Well I purposefully bought the dwarf nandina and Chinese Fringe Flower for my new front flower bed early spring. I liked the curly leaft look and the color in the winter. You can't see them for the flowers that I have there now, but in the winter they are about the only thing visable. Hope I dont' regret the decision.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants & Wildflowers, part 11.
Sheila, as I understand it the dwarf Nandina is not included in the invasive category.
Since it doesn't bloom it can't be spread by birds or other creatures.
It is the standard nandina that is the culprit, although I have been told that if you cut off the flowers before they set seed, it is safe to have them, but I am going to take them out anyway.
I'm thinking of digging out my one vitex this winter and replacing it with false indigo Amorpha fructicosa. Anyone have any experience with this native....looks sorta close to vitex so I thought I would give it a try unless its proven problematic for ya'll. I don't need any mor problem plants--lol
Would love to get a cutting of Vitex. I think Sylvia_City tried to root some with no luck. Maybe at the CS RU?
I've got plenty I can root, its easy.
Yeah! Thanks Debbie!
I've got one out there now--but will wait a little while to try more. I'll also save you a bunch of seed.
Debbie, I am trying out the Amorpha fruticosa, I bought two plants from the willdscape geenhouse, they started it from seed, so they are still small in pots, so I don't have experience with them yet, but they look pretty, we shall see how they do.
I'm going to start them from seed too. Should be interesting
I hope they do well for you, they are pretty plants, mine are about 8 inches tall now.
Hmm...I've got a large purple vitex....and a much smaller white one....are they easy to start from seed? And how would you do it? Just curious.. :)
This message was edited Aug 14, 2006 11:12 PM
Txt, I have never grown those, but Debbie has, I bet she can give you all kinds of information.
Hmm...thanks Josephine....I'm just wondering if it would be the seed soaking and a damp paper towel/ziploc baggy routine...or something else....we'll see later.... :)
Josephine, thanks for easing my mind about the dwarf nandina btw!!
I have several plants that were sold to me as "Bastard Indigo"..I Googled and I think they are Amorpha fruticosa..Mine are in a fairly moist ,shady, place..They are pretty , however mine don't bloom anywhere near as prolifically as vitex and my color is also not as intense..More brown than purple..
They may do better in a sunnier place..
Thank you for the information, It is always good to know what works out best.
Josephine
I surface sow vitex, in the shade (germinating mix), keep it wet. They also come up all around the mother plant from seeds. I haven't found I need any special procedures with them. Others will disagree, I'm sure.
Debbie I really enjoyed the link to Tom Spencer's journal and beautiful flower pics. The Desert Willow is just beautiful. I may have to think about that one for my gardens.
I saw your writings and that beautiful rose! Very well done. ;)
Thanks Dancey but the rose was his--not mine. =)
I guess I'm tired, been working 12 hour days for 7 of the last 8 days and like a dodo put this over in the indigenous plants forum..it just dawnwd on me that I should try here too. Here it is cut and pasted:
I recently received these natives from a friend who was working a gun show in another town. I know they are native to Texas but probably not only Texas. I can't find them in the PlantFiles or any of my numerous resources. Perhaps the namenclature is whako. The first name is the botanical and the second is the "street" name--lol
Maybe some of you are familiar with them?
Verbiscina lindheimeri--Lindheimer's Crown-beard
Petalostemum pulcherrimum--Purple Prairie Clover
Thelesperma simplicifolium--Navajo Tea
This was all written on the seed pkts which were hand harvested.
Debbie
This message was edited Aug 15, 2006 7:20 PM
Verbesina lindhiemeri http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VELI2
Purple prairie clover has been changed from petalostemum to Dalea purpurea, they do that sometimes.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DAPU5
Thelesperma simpicifolium http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=THSI
The common name for the last one is different, but that is not surprising.
I hope that is clearer than mud.
Josephine.
By the way guys, Mitch's computer is on the blink, that is why he hans't been posting.
Oh no, that is too bad! I know he really enjoys keeping in touch with everyone. Hopefully he can get back on line before his birthday comes around. Hopefully it is a simple fix and he can return before long.
Dancey..you should really think about getting a Desert Willow....such beautiful blooms....This is a photo of mine this past April....notice the green grass...which is now burnt to a crisp...lol... But they take the heat really well....
TxT it sure is pretty! Does the plant have a cascading affect? I'm in zone 8b and wonder if the Desert Willow would die back during the winter. I sure would like to have one. I sure have plenty of room for one.
Wasowski's book says it's winter hardy almost to Amarillo. However, I've heard of it being grown in Colorado. Are there hardier varieties, I wonder? Speaking of books, I saw a new one in the bookstore yesterday. Nice one for my wish list!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760325391/ref=sr_11_1/104-5708653-2035110?ie=UTF8
TXT, your willow is a georgeous pink. I would love to have one if it were that color. Nice shot too.
Dessret Willows are perfectly hardy in zone 8b I have had them through some pretty cold cold winters with no problem.
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Linda that book looks neat, I have one of his books and I love it.
Josephine.
ok I want a desert willow.
lol @ ya'll.....well....mine survived just fine this first past winter...and it got down to about 23 degrees with several ice storms...it lost its leaves of course....but came right back out just fine... :) Mine has been blooming its head off...as long as I keep it well watered.....and tho its not known for its shade...I think its blooms are a beautiful trade.. :) I guess it sort of has a cascading effect, Dancey...not quite like true weeping willows...but I can see why it earned its name...
And look at what I woke up to early this morning. My little senna tree decided to show off for me for the first time... :)
Is that Senna corymbosa?
Good guess, Josephine! Yes it is...and a wonderful little tree...I have 2 of them and they really are a delight... :)
Thanks Linda for the heads up on that book. Another good one is Bulbs for Warm Climates by Thad M. Howard. It's not just natives but its got a lot of them in there. Also natives of Mexico, arizona, New Mexico.
BTW, I used to have a really nice clump of Navajo Tea in my yard. It went away, but I still have some on the property outside the fence. I really like them. For one thing, they do pretty well in caliche...a major plus for plants here. They're fairly tough plants. One of these days, I'll try it as a tea. Apparently all the greenthread species can be used in tea.
Hmmm...I've never heard of it before, Linda...would love to see a photo...and like you say...anything that can grow in caliche around here..is a plus!
Oh...I found it...very interesting...!
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/68433/index.html
that is another one I need... Have to stock up on those deer ristant natives ya know...
Txt, Isn't it fun searching and finding things? It's like finding hidden treasure.
Does that senna have seed? Would be happy to get some if they do! Pretty little thing and blooming in this heat!
Dear friends, I have started a new thread, because this one was getting too long.
To reach it go to http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/640763/
Let us continue learning and having fun.
Josephine.