Here's a close-up.....
Holly and Rics Swap Followup Plant Questions- "what is...?"
Maybe a salvia?
Midra, your mystery plant isn't by any chance white turtlehead? I just read Sharon's article, and I wondered... http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1609/
It does look a little like a Chelone... Midrashist posted different pics in the ID forum, I think it's a straw foxglove, Digitalis lutea:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/999405/
Critter, How tall will that Baloon Flower get? Thanks
I think claypa has done it again. (History will little note my guess at one time that the foliage looked foxglove-ish. LOL)
so happy you gonna rush over here and grab this stuff? