Sybram, Yes, that sounds like the area that the broomweed that Josephine wanted was in. I remember as we turned a bit to the left past trees that they were on the left of the clearing. Here is a picture of the blooms up close and at a distance. These were taken at Bear Creek Ranch when Herman and I took the Cross Timbers Master Naturalist Class. It is not pretty to some, but we really enjoyed the view and the experience on the prairie that day.
I tried to look up broomweed but there are several different names and some are perennial while others are listed as annuals. Can I ask the species you are referring to?
Cheryl
Hahahahaha! OK, Sheila, this shouldn't be that hard. I was referring to the NEXT post. I forgot I talked to you in both of them. It's the one about the cannas.
Sorry about that Sybil...I never dig cannas unless they need moved or thinned.
Cheryl...I would imagine this one, but Josephine may be better one to ask. http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/species.php?id_plant=AMDR
A special note on the above pics. We walked out in the prairie and threw a 4x4 square of PVC then explored what we found within that area. It was amazing what varieties of plants and wildlife that small area supported. It was a great teaching tool.
This message was edited May 16, 2013 9:05 PM
I think you got the plant right Sheila.
We did the square too when I took the classes and it was a lot of fun.
Sheila, how do you keep them contained? I'm at a loss. I dug lots of mine up last year and gave away. I thought I really had them thinned out, but they are already coming up where I didn't want them. Reaching...........reaching. .........coming up underneath shrubs, too. I think I've created a monster! The are so pretty and already blooming, but becoming obnoxious.
I love Cannas ... but they in turn LOVE my dark clay soil and reproduce like they're on steroids. I ended up digging them all up and giving away at one of the RUs. I would like to have one or two, but alas they are just too productive in my flowerbed.
Carla
Strange how plants can behave differently for different people. I have planted plenty of great natives only to find they want to take over the entire yard and leave no space for other plants. My new problem child is wild petunia. I planted a couple and allowed it to grow around the pond but it is now in every bed and I find its near impossible to pull up once it gets more than a couple leaves. Pretty, but I have to spend too much time trying to weed it out.
I never figured out where my wild mexican petunia came from, I keep digging and it keeps coming back, lol. I think the birds planted it.
I got rid of the tall mex. petunia but still have a few of the short purple kind. Mex. petunia is not as invasive as R. nudiflora is at my place.
The cannas do multiply and won't be contained in space like yours Sybil. My flower gardens are jammed packed and running amuck Cheryl, you and Sybil would have fits!! But I would love to have any R. nudiflora you pot up for a native garden I volunteer at, just dmail me and I can pick them up or meet you. I have several but don't want to give them up for the garden there.
Sheila I just pull out all the many volunteers and have never potted any up. I haven't tried digging them out but if I do I will save some. They are literally covering my whole yard.
C
Sheila, if you need Ruellia nudiflora I will save you the next batch from the Fielder garden, I won't have them potted though.
Let me know, we can also save you some Salvia coccinea.
Thanks both on the nudiflora! I don't need the salvia coccinea Jo, I have lots in my yard of those to take there. But thanks for the offers guys.
O.K. we work on Mondays so we can have it ready for you on a Monday or Tuesday, bu not this coming Monday, let us do it the following, June 3rd if that works for you.
I think I heard on this thread that Mexican Petunia was very invasive. Am I remembering right? Will I be sorry that I planted three of those yesterday? Are they all the same color?
I was so excited last night, because I got all my RU (past and last) plants in the ground (#7) Those who have been out here might remember the little free-standing, sort of peanut shaped bed south of the house. It has a big pile of rocks in it. We call it #7, because it's #7 on the sprinkler system (original, huh?). It was beautiful when I first made it, but has been in decline from neglect for a few years. I had tomatoes in there for a few years, and my big tomato cages kept me from weeding once they went on. I guess I had them planted too closely, but I just couldn't get in there. Consequently, the nut sedge (bane of my existence) was thick and huge by the time I pulled up the spent tomato vines. That bed has never recovered, but I'm commited to # 7 this year. So, I'm so happy to have all my gift plants, plus a few more living there now. Next, I'll start on the monkey grass border, which has been taken over by St. Augustine, Bermuda, the nut sedge and other obnoxious weeds.
The short mex. petunia is pink, white or purple and spreads some by seeds but has not been invasive for me. The tall variety was god awful and spread by seed and sent runners from the main plants many feet away. It took me two years to get rid of that plant. I am not sure which one you planted?
C
Regarding Mexican Petunia: Guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. To some wildflowers are weeds and to some Mexican petunia is too invasive. Since purple is my favorite color I plant them everywhere. Both short and tall. They match my purple front door!!
That looks beautiful indeed!!
Thanks, Frostweed. My DH nearly had to be resuscitated when I brought the paint home!!
Love it!!
Is it raining anywhere else tonight?
We've had almost 1 1/2 inches so far in Pflugerville (NE corner of Austin). They have had almost 3" at the Austin airport about 25 minutes to the south. I am so glad. My rain barrels are running over. Still raining lightly.
It just started raining here. Fingers crossed that we get more than we have the last few times.
yours and mine both. I may have gotten half an inch. (I think I got 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch the night the tornadoes hit Granbury)
Okay, I have to say it. Katie's Blue (dwarf mexican petunia) IS a garden thug. It just takes longer. I planted two in 2006 and in 2013 I am finally fed up. It filled up my pond area and choked out every other living thing (oh, except the nutsedge, and I am convinced they're in cahoots). A few years ago I had enough extras to line one side of my driveway, and did that. It filled the entire alley too, along with my coneflower/iris/daylily bed. After 7 years I have hundreds of them and nowhere to put them. And, you know, I LIKE them. But this year every one I see is getting dug up and thrown away (NOT composted). They can not live here any more, any more than the tall cousin can, which by the way I also like. But after 7 years I still haven't managed to get rid of it.
The pink mid-sized one is rapidly following in the same footsteps. It grows and grows and spreads to fill its entire bed if you let it, and it's hard to dig up. But at least it hasn't seeded everywhere.
I know its hard to write that on here. Anytime I mention a plant that spreads rapidly it seems to cause some issues. Invasive is not good. Unless the invasive plant is all you want to grow. I also understand that plants behave somewhat differently under different growing conditions. I only have the short plants and I make sure to cut off the blooms before they seed. I pull all extras out as soon as I see them. All natives are not great garden plants, though many definately are. And yes I know those species of Ruelia are not really natives. I have a naughty list that includes natives and non-natives alike.
C
I also have the purple dwarf ruellia for probably 8 or 9 years. It has spread quite a bit but hasn't been hard to control for me, but mine is in a fairly shady bed so maybe it is easier to control in that situation? The bed it is in is fairly well boxed in by the lawn and it hasn't made the jump to any of my other beds.
I find the dwarf kind not too difficult to manage. How is the nudiflora doing for you? I love it but in 3 years it is now everywhere and in some spots its quite thick. It seeds in the lawn and in every crevice. I am about to wage war on most of it.
C
I let a few things loose in my old yard in Arlington, and I've made it a point NOT to let those things loose out here. mexican petunia was one. depends on your time to manage things and I don't have much time.
Thanks to all for your comments. I'll watch them, and hopefully they'll be perfect for #7.
The nudiflora looks healthy but it hasn't spread at all yet. Now I am wondering if I should pull it out or not...
Why would you? It might be different there and it is pretty. Im not sure I can get rud of it now but I will try this summer.
I planted 2 small plants. All these are from seed in 2 summers.
I guess I must say something in defense of Ruellia nudiflora. I love the plant, and I think that it is one of the most drought tolerant and hardy plants around. Yes, it does spread, but it also depends on the conditions, and I don't find it hard to remove.
At the Wildscape it is a life saver, when it is hot and dry it blooms beautifully and keeps on going.
This is not to say that those people who don't like it should keep it, we all have to do what is best for ourselves, and that is o.k.
You guys have convinced me to keep it after all! I'm fine with plants that spread but are easy to pull. Obedient plant, prairie phlox, and passionvine all fall into that category for me.
I agree Jo, it is pretty and tough. It's just too happy at my place. Every plant deserves a try Dennis. But keep an eye on it.
C
It sounds like it is more invasive than the notorious Mexican Petunia, Ruellia Brittoniana! I dont have nearly that much difficulty with the Mexican Petunia. It cast seeds but I find even the old established plants easy to pull of Mexican Petunia. The only time it's difficult is when it's in the crack of the side walk and Ive broken it off a few times instead of pulling it up. It develops more of a knot of roots and without wetting it, it's really hard to pull then.
anything bees like that blooms in august I am a fan of.
Mine are just starting to bloom now. I'll post a photo when they really get rolling. They really live up to their name of "purple showers" and pink.
