I have my first "crop" of volunteer Obedient Plants and want to transplant them to other areas and also give away to friends who want some. How careful do I need to be in digging the little plants and transplanting?
Thanks,
Glenna in Cleburne
Obedient Plant - transplanting
OMG! Obedient Plant - Physostegia virginiana - what a nightmare !
I planted 25 plants all over my back yard 4 years ago. They bloomed beautiful.
After one year from each plant 10 more planted formed !!
The root of the Obedient plants grew so much and took over other plants in my back yard!!
I worked really hard for months trying to remove all of those plants and roots ... I still find some after 4 years.
Sorry ... good luck !!
I had the same experience, but if you want to spread the joy, you don't have to be careful at all. I think if you plant just a 1/2" root, you're good to go. They are very pretty. I would warn anybody you give them to, about their invasiveness so they continue to be your friend! Maybe planting them in a pot that's put in the ground, like some folks do mint, would be helpful. Haven't tried that.
Well, I think they are beautiful and want more. Having spent the first 18 years of my life on a commercial vegetable farm in New Mexico, my hands are REAL familiar with a hoe handle and how to use it, so I just hoe or pull up anything that gets where it shouldn't. I haven't had any trouble controlling 3 other plants described as "invasive," so we'll see how I do with the obedient plants. But thanks for the warning.
Glenna in Cleburne
Glenna, I love Obedient plant and have no trouble with it, just pull what you don't want and give it away, or compost it.
If you are transplanting new growth and the new plants are little you could wait till spring and they will be a little larger and stronger.
But if you must do it now just get as much root as you can and put then in little pots to get settled.
I guess how you look at a plant depends on your gardening style.
Josephine.
I just pulled out the one plant I put in the ground this spring, I don't like it and it was not happy but it's roots are running everywhere. Not a plant I will deal with again. I suspect it would have looked better if it was in more shade with extra water. It spread invasively in one season so I am on the no thanks list for that plant. Still I have seen it bloom and look nice in others yards.
C
I'm another one that likes (dis)obedient plant! I love the color and the flowers. They do look droopy when you transplant them until they get established, but they transplant well. I just pluck them out if they show up where I don't want them.