Weerobin... The clematis can crawl along the ground. In fact thats what doss does. She has it crawling along her shrubs its been posted in photos before. Very pretty!! So either way you would like is great. The stalks are a nice shade of red also. I just like the height that the trellis added to that garden. ;) You do have to tie it in some places because it doesnt cling like other clematis'.
rcn48... I like the photo of your dragons tail!!! Mine is doing great. It looks like yours is pretty much in shade huh? Is it still the pretty rich yellow color? Looks very happy!! I noticed there are some new leaves coming on mine. You are right about the stargazer mercury they do blossom profusly in the spring. For a long time too. I have the same luck as you with all the foam flowers. They do really well for me also.
I also have a Kerria but its still pretty small so havent experienced the invasive part yet. Should I be scared? Are the like the Forsithias? With the suckers everywhere? Ronna
Deep Shade II
Stormyla: I could try your technique (I have Captan -- would that be ok for the fungicide? -- and then you spray Neem oil after replanting?), except there are no healthy leaves, and the plants are very small as it is. So I'd have to cut back every stem. If it would vigorous it would grow back from the roots, but these plants are anything but. I can try that this weekend, I suppose.
RCN: I'm so glad to see you here. And as if I were not already eager to come see your gorgeous gardens, to dangle yet another incentive! Every photo you post is so inspiring.
This message was edited Jul 15, 2008 7:46 AM
happy, I'm have no experience using Captan and don't know if it will burn the roots. The 2 products that I alternately use are Fungus Pharm fungicide which is soybean oil and rosemary or Organica K+Neem, insecticde-fungicide. Whichever product I use, I spray the entire plant before returning it to the hole.
If I have a bad problem with fungus I spray with Safer fungicide or Bayer Rose Complete. I also spray Messenger every three weeks and that helps a whole lot.
Doss, I've heard good things about Messenger.
Ronna, Who's to say if it will be invasive for you? RCN lives in a milder area than you.
If she had it planted in a different spot, it might not be a problem.
On RCN's advise, I ripped out a bunch of Artemisia Limelight. Would it have become invasive? I don't know, but it's centers were declining so I tossed it even though it's beautiful color brightened up the shade garden.
I happen to be the only person who couldn't get Chameleon plant to grow!!!
I've been looking for some silver leafed plants for the shade garden. Big Dipper Farms has some nice Pulmonarias that are silver. Does anyone have any experience with them? Big Dipper Farms seems to be expensive on Perennials and very reasonable on shrubs. Does anyone else think so?
stormyla, you are right I'm not going to do anything yet... I like the growth its made so far. I love the Chameleon plant and have been looking for some more. Mine are beautiful this year. Takes quit a while for it to really spread though. But the colors are so great in the part sun. Ronna
Ronna, I bet if you'd post a want for it, you'd get lots of offers!!!!
The key about Big Dipper Farms is to actually call them and see about availability. Sometimes they will send an order without something and that's very disappointing. Just don't rely on their availability status on their website.
Thanks, Doss. That will help wittle down my order!!!
Yikes, it gives me goosebumps to think of letting another Chameleon plant loose in my yard.
Been there, done that. I'm still pulling remnants years later ...
But I definitely plan to let a clematis Roguchi loose in my shade garden this year.
Stormy, have you considered Chinese asarum (asarum splendens)?
It's a pretty variegated asarum which isn't too fussy. Clump-forming.
Or ainslea, or the pewter-leafed heucheras, or variegated disporums?
Lots of weird stuff out there, but unfortunately can be expensive.
But asarum splendens is pretty inexpensive.
Thanks Weerobin, I was looking for something taller than 12". I couldn't find any info on ainslea. Are you sure that's how it is spelled?
Maybe it's ainslaea... But it's not a tall plant, so may not fit the bill.
You can see a picture at Asiatica nursery website (under their woodland perennials section).
It's very silvery, but pretty much ground-hugging. I don't think I've seen any flowers.
Mine is doing fine after a few years without special care.
Thanks, Weerobin. Did you get your Skimmia yet?
you have some of the most unique shade plants I have ever seem. I absolutely love and now want one of those georgeous blue bell flowwer Clematis and that ??ferfugeum argentius (I feel sure I slaughtered that name from memory)--I believe it was the pink flowering shrub..er tree. are you in the plant exchange info? Does that Clematis seed? If so I desparately would love ? I am 7 in NC. I have a naturalized woodland wildflower shade grden with many May apple, Trilium, Soloman's Seal and other typical woodland plants. a couple years after getting this property...one spring I saw a good size patch of blue off i the woods..there was a rather large patch of Dwarf Crested Iris! They have been fun.
Hsappy gardening ;-)).........Birdie.
Hi Birdi, Welcome! I grow both the Iris Cristata and the Dward Iris Reticulata. They are so wonderful. I love how they keep spreading and now they need to be divided and moved all over the garden. It's great that they bloom so early. I may look for some of the white ones.
Stormy, no I don't have my Skimmia yet. But it's on my list for sure.
I really need to call it a season and quit buying plants for this year!
Enough, is enough.
I think I'm at the point, I'd better devote some time to maintaining the plants I have, rather than continuing to add more.
I'll soon be brousing catalogues through the winter doldrums.
Oops, I forgot all the plants I've already ordered to be delivered this fall.
Oh, well...
birdie,It's farfugium Argentea. Can't buy it if you can't spell it. LOL
Clematis are reproduced by cuttings in general I believe.
Weerobin, I haven't done that!! But, I would like to put in some double snowdrops, yellow aconite, fritillaria, some more white daffodils and red tulips this year. Oh and my Hyacinths need replenishing. Also want to get some Double Bloodroot! Windflowers are another one of those bare root plantings that never materialized.
It is never ending. My edging is virtually non-existant and is to be my fall project. My other project is a surface for the large path in the corner of my garden. I'll be lucky if I get the edging completed.
I just looked up dwarf crested iris in PF....must have some! What's "double" bloodroot, stormy?
It's just bloodroot that has flowers that are doubles.
I knew I was going to like this thread, but you may get me in trouble -found Ainsliaea cordifolia http://www.asiaticanursery.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=1204 - what a beauty!
Weerobin, I have always wanted to try Vancouveria. Somewhere I have photos taken at Asticou gardens in Maine where it created a beautiful groundcover in their Japanese garden. I suspect though you're right, it would hate our heat and humidity :(
Ronna, I should try to get a picture of our Kerria - suckers? Everywhere!!! This photo will give you an idea of the size and this was after I pulled suckers out in a 2' perimeter. The photo was taken in the fall of 2006 when I planted this area with Hostas and Ferns. You can barely make out a couple of Hostas in the back where they are growing next to the Kerria. Two years later the Kerria has almost swallowed the Hostas and is rapidly covering the trunk of the River Birch that I had exposed :( I also have the same problem with Calycanthus, again made the mistake of planting Hostas at the base and they're getting swallowed :(
Happy, I'll gladly "dangle more incentives" if it will help get you here faster :) When I told Rick what you said, he said OMG, tell her to come, we've got lots of things we could send you home with! I'm still hanging on to a few pots of Chrysogonum just in case :)
stormyla, I'm so glad you took my advice and ripped out the Artemesia - you won't be sorry! I just ripped out some more last week when weeding, going on 6 years now that I've been trying to get rid of it :(
KyWoods, here's a post of my double bloodroot.
One of my favorite woodland treasures. Blooms early spring.
Dormant later in summer, though mine still have bushy foliage now.
Here's a post of the common (single) variety.
They pop up everywhere in my yard.
RCN: Now you know I can kill a Chrysogonum just by looking at it -- I've proved it on what you gave me before! Tell Rick a million thanks, and one of these days I'll be on your doorstop. I promise I'll call first!!!
Both bloodroots are lovely! We have the single ones out here in the woods.
Weerobin, How long did it take for that Bloodroot to colonize so nicely? I planted some last year in my one tree line and they came up so nicely. I love how they close up at night. They seem to bloom right as the Narcissa are ending. What is the spread on that Ainsliaea?
RCN, you should set your voles to work on that Kerria. The bark on that birch is really neat (not so)! The voles just love my river birch. Why can't they eat the poison ivy that's growing all inside of it??? Do you grow any Pulmonarias?
