL
My chocolate cherry hasn't bloomed for 2 years now .. I'm thinking it is a virus .. however, my bengal tiger and journey's end are blooming their heads off.
Hostalily: I think I know your problem with your cannas. You are taking too good care of them. Try not to fertilizes them and see if they will bloom. We are in the same area so you shouldn't have a problem. Mine are in full sun, I do not feed them at all and they bloom every year. I agree with you that the leaves are beautiful so they are worth having even if they don't bloom.
Entlie, I'm in New Bern, too. Pinecone Perrenials has Mexican Petunias every year. We've planted them in our backyard and love them. The blue flowers against the dark stems makes a stunning display. Don't worry about them being invasive. We have a lot of plants we have to pull up when they grow where we don't want them. That's part of gardening. They are "invasive" only if you don't have the time or inclination to keep on top of them. They are just gorgeous!
I agree, BSD, that over fertilizing can prevent some plants from blooming. I've never fertilized my cannas. They're so low maintenance that they're planted en masse along interstate medians. The only plants I've had to fertilize to induce blooming are shrimp plants and african iris. (The african iris still hasn't bloomed, but it's definitely cold hardy in zone 8a.)
Thanks Brent. Happy to see another New Bern member!
I'm putting Mexican Petunias on my Pinecone Perennials list for next spring, and will give them a try.
We're staying home instead of cruising this winter, and I'm looking forward to some spring gardening, which I usually miss.
Entlie
Don't BUY them, Entlie! I'll dig you some---how many thousand do you want? While not as invasive as some other plants (like Alocasia, Dollar Weed, etc), they will spread rapidly...
StonoRiver - Ooh! Tempting! I could pick them up on my driving trip in November!
So funny! I have some of StonoRiver's Mexican Petunias and they have yet to spread out of the little space that I planted them! As I told him, they don't get much sunlight there so perhaps that keeps them a bit more in bounds...They still do give me those almost neon purple blooms that I really like. How many years has it been, Jim? Yep, still in their own space, lol!
Bev
I found the pink one, 'Chi Chi', to be the most invasive. Iv'e been trying to rid the garden of them for many years and they still pop up.
Can't believe that, Bev! Those things are so voracious down here! I envy you being able to control them naturally...but that's what we were trying to figure out, wasn't it? Now about that Pomegranate...suspect it's not doing as well, based on recent readings in the literature. They are REALLY cold sensitive with a narrow range...
But it's still alive. It's just more of a small shrub and hasn't bloomed. I suspect that if it continues we'll have a different year someday and it will, though. I know Tony Avent has at least one Pom in his garden, but it may be one of those things that he 'mulch wraps' in the winter.
OK folks I am trying hard to never stop at Pinecone now you have all done it. I am gonna have to stop next time I head down 17.
Brent its good to know we have quiet a few in this area on the board. If you are a paying member you can go to extras and put in your zip code and see who is around for 50 miles.LOL
Entlie love those plants I may have to check them out. We got a new septic tank 2 weeks ago and my whole back yard is now bare. GRRR Dh said they were only digging in certain spots so I only dug up 2 rose bushes. They dug up my whole flower bed and then some. I gotta find Spider wart plants, lavender hosta,iris(I am afraid to tell Bonjon my iris are gone.etc.No sign on anything like a hole opened up and swallowed everything.
Bev. waving at you
Lavina
Lavina, so sorry about your yard. Did they get your elephant ears too?
Do you have the Tryon Palace plant sale on your calendar? It's October 8 and 9. Great plants for this area.
Entlie
Waving back, Lavina...have had you and your family on my mind. Hope to see ya sometime.
Bev
I still have the ears, do you need some? Oh I hope to remember the plant sale. Neighbor at water front went last year and came back with lots of goodies, some of the most beautiful mums i have.ever seen.
I am ready for Fall and its looking like fall with everything parched.
Oh yeah I have loks of mud and its not packed yet . Hope it rains and rains and makes the yeard pack down so I can walk across it easier.
Lavina
Bev I will be in Raleigh Monday but I have to stay beside him to watch machine in case he needs something. Wish I had a week to come up and just see you all.
Remember next march I want 2nd week end here at my house.
Lavina
LAvina, It may look bad now but I just bet you will have some wonderful surprises popping up from all that mud next year. It will be like Christmas morning every day.
I'll be thinking about y'all on Monday.
