This is my first year for one and I just LOVE it! I'm hoping it's a perennial and will come back. I got some seeds off of it already, but that's just a last resort.
Does anyone grow Porterweed?
I grew it in TN, it reseeded sometimes. Here in south TX it is a perennial. Are the seeds inside the big long stem that's left after they flower?
I've taken cuttings before, most of them rooted pretty easily.
I'm in East Texas and have the purple porter weed for the first time . I have 4 in the ground and it always seems to be the first plant the hummers go to and the butterflies also seem to like it. It may occasionally get to 19 to 20 degrees here and I don't know whether to bring them into a greenhouse during the winter or not..Anyone know?
I have the red & purple. It is periennial in central Florida
How big are your plants. I can't really distinguish where they begin and end. Mine is a lot bigger than I thought it would get. I imagine it will be even bigger next year. eeekkk...wish I could move it, but it probably has big roots.
Mine are young. About 1 1/2 ft tall (without flowers) and wide. I had one that easly reached 3ft X 3ft without flowers.
I guess mines about 3x3 now. Too funny, I dreamed about this post last night!! LOL The plant in my dream that someone posted was HUUUGE!! This must have been the last thing I read before I turned off the computer.
perhaps you saw mine :-) it is HUUUGE, well over 5 foot high. I had to tie it up this year, it fell over with all the rain we've had. It comes back year after year and is a favorite of the little Skipper butterflies. I have both the red-peachy one and the blue one. I love this plant.
The porterweed are very easy to grow. I have several groupings scattered around the yard. In S Florida they bloom all year. I find after several years they get woody and top heavy so I constantly cut them back. I always leave some blooming areas of the plant so the butterfiles constantly have nectar. This produces nice new shoots and flowers all year long. They attract a variety of both large and small butterflies. I have only the blue ones.
KKB, did your porterweed come back this year?
John
I've been watching, but no sign of life so far. :( I saw the "blue" (it was purple) Porterweed today for $10. I think it was a 1-2 gallon pot and a pretty big plant. I can't imagine how big it would get if I start out with one that big! I have 4 babies growing from some seed that I snatched at a butterfly exhibit in San Antonio. At the time I remember thinking it was Brazilian verbena but now after having both plants, I know which it is. I'm going to plant mine outside this weekend since our last frost date has past. (we hope!)
Paige is the Porterweed the plant with wispy red things? Where did you get it?
Hi Cindy! I'll answer your question again in case anyone else wonders. I got it at The Texas Discovery Gardens plant sale last year.
My Lowe's stocks them every year.
Jan...
Lucky you! That's probably because they are more of a tropical plant. I might ask ours if they will put it on their list. Lowe's has been pretty good about having a really good selection. Do you grow any?
Hey Koncreteblond:
My passionflower is now unwound, and it's about four feet tall, and already popped open three blossoms today, in the rain. But no butterflies. And, more important, no cats!!!!!
But to play it safe I added another attractor. It's African .Cape honeysuckle. "Tecomaria capensis" It's evergreen, gorgeous, with beautiful red trumpet blossoms. It also is reputed to be salt tolerant.
I'll keep you posted.
That honeysuckle sounds beautiful! I bet that will attract hummers too! I'm jealous of the passionvine. Mine does have a tiny speck of green growing. I think I'm going to give it more food this year and see if that helps it. Your vine will probably grow so well there that you won't even notice the cats eating it.
koncreteblond:
CATS! Yeccchhh.
But I'll send you a photo tomorrow. God bless Home Depot.
You gotta learn to love the cats! You can't get the butterflies without them!!
Be careful with the cape honeysuckle. It spreads by runners so fast you don't even see them coming and before you know it it's all over the place. It is beautiful though and comes in 2-3 other colors as well. I have the orange and salmon but not the red.
Jan...
budgielover:
Thanks. I put it in a blank corner of a wall that I want to fill. The red flowers are amazing. But, I'll keep the pruners and loppers ready.
Hey budgielover:
But the important question is: did you get hummers or butterflies to them? And are you near to the Terri Schiavo happening?
Hi,
I've never had hummers but I do get a lot of butterflies. I am just a few blocks from the hospice she is in but haven't been by there.
Jan...
budgie~:
Imagine having a once-beautiful plant in your home, and deciding to not give it food and water because you have another one. That old plant cannot walk around or talk to you or even move, but you don't just let it die.
O tempore! O mores!
Hi,
I think it's best not to discuss it on this list. It's a pretty volitile subject.
Jan...
kkb's porterweed and its companions are magnificent, arn't they?
Yes they are beautiful. I really have to work at more annuals this year.
Jan...
I've decided I have to go back and get that one I saw last week. I have wanted to for the last 2 days but since gas is $2 a gallon and it's about a 25 min drive, I'm waiting until I drive that direction again. I love my perennials, but so many of my annuals reseed that it's no different. Especially the red salvia!
budgie~:
Mea culpa.
My "red" Cape honeysuckle is actually orange, It's amazing what sunshine does to colors!
koncreteblond:
Here are the Passionflowers. Still no butterflies -- and even more imoprtant, no cats yet. And I am still waiting for the open blossoms to get straightened out and face the sun
flyboyFL
There is a red cape honeysuckle also.
http://almostedenplants.com/mall/Redcapehoneysuckle.asp
jan...
Those are beautiful passionvines! Mine didn't even get that big and green last year! I don't think anyone has ever said, and I don't know since mine didn't bloom, but I doubt the cats eat the flowers. You don't care about the leaves anyways. ;)
budgie~
Jan:
Now I'm not sure. But it is pretty! I'll photo the next blossoms.
Brad
koncrete~
Now I feel better.
Brad
Brad,
There is a definite difference. The orange is definately orange.
Jan...
budgie~
When I adopted the plant it was under the lights in Home Depot. It looked red-red. In the bright sunlight it now looks orange-red. I saw some photos on the web, and ther red is red-red.. I'll keep you posted. I may have a mutant. But the foliage is lush -- and real green-green. Do yours act like evergreens during the winter?
Brad
Yes,
They stay green year round and occasionally flower during the winter months also.
Jan...
Great!
My mother had them as a hedge for year and it was gorgeous when in full bloom. Unfortunately, the roots got into the joints of her clay drain pipes and broke them so they had to be gotten rid of. We did replay the clay pipes with pvc which is less penetrable.
Jan...
Did she ever get hummingbirds?
And I thought that it was a brand-new plant -- from Africa.
Live and learn.