I fight the rabbits here - the bad thing, our dog likes to watch them eat! Never goes after them but a hummingbird enters the yard he is all over it.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants & Wildflowers Part 8
That's what I was wondering, if I were going to get a bunch from seed also, or just from runners. I love this plant because my butterflies love it, so more is good thing for now. This plant has been bug free too, which is a great thing this year!
That makes me wonder, are natives less likely to be bug magnets?
The short answer is yes. Natives have found their niche in the ecological system where they are found.
What's the long answer? Really. Just point me in another direction if I've missed this previous discussion. That does make sense that they would be less likely to be attacked than natives, which does make the natives that much more attractive.
Josephine, I've got more questions about the Ironweed. It's perennial, right? Will that plant come back thicker? Does it spread underground any or only by seed?
Same questions for the Frostweed. I don't know if my Frostweeds are going to make it to flowering this year. They haven't grown as fast as Mel's or the ones I gave to my mom. I guess because I wanted them in the background and they aren't getting as much direct sun as they'd like.
I've planted both in several areas, all individually tho. I'm wondering whether they are going to stay as single plants or if I need to help them with some seeds this fall.
My Ironweed is blooming! No signs from the Frostweed yet, but it is 18" tall or so! I just came in from checking on the back yard, and the Ironweed is a nice, bright purple! I am going to want to put some in the front beds next year, for others to see, too!
mel
I have a question to - My ironweed is only 2 foot or so but blooming... it will clump right? And get taller? The frostweed is a prenn but will it clump to ? I have mine near the walk wanting it to fill in near my poke and rosemary - wanted to make sure it would clump or do I need to spread it via seeds or cuttings?
Wow! lots of questions I love it!
Paige the Ironweed is perennial and and normally it does clump altough not heavily.
It does get taller and stronger with age. My friend in Granbury, not Linda, she is a friend from Spain who I got started on natives, she cuts the Ironweed back after blooming about half way down the stalk, and says she gets another bloom, so I am doing that with some of mine this year. I allways left if because I wanted the seed, but now I have enough to cut, and leave some for mature seed. We shall see how it works out for me, plants don't allways behave the same way. Josephine.
Mel, the Frostweed is a later bloomer, and usually doesn't develop completly the first year. It clumps some to may be 5 or 6 main stems and can rech 6 feet ot more, I love the foliage because it is so lush.
Do you still have some of extra Mist Flower plants?
I will trade you a White Butterfly ginger for one of those, deal?
Also, did you look at those aquatic plants I posted on here, and can you tell what they are? I figure you guys with ponds know more about those than I do.
Well Mitch, I guess I answered both your questions already. It just ocurred to me, a while back you said you don't have Texas Star hibiscus, I have planty of seed, so next time I see you remind me, O.K.? Josephine.
Frostweed - the first one is Water Pennywort, Hydrocotyle Umbellata. It can get 14 in tall, Blooms small white in June to Sept. They are a North American native but it does not list if they are Texas for sure.
The sencond one - I know it is not Water Arum, I have that; Look at Orontium Aquaticum, Pontederia Cordata, Peltandra Virginica to start with to see for sure. It looks like a tropical non-native to me.
Can you tell me how can you tell what Iris are native and what ones are not? I know the named ones are not but I heard that some Iris are native to Texas. Seeing that I have gathered 200 or so from spots out and about I wanted to know how I could tell if they are the native ones or not. I know they all are older Iris they come from homes and other places left empty for years just not sure if I can tell natives. I know for sure Iris - Verna, Missouriensis, Virginica, Fulva, Pesadacorus are all US Natives are they Texan? And are there others? I know long shot here but got to ask!
This message was edited Aug 3, 2005 9:53 AM
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1247/index.html
Here is the pennywort
J- No, I don't have the pond plants that you listed. I have only 4 or 5 plants, enough for ME... in fact I am dressed and on my way out there this moment, to rip out the overgrown foliage... my monthly summer chore!
YES, I have LOTS of Bluemist! More than you'd imagine! Take all that you want! You won't believe the Monarchs that they attract!
I may have to get it on video this year, cause I will miss the show when we move! My naturalized area out front is full in the center with Blue mistflower! It loves it there, and is even growing out of crevices in the huge rocks too! No care at all, we just hedge trim them down to the ground in the spring, and they come back tenfold!
Off to the pond....
Its not so much that the native plant is not attacked by insects, it is. The components of a native ecosystem are in balance with each other. i.e., the native insect does not eradicate the native plant. Enter the exotic organism (plant, insect, etc.). All bets are off in that case. We cannot predict the outcome without careful study.
This is a complex subject on which books have been written and people have spent lifetimes studying. Short answers like mine do not give this subject justice.
Thank You Mitch, I will check those out and see what I can find.
As far as the Iris ,the only one I know about is Blue Flag, but I really don't know much about those,, I couldn't really identify it.
I say, Grow them because they are beautiful, and because you will be preserving and carrrying on a tradition. Since you have a lot of space at this time, you could dedicate a bed just to them, who knows, you might have some womderful heirlooms.
Dont worry I will keep all the Iris (I just cannot help myself once I see some in a field somewhere I have to track down the owner!) Just wanted to know if it was easy to tell. I thought it might be like daylilies - orange ditch are native and the pretty ones are not!
I like pennywort, several places we lived growing up had them everywhere. Most people find them a weed.
Mitch, I found Pennywort at the wildflower center website and it says native, so I am going with that, the other one I haven't found yet, the names you gave me were close but no there. Thanks a lot for your help.
Mexican Bush Sage? Native? Will it live in Dallas? I read it can take 10 degrees and we hae never been that low in all the time I have been down here . . . Just wondering had one dropped in the mail from a friend!
Here is the plant file -
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1837/index.html
I have checked 2 or3 places and they all say not US native. Zones 8 to 11.
So it should do well here.
Several of us have this! Best plant of mine, in the fall! For some reason, this year, it bloomed this spring, and hasn't stopped, but that is uncharacteristic for mine!
I dug up a few babies and transplanted them, and so far, they are doing well! I promise that you will love it, native or not!
mel
Great ! I knew she would send me a great plant - I will plant it near my cannas. Thanks! Mitch
Just leave plenty of room for them to spread! =D
The Pride of Barbados seems to be the only plant we have that is blooming normally this year. We have hundreds of Mist flowers not blooming, no sign of Purple Gurardia at all yet.
Trois! My two little Pride of Barbados plants have been put in the ground and are growing well, I hope I get some bloom from them this year. I love red, as you probably already know.
In the spring I will plant the rest of the seeds and share the plants with the other members who might want them. Thank you for sending them. Josephine.
Josephine They are going to look great tucked in there!
This message was edited Aug 3, 2005 5:11 PM
I counted 87 seed pods already. There should be plenty to go around.
That is just beautiful Trois. Josephine.
Wow - and that will grow up here? Looks like a trip to the tropics
Mulch heavy around the bottom. It should come back from the roots. If the ground freezes, more seeds needed.
Have you ever wrapped a tree in christmas lights for the winter? I did it last year with a lemon and a lime they both made it (burned leaves but growing like crazy) I wonder if this could be treated the same way?
They usually die back to the ground anyway. Due to the sprawled shape, I think it would be difficult. Protecting from any cold wind would be the problem. I have one that blooms 2 months earlier that always makes it through the winter, but is is against the house and surrounded by heavy vegatition. It is very hard to see unless you get on the roof.
Oh well - at least that means they stay on the small side!
You should pluck the seed pods as soon as they turn brown, They will fling their seed ot about 20 feet or so. Place them in a paper bag with th top closed, and some evening you will all say "what was that?"
I actually saw one of these BOParadise trees in a newer neighborhood... next to their mailbox... they must have brought it with them from somewhere else. I think the house is less than 2 yrs old, and the tree is almost 5 ft tall! How fast do they grow?
I think that I have a seedling from Josephine... she gave me a little cup and said, keep this one in pot for a while... so I have. It's in a dappled shade area with my other babies... I saw it yesterday, and it seems to be doing fine! Now I wonder, what will I do with it this winter.... I guess it will come to the garage with my other "experiments".
They can grow very fast. Some do, some don't. If you need more seeds, let me know.
trois
I recently read somewhere that the Pride of Barbados usually start slow, then when it warms up they spring to life almost overnight!
They do that. They also crave sun. The one next to the house was planted in the shade so it grew straight up about 15 feet to reach sunlight. Now it blooms just about all summer on the roof.. Planted in full sun they usually grow to about 5 feet tall and then spread their branches a bit.
The entire plant is good looking, not just the flowers.
This message was edited Aug 4, 2005 6:31 AM
POB photo.
Ahhhhh could you pass the pina colada's please....................
TXMel, I'm with ya on that thought but a nice cool dark beer.