Doss, Last year I put in some Ligularias. I'm not sure if they were Britt Marie or The Rocket. They have beautiful bronze and purple foliage. I put them towards the back of the bed, but now think they should be moved closer to the front so the nice foliage is visible. I have some Ligularia Osiris to plant and could put them further back in the bed. Do you know if they transplant well?
I have some nice silver leafed Heuchera, but need something to put further back into the bed with greater height to break up all of the green. This section of the bed is about 20' deep. There are Rose of Sharons at the very back with tall Hydrangeas in front of them. These are all under plantings of large trees. There are also two Stachyurus Praecox back there. I love the February blooms.
I don't want to add too many varigated plants as the limited dappled sunlight gives some of the plants a varigated appearance. Every year, I thin the canopy some, trying to let a little light in. I saw a beautiful Scarlet Itea like Little Henry at Big Dipper farms and might add 2 of those. Chartreuse plants would help also. There is one dark green mid size Daphne Mezueum there, but I'm going to read up on the light requirements of some of the others. I have a beautiful Chartreuse Daphne Mezureum Bowles White growing in another bed, but it might not take to the shade. Maybe Daphne Brigg's Moonlight will.
The Dicentra Gold Heart will go somewhere in there. For closer to the front, there's semishade and I love these little shrubs, Hypericum Brigadoon. They just glow. I've put in 4 of these. This section of the bed is about 50' wide, so there's lots of room for more wonderful goodies. Hosta Sunpower is doing a great job of brightening things up. I have some small blue Hostas that are getting crispy in another bed, so I'm going to plant them between the Brigadoons.
I tried Painted Japanese Fern, but they didn't survive. Last month I added two Ghost Ferns, but the Ground Hog ate them, roots and all within two days!!! Yestderday, I added 2 varigated Jacob's Ladders and some more Trollius Globe flowers. I also underplanted the Hypericum "Albury Purple" with more yellow Trillium. Around one of the large trees I added 2 Heuchera Southern Comfort. These get quite large as do the Heuchera Brownies that are in the middle of them. Those 2 Brownies are taking up almost 6' of space!!! There are Trollius planted in among them with Aruncus behind them.
No planting today and lunch hour is almost over!!!!
Ligularias transplant just fine.
stormyla, a few Pulmonarias here and there in the garden and they do fine :) One of my favorites was 'Raspberry Ice' (from Terra Nova) with lighter green speckled foliage, white margin and "raspberry" flowers. Alas, most of them have reverted and although still nice don't have the striking foliage that they used to. Some of my favorites are 'Trevi Fountain' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59648/ (one of the best deep blues I've seen) and 'Majeste' has done well for us http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/69703/. Getting ready to plant 'Diana Clare' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/126142/ - it's growing rapidly in the pot, let's hope it does as well in the garden! Usually we have better luck with any of the P. longifolia or cevennensis types and I like the long narrow leaves of P. cevennensis :) I had brought P. rubra with me when I moved from Maine but over the past 8 years it has slowly been decreasing from the vigorous clump it used to be :( I'll try to remember to get a few pictures next time I'm in the garden with my camera. I see there are no photos in PF for 'Raspberry Ice' and maybe I can find one that hasn't reverted!
I'll also try to get a picture of Hypericum 'Brigadoon'. I have it planted in two different locations with Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' and the one spot where it gets the most sun is really taking off :) It looks a little shabby after a long winter but the new foliage quickly covers up the older foliage if I don't have a chance to give it a 'haircut'.
Stormy, you can always count on me for some weird suggestions.
There's a chartreuse foliaged 2-3ft tall perennial called leucoseptrum japonicum 'Golden Angel'.
I got mine at a plant sale at our botanical garden.
It is nicely chartreuse and stands out in the shade.
But the only place I saw it on line was expensive (Asiatica).
I have had it in the ground a few years and it's a good grower for me.
The flowers are nothing special, so the foliage is the feature.
The other idea - have you considered Disporum cantoniense Night Heron?
It's not silver or chartreuse, it's purple. And it's certainly tall for back of the shade garden.
It would add different color and certainly provide contrasting structure.
Just a couple thoughts.
And my double bloodroot clump has been in the ground about 3 yrs.
It has really expanded.
The plants are initially so little! But they aren't fussy and grow well.
I have a few other smaller ones scattered around, but the one posted is my best clump.
