What is your oldest living perrenial?

Believe it or not, this butterfly weed is now 15 years old. I spotted it growing in an undeveloped lot across the street from my house the summer we moved in. Since we were the new folks on the street, I snuck back in the evening to "steal" it and plant it in my garden, where it immediately died. To my surprinse, the following spring it came back and has give me many years of pleasure. It has hosted many generations of monarch catterpillars as well as every bee in the kingdom. Yes, I'm sure it's the same plant, growing in the same spot.
What are you "garden granddaddies"?

my oleander has been here since before i moved in 17 years ago--the first year i cut it down to the ground and it just comes back stronger and more beautiful --but my ivy in front of the house is getting old and woody looking--i am tearing it out and starting new--it is also from 17 years ago --

For me it's clematis jackmanii. I moved it here 17 years ago when we moved from our previous house. Actually, the DH dug it up and threw it in the back of his truck. Still blooming on the fence every spring!

daphnecat what are the flowers in the eleven o'clock position behind your butterfly weed?
i have some and almost pulled, but glad i let be.

can I count the original plant I took cuttings from? I have a gardenia cutting thats over 10 years old taken from a plant that may have been 20 -25 years old.

Len123,
That is obedient plant (pysotigia), a tall pink-flowering variety. The one in the picture had mites, I think.

thank you daphnecat. i'll leave it alone

The oldest living perennials on my property are kwanzo daylilies. they are at least 50 years old. Kwanzo daylilies are orange double and triple flowering blooms. They begin blooming July 1. They are interplanted with a perennial form of ageratum . . . same age as the Kwanzos.

This message was edited Jul 8, 2007 6:14 PM

At least as old as the kwanzo daylilies and perennial ageratum, is a large stand of yucca filamentosa.

This message was edited Jul 8, 2007 6:16 PM

Gee, gloria125, that makes my butterfly wee a mere baby!

I don't know if this counts or not, but I have daylilies from my husband's grandmothers garden, and we are 50!

I have some rhubarb that is over 55 years old.
It has been moved several times but it's as vigorus as ever.

Paul

Garden Phlox from my grand grandmother's garden and I am 56. I don't know if this counts, but It's a treasure to me.

I have a beautiful light pink peony plant that I know is at least 6o years old. It was in my grandma's yard in Oklahoma City. I also have Siberian Iris from the same yard that are 50 years old. SStill georgous!

This is a fun question. My oldest are hosta cuttings I brought with me from our first house, so they are about 30 and have produced hundreds of cuttings for friends and family. I also have the purple clematis that was in the front yard here when we moved in 25 years ago that has been moved to the back yard and also reproduced for family. My ribbon grass (don't know the real name) is from a friend's yard also 30 years ago. Many of my other plants are 24-25 from my first few years gardening here.

Gosh, this makes me feel old!

Cathy, St. Louis County

cathy4. You are so fortunate to have stayed in the same place as your plants.

I have several hostas that are at least 10 years old and I love them more every year. Even when I make cutting for friends. They still keep on giving the flowers in the summer. Good question. Ronna

Gloria, you are certainly right, we have considered moving and I told my husband it would take me a year to get my plants ready, I would have to have starts of everything! I guess we're staying!

I live in the same house I grew up in. There are garden phlox and tradescantia still growing in the same location in my grandpa's garden when I was a kid. I am 62, and they were probably there before I was born.
Sharon

My sister still lives in our old home place. It is reassuring to know the old apple trees, june berries, wintergreen berries, black and rasp berries etc. etc. and also some beeches, all the maples, and roses they are all still there.