I think I'll move it to the slope of our septic mound!! It's much too steep to mow and if it spread it would probably move into the wild tree line behind the mound. There's a small grass area that separates the two and I think the mower can take care of that.......or......I can put it in the ugly area where we dump our extra grass clippings......or......I could just get rid of it right now!!
Spring Plant Swap 2014 Lucketts VA - Post Party
I don't think I would plant it anywhere where it has the option to spread! From the comments, it sounds like people in very arid areas on the West Coast find it useful, and people who can plant it in an area contained by concrete foundations deep into the ground find it useful, but the rhizomes are thick and nasty and push out of the pot and into everything it can. Plus, it spreads by seeds as well as rhizomes.
Oh my gosh Roses, I'd rip that plant out and burn it immediately after reading all the horror stories about it in the Plant File.
I too would love it if a bird followed me around while gardening!
You know, the plants were given to me by a friend that I will see today. She LOVES them where she grows them. I wonder if it's not warm enough here for them to grow so aggressively. I'll talk to her when she gets here and try to make her comfortable with the fact that I'm going to tear them out.
LOL....if you read a bunch of the articles there were a couple of them who said they were given to them by a 'friend'.
Ditto on the bird-following! Muddy, it sounds like you entice them with peanuts and other goodies? ;-) 'My' birds seem okay with me puttering in the yard, but they will fly away if I come within a certain distance of the feeder. But they are constantly on alert for the two ferals, so I understand their caution. It's interesting--they seem to have a warning system for each other when one of them spots one of the ferals.
yes, definitely time for a conversation with that friend!! :-o From some of the comments, it sounds like people become aware of the spread over time? Maybe she hasn't had them for too long, or doesn't realize what's happening with the rhizomes underground?
My grandmother has that stuff in her backyard and it is taking over the zoysia grass. Anything that defeats zoysia should be considered highly aggressive in my opinion.
Oh and it's funny (not "haha" funny) that my nextdoor neighbor just planted it in their backyard. :(
First line of defense is the green Liriope (aggressive in it's own right) on my side of the fence.
I have the Roundup on standby.
Typ, do you think you would be able to talk to the neighbor about it? Maybe they wouldn't want the plant either if they knew how aggressive it is?
Hehehe, so, RRR, how GOOD of a friend? Then when you said septic mound I had horrible visions of it growing especially LARGE and even more vigorous spreading into and up the pipes to your house. YIKES!!!!
Roses, I remember you saying a while back on some thread that you were changing your approach to gardening by focusing more on shrubs (the 'bones' of a garden) and perennials and not so much the work of planting lots of annuals....
Looking at the less work angle, Houttuynia Cordata is too much work to control its spread by seed and rhizome for us older ones to fool with. When it does escape it provides nothing for our yarden ecosystems and wildlife or pollinators and rapidly overtakes the foot print that beneficial plants and natives now tentatively hold. There are much better user and garden friendly plants to fuss with if fuss we must!
Here in Maryland we are pretty particular about what we can allow to grow on our septic mounds to keep them functioning well...seems like Houts thick rhizomes could clog the system in the raised drain field!
Did you get this plant for its medicinal potential?
Cat, Yes I'll try to talk to him but sometimes I worry that he thinks I'm kind of uppity about the garden. I'm not going to bug him too much about it, I'll just try to keep it contained to his yard. I don't think this stuff can escape into the ecosystem from his yard as it's pretty far from the watershed and surrounded by concrete.
that's good to hear about the concrete, Typ. 'Uppity', huh? Something I definitely cannot imagine you being!! :-)
Judy, I'll keep it off the mound. Does Vinca present the same problem on the mound?
I have a couple of pots of it in the ponds, one in ours and one in my Dad's. They make great pond plants. At least the type of ponds we have wouldn't put it in a real pond.
as far as the cold, you could check the plantfiles zone reports about that.
Quote from ROSES_R_RED :
Muddy, I can't wait to see the blooms on the 2 red Hydrangeas that you gave me. They both got prime spots in the gardens.
RRR, they won't be blooming this year, unfortunately. The extremely cold weather killed off this year's buds. They should look great next year, though. A few years ago, I decided to see what would happen if I put that stuff that turns hydrangeas blue on them. I put on way too much, and the flowers were the most amazing shade of deep purple.
Sounds like a good name for a rock band.
I had a feeling that I wouldn't see blooms this year, Muddy, but I'm still looking forward to seeing them next year!
Quote from Ric_of_MAF :
Sounds like a good name for a rock band.
LOL LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You crack me up!!! Should she have planted that Hydrangea next to a "Smoke on the water tree"? < =)
rofl
Heeheee
Okay, I had to do some googling to figure out what the (HECK) you all were talking about, so it's only fair that you Deep Purple fans watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfFEzubrFug
hahahaha that's the weirdest thing I've seen in long time!
That song was huge in 1973, my eighth grade year
Muddy that was GREAT!! Now I REALLY want one of those trees!!!
Man, I am so sorry and sad that I wasn't able to make this swap, it sounds like I really missed out BIG time on getting to meet some super wonderful people!! =( (and getting to see some of my "old" friends). Sometimes it's just so darned difficult living all the way down here, so far away from everyone and everything. :(
Speedie--well, just sell the house and move closer--LOL! :-D
Speedie--
Jan came! She lives across the Delaware Bridge..................... :o)
And I live near Delaware Water Gap!! It was worth the trip to see all those special people. I took home such wonderful plants. The ones that were not marked might always be a mystery to me but I will love them just the same.
Thank you to all for the many laughs while reading through the week's comments......I am right there with you all on how to plant the extras I don't need but can't pass up. Each swap we attend I am told not to bring anything home....have I ever listened....you guess.
Anyway Ric, I love the Coleus and Begonias from you and Holly. They are on my to do list this afternoon. They will be planted in containers that sit right beside where I get in and out of my car and thus will be enjoyed when both coming and going.......The other plants I received a the swap will be living in a hard plastic kiddie pool on my front deck. I am super thrilled with everything I brought home......
I am looking forward to the fall swap at Ric and Holly's and we will do our best to get there.....Sally mentioned no one speaking much of Day Lilies. That is true.....it is usually John pushing the Day Lilies and he didn't bring any this trip.....maybe between now and the fall swap he will have time to get some together and hopefully there will be some takers.
He sold some Iris at our store a few weeks back and recently had a lady ask him to supply her with two dozen more......As soon as our Day Lilies begin to bloom, he will be taking pots of those to sell also. He learned while selling at a Farmers Market in the past that people won't buy plants unless they are blooming, so he won't waste his time with things not blooming. I have potted up a few containers of Hens and Chicks and some containers of Sedum Sarmentosan and they have sold too......Probably should think of doing a few more hens and chicks to sell while I am outdoors later today......
Anyway, again thanks everyone for the good laughs.....I miss you folks like the dickens and am going to begin taking steps to allow a time each day to be a bit more active on these boards.......for now....my wish for each of you is to have a great week coming up and hoping that all your gardens will bloom and thrill all of your senses.
Ruby
But I had to work until 4:00!! =( If I lived closer, I could have popped over briefly after work.. but can't happen at this distance.
Ruby, I was just thinking about your yesterday, and here you are!! < =) I sure have missed seeing you in here, I look forward to your more regular visits!! XOXOXOXOXO
Speedie, We will try to get a date set early for the fall swap, so you can let them know in advance when you will be unavailable.LOL
We really enjoyed our visit with everyone and are looking forward to the next.
Aaawww, Bless your warm fuzzy heart Ric, thank you!!!!!! And I WILL tell them, "Sorry, GOTTA GO!!" < =D I sure do look forward to the Fall Swap, I'm working hard to have lots of new babies to share!
Speedie---
Please try to arrange time off for Hollies Swap!
You can spend Sat night at my house as a layover--I am barely 2mi. off of I-95.
We can hang out a bit. IF you are coming--I will have to take off Sunday--
oops...That will not be a great idea.
Gita
Okay, We've selected Sept. 13th for the fall swap. This should give everyone plenty of time.
Yay! I'm so glad it doesn't interfere with another wedding I need to attend this September.
Paul, how's your wedding schedule looking this fall? ;)
Just one in August.
Sept 13--my birthday! :-) Looks like I'll have a nice birthday outing to PA to look forward to this year!
haha. Sept 13 is an OFF saturday for me- good choice!!!!!!!! When do we start haves and wants? and food thread?
JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!
Two gallons sweet tea coming up!
Thanks a billion Ric and Holly!
The way I am eying up my plants there may not be any actual garden to look up. It will all be in pots ready to go. Everytime I go out and weed I think I have got to get rid of some of this.
No joke about 9/13 being my birthday! Couldn't have picked a nicer day Holly and Ric! Guess I should bring a cake? :-)