Reading this thread is intoxicating.
Does anyone know if Claytonia sibirica (Western Spring Beauty) does ok in our area?
I just got some blood root for postage on the trding forum... Cant wait for it to blossom its in the pring correct??? I just may post a looking for chameleon ad. I love the stuff. Weerobin sound like you dint like it huh? It grows really slow here in my yard for some reason. Mine has been in the ground for about three years and I have a very small patch of it. Enough to sread around a little bit. But anyway. No new plants around here for a while. My son is coming home from the Army. He is getting deployed in the middle of August. We are very sad. But it will be great to have him home. Happy mom in Plainwell!!! Have a great rest of the week. Ronna
I bet that it will be lovely to see your son again Ronna, even if it's for a short time. I can't imagine how wrenching it must be to see them go back. There are a lot of brave souls out there.
Ronna, that's great that you will have your son home. I will pray for his safety.
What kind of bloodroot did you get, the single or double blooms? I guess if the single ones grow wild here, the double would likely do well. I may look for some.
Ouch! Asiatica's prices seem to be getting higher all the time and that Leucosceptrum is no exception http://www.asiaticanursery.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=1187 I wouldn't have a problem if he sent vigorous, well-rooted plants, but I usually have to baby them for a year and at those prices I just can't justify it, unless of course it's something I just HAVE to have! LOL
I would love to try the double Bloodroot in the gardens, if I'm ever able to find it. Weerobin, your clump is just beautiful :) I remember the first time I saw it years ago - I was standing at the check out at one of my favorite nurseries and the owner had the plant sitting on the counter in full bloom. It was absolutely gorgeous and I asked if they had any for sale - he quickly gestured "hands off", that's mine! LOL He had picked it up at a seminar somewhere and paid $75.00 for it!!
Weerobin, do you have Night Heron Disporum growing in your gardens? I've had it here for two years and although it's definitely "different", it's never shown the dark foliage that I've seen in the photos of the plant? Maybe a little dark when it first comes up in the spring, but by the time it flowers, it's just another pretty dark green plant!
Happy, have never grown that Claytonia - but from what I've read, sounds like even though it will reseed and spread, it's short-lived and does go summer dormant by mid summer once the heat kicks in.
stormyla, I absolutely love Dicentra 'Gold Heart' but was always frustrated with the 'blank' spot it left in the gardens by mid summer. Wracked my brain several years ago to find a combo with something that came up later and would hide the 'blank'. Ended up trying hardy Begonia (B. grandis) and it's made the perfect companion for Gold Heart - always late to show in the spring and by the time Gold Heart is finally winding down the Begonia completely covers the area and is blooming by August :)
RCN: I love hardy Begonia, and I have a lot of it. My problem with it, though, it that it reseeds prolifically. It is easy to pull out, so I don't find it a problem per se, but I don't always notice what it is shading, and I also have a hard time bringing myself to pull it out. RIght now I have some hardy Begonia shading some daylilies and I really should pull it out, but I know if I don't I'll get beautiful flowers in a few weeks, so I'm torn. . . . . . so the problem in this case is with the gardener, not the plant.
This message was edited Jul 18, 2008 8:25 AM
Yikes, $75 for double bloodroot? I'll stick with the single ones that grow wild--I like the price a lot better, lol. Weerobin, you didn't pay that for yours, did you? If you got it at a decent price, where'd you find it? Or was it growing there when you moved there?
KyWoods, I couldn't believe the $75 price either.
I checked my standard on-line nursery list and found at Munchkin Gardens for $18, PlantDelights for $28 and Asiatica for $26.
I realize even these are pricey, but not in the $75 range.
I don't remember where I got mine, as it was several years ago.
I just came to this forum to see what was happening over here. lol
Wow! Ya'll are growing some beautiful shade plants. ;)
Does the bloodroot plants grow in full/dappled shade? I do love those plants. My backyard is very shady and I don't have much of anything back there yet. We do have some very hot and humid summers even in the shade. Do you think any of the Bloodroot plants would survive in my zone? I would love to have some of those back there.
Lin
DanceyTx: Mine thrive in hot humid shade.
But I don't know for sure about your zone.
They tolerative root competition quite well, at least here.