It is dwarfed because it grew by itself in a crack between pavers on the edge of the bed. Self sowed.
END OF SEASON FLOWERS!!!! SEPTEMBER 2014
Sally, your PB shrub bloomed? ours hasn't yet. it's been a few years now getting established and it is growing really well and is taller than the garage now. maybe next season.
we still have lots of tomato blooms! and, a self-sown large nicotiana that has a bud stem ready to bloom this weekend
really beautiful day here today after steady rains yesterday
brought in a colander full of herbs, peppers, tomatoes, sorghum, Turkish eggplants and dahlias before the rain
Wind, very nice! Very sesonal colors although pumpkins didn't participate in the festivity :o).
Sally, I would love to have some Datura seeds. The PB shrub, hmmm... mine got to about 3' tall, but was killed last winter probably because it was left in a big pot. Should have planted it in the ground.
It turns out that what I thought was Boneset is Snakeroot. "The common name comes from an old and incorrect belief that this plant could help treat snakebites. Instead, this plant is toxic to mammals and can kill cattle and horses (where the malady is called "trembles") as well as humans, who can be killed by drinking milk from poisoned cattle." http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/white-snakeroot I seem to have two types: both the regular and the "chocolate." http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=v230
well now I feel lucky; my PB shrub bloomed all over itself! Its just getting over seven feet tall and about as wide, grown a lot this year.
wind, is yours descended from CHantell's also? I'd expect all of them on this forum are. Last year just a few blooms.
donner, there's always more suckers, but you may not want it for that reason. maybe that's why you left it in the pot.
More- possibly- than we want to know about Boneset vs snakeroot
http://7song.com/blog/2012/01/the-eupatorium-story-joe-pye-weed-boneset-and-white-snakeroot-part-two/
wind--LOVE how you display your veggies! A beautiful bloom nearby--
a sheaf of grain draped over the bowl---SO artistic....
I have never seen a dahlia like yours! Is it easily available--
or some specialty growers only? As if I had room to plant it.....
Fall Photo Contest coming soon.....
Make some really special pictures to enter there--while you still have
the veggies to do it with.
yes Sally, our PB shrub is a Chantell gift :)
Gita, the Show n Tell dahlias came from my cousin years ago. We dig up the tubers every season. I'd say this one is not readily available, but is available. It grows really tall and blooms very late. We have them along the outer border of our veggie garden and they look good with the tall red cannas and yellow goldenrod. We used to have other dahlias too, but for some reason this year seems like they are all Show n Tell!! I probably should splurge and buy a few kinds. I got spoiled and when Bob was alive; he would give me his extras. If we divide our tubers, I'm sure I'd have extra to share if you ever want to try it.
This message was edited Sep 26, 2014 6:06 PM
How much sun does the PB shrub need? Do you think it'll survive in a mostly shady spot with occasional rays of sun?
no clue, I only have one in sun. I'd bet it'll survive anything, but bloom??
Right. I guess I'll try -- I have a spot in mind that might give a bit more sun....
Do you have one, Happy, or do you need one... am guessing mine might have put out water shoots over the summer, although right now it's knee deep in "wildlife-friendly plants."
Friday's impulse buy was a 'Queen Charlotte' anemone with fat buds. Photos soon, I hope!
DPF had a coupon for 50% off a house plant, so I also bought a "Miracle Fruit" plant that looks really nice, lots of buds and a couple of ripening fruits... excited about playing with that one! I'll get some pots ready on the heat mat so I can stick seeds as I get them, although from what I've read this one is a slow grower and iffy to germinate without giberellic (sp?) acid, which I don't think I want to mess with. There is an asymmetrical little branch I might try to root once the plant adjusts to its new home.
LOL, guess the above should have gone to the "plant addicts" thread, since the flowers on Miracle Fruit trees are really insignificant!
I'm not sure if I ever posted this bloom from one of the (many) hardy hibiscus seedlings... this is the color most of them seem to be (no white/red ones to date). If you like it, let me know, as I can almost certainly get you one! LOL
Also, here are the 3 stems of Sedum. 'Neon' I entered in the fair. 2nd place... compared to the blue ribbon winner, looks like the flowers needed to be opened up a bit more. Our garlic chives took a blue ribbon, but there were only 3 entries in its class I think!
now we'll be fighting over who gets to unload a PB shrub sucker on happy!! I have a nice one. critter, from what I have seen in the last two years, I'm almost sure you have some PB suckers lurking...
happy- did Carex grayi ever self sow on you? I'm looking at those seed heads and thinking- groan, another self sowing grass...It grew a lot, I may keep a portion and 'transplant' the rest to a sedimentation pond.
Sally, is your PB shrub fragrant in bloom? When/if mine blooms, I may not have any trouble unloading suckers on the neighbors, especially as it's a fairly small tree.
Martina just took 3 pots of Hibiscus syriaca (ROS)... she really loved the ones she transplanted this spring, and she's using these as the "backbone" of a new little bed along the side of their garage.
For those who got Solidago 'Fireworks', I saw one in bloom at DPF on Friday -- very pretty, but also taller than I'd expected, maybe 3 feet, and that was rootbound in a pot. (Somehow I was thinking "dwarf" but compared to the tall "wild" ones in my orchard maybe this one is still a shortie!)
SallyG: Carex grayii definitely self-sows (need any?) but hasn't been thuggish for me.
Critter: I think I still have a PB shrub I managed not to kill -- it was looking quite poorly for a while. I know the one I got last year didn't make it through the winter, but I think Sally gave me one in the spring (I need to check my notes). I'm trying to get all the shrubs in the ground fast, but it takes so long to figure out the "right" spot for each.
LOL, I hear you on that... I'm still trying to get some potted rhodi's in the ground that should have gone in last fall. I've started using little white construction flags, with the plant name scribbled on the flag... that way, as I wander around an area and eyeball where things should go, I can mark their potential positions. Otherwise I tend to lose track of "the plan" once I have my shovel in hand. Yes, I could drag all the pots around, but flags are lighter, and flags don't need me to drag the hose all around the yard if containers get dry before planting time.
We actually spent time on our cell phones -- DH in the yard and me in the kitchen and then by the grill and then on the patio -- I would have DH move until he was in a good spot and then he'd mark it that spot the picket fence by putting a labeled Santa Rosa white mesh bag over the fence picket. I had him put a mesh bag to the left of the field of vision for each spot and then another to the right. Then we connected them with string, and planted the shrubs where the most strings were so we could get a good view of them from the house and patio!
That being said, I have a new appreciation for what landscape designers do. Our far back yard, which I've been trying to fill in this year, looks flat and boring, and I'm not sure how to perk it up. Maybe I just need to wait until the plants we have put it, fill in.
Happy, what a neat idea. It's good to have a willing (and non-hyperactive) partner, though. DH just broke four of my favorite succulent containers and I lost all of that cactus soil that takes me hours to make. And all I'd asked him was to move the large Promix container. Sigh...
Critter, what happened to the Miracle Fruit tree you bought over the winter? I remember it wasn't look its best, as if the nursery had perhaps overwatered it.
ssg: I wouldn't characterize DH as a willing partner in that....
LOL
SSG, that poor little tree went from overwatered to underwatered, dropped its leaves, and didn't recover. I probably should have taken it backed the followign week & swapped it for one in the new shipment, as you suggested. So now I'm trying again. I read that it likes to be planted in straight peat & perlite, but I figured Pro Mix was probably pretty close (and easier). :-)
LOL, Happy!
Critter, I hear they're finicky plants!
Yes, but I've also heard you haven't really tried to grow something until you've killed it 3 times. This is only my 2nd Miracle Fruit plant!
Jill, make it 5 times for me :o)
Oh no, Donner! Maybe we should compare notes... what was the biggest challenge do you think? Getting the right amount of moisture? This is a nice big plant, nearly 2 feet tall, well branched, lots of new green leaves and flower buds... One site was touting a special compost tea mixture (for sale of course) for their Miracle Fruit plants.
Jill, I am into green smoothie these days. I wonder if the leaves of Miracle Fruit plants can be used as sweeteners in smoothie. I have been using Stevia leaves this year.
The Monkshood is finally blooming before the white Anemone flowers fade.
This message was edited Oct 1, 2014 8:18 AM
donner---since you mentioned it...........
How did your Stevia grow? Big? Bushy? Did it do well? Lots of leaves to pick?
Send me some pictures, please...
Gita
Gita, the Stevia has been doing great. I keep pinching it back because I use the leaves :-). The leaves make great sweeteners for my smoothie. It is a very bushy little plant now. I will get more than just one plant next year. Thank you for getting this plant for me. I had never heard of it until you told me about it.
Gita, when does your Monkshood usually bloom? I planted it a couple days ago. It has buds on it. I was very interested to learn that it has tubers. That surprised me. I sited it where it gets shade in the morning and then full sun 1-5pm. We'll see how that works next season.
I hadn't heard that the leaves of Miracle Fruit plants were edible, although I do think people use the fruits as "sweeteners." There have been some efforts to get the active chemical in the fruits to market; I'm not sure of the current status of that with the FDA.
Jeff--
Monkshod will bloom in late fall. I'm gonna guess end of October???
Not sure exactly when--as mine have never arrived to the bloom stage in good health.
Maybe if it did not lose most of its leaves--it would bloom earlier???
Did you have to stake each of the stems I gave you?
I just goggled "Mokshood". You can do it too...Lots of links....
In the Cultivation advice--it usually mentions Part shade or filtered sun, as well as full sun.
I always thought it preferred part shade or filtered sum. Mine have been in full AM sun.
Also--please remember that mine always had some kind of issues with the leaved browning
and falling off. EVERY year! You may want to use some kind of Fungicide on yours.
However--everyone I have given these to never had any issues.
I am watering them more this year. before--I thought they did not need any extra water--
or so Greenthumb said. Well-poo on that...I am watering mine this year.
Yes! as I mentioned to you when you asked for it, I said that each stem has its own roots.
When you dig these up--the root corms just fall apart.
Below is a link on the toxicity of this plant. it is quite poisonous...a bit scary!
If you are the skittish type--pay attention to it...at least--be careful.
http://www.vincelewis.net/monkshood.html
Many plants that I grow, or have grown, in my garden are in the toxic category.
Such as Brugmansias, Daturas, and some others. Generally--If I have really
handled them a lot--I will go to my hose and rinse my hands off. Tthat's it.
When collecting the 100's of seeds from their pods--I may use soap and water.
Most of the toxicity reports have to do with ingestion. SO! Don't eat it!
Let me know (next year) how they have settled in.
Gita
Thanks for all the info G, I appreciate it. There are only a couple of leaves that are yellowing, not many at all. Overall, the plant looks great, I think. They were just planted Monday and watered in really well. I put in some Biotone and bone meal. I'll look for the blooms but it sounds like they bloom for you when our growing season is over so hopefully they bloom before that. I have a few things that are just coming into bloom now and I'll have to get pics up when they are in full bloom.
Seq, my monkshoods came from Gita about 2 - 3 years ago. They have been doing very well in my garden (poor Gita). They get several hours of afternoon sun. The soil moisture level is high, although not by my design :o). They just started to bloom this week. I put them with white Anemones which start to bloom about 2 - 3 weeks before they do. I think they make a very pretty color combo. Both plants have very tall flower stalks. I don't stake them. So far they have stayed standing, probably until rain :o).
Here's the only thing in full bloom in my garden--my New England Aster.
It sure grabs my aattention when I go outside. Took all these pics, just now.
Did you get a start of it at the spring swap?
If not--I will get you some next year. It is forever expanding-a happy resident
in my YUK bed.
1--New England Aster
2--N. E. Aster blooms close--there are always a slew of bees on it.
3--The Monster Coleus collapsing on itself...I have had enough of these!
4--My HB by the front door--still marching on....love the blue flowers it now has.
5--Last bloom (?) of my "Sweet Surrebder" Rose....My favorite....forever...
Interesting. The site I put mine will not have a high soil moisture. They are about 5' from a swiftly growing Dawn Redwood, which in times of low precipitation, sucks the soil dry. It's not terrible dry, I'd say about average on the regular.
donner--we cross-posted.
Maybe i will move my dug-in container of the Monkshoods to my sunny bed.
Where it is now--is all shade and poor air circulation. Right behind my
Endless Summer Hydrangea that has grown HUGE this summer.
Another project!!! :o( WHERE oh WHERE can I put it???
G
Can you see the poor thing? There are several stems in a big pot which
is dug into the bed. Will move it for sure!
The poor thing!!!
It doesn't look like it even reached full size! Why have you planted it in a 'dig in' pot? Is it to protect it?
Jeff--
It was to try to comply with the advice (I assumed) David was giving me.
Mostly--I was trying to put it in a spot where i would not water it too much
as I watered the other plants in that bed. It is right next to a Hellebore-
which I do not water a lot.
When it was 1st planted in the bed by my shad-the rain water run-off from the
shed's roof seemed too much--or so I thought that caused the 'fungus"
in the leaves dropping off.
Then I moved it in the tiny bed where my "Proteus Clematis" grew. I tried NOT to
water it too much as i was watering my big. white Peony and the annuals in front.
Does not seem to matter where it has lived--the leaves still turn brown and fall off.
Just got home from my daughters (I gave her Monkshoods too) with the advice
not to water it too much. It shares a tiny slip of a bed next to her driveway.
It is doing the same thing....
What seems to be the common thread here with all the different locations?
--NO sun
--Poor air circulation
--not enough, or too much, watering.
Hopefully--one day--I can fix all that. Gita
Not sure what's going wrong with your monkshoods, Gita :o(. Mine are planted with Anemones. They are about 2 - 3 yards away from the house with a big hydrangea in between and loads of other things around them. So I wouldn't say they get the best air circulation.
They seem to grow well in various conditions but in your garden :o(
I have a question!
Are the anemones posted on this page (by Seq and Donner) Japanese anemone, or another variety?
Are all anemones fall bloomers?
Does anyone have any Japanese anemone pictures from their garden?
Just how "aggressive" are they? I think they'd look nice in the wet part of my yard, with all the hardy begonia and turtlehead blooms. A pretty sea of pink in the fall!
SSG, the white Anemone in my monkshood photo is a Japanese Anemone. I also have one with pink flowers. Unfortunately I bought them years ago before I understood the importance of keeping plant variety names. They both bloom in late summer to early fall. The photos I have are closeups. They probably don't tell you much about the what the plants look like. The flower stalks are rather tall, about 3'-5'. The foliage is nice attractive through the season. Some newer varieties are much shorter.
I also have an Anemone canadensis, but I do not have photos of this plant with me. It blooms in late spring to early summer.
They all spread quite a bit, but not invasive. I have never been successful with transplanting them in the fall. I can dig up some (or a lot) for you next spring if you like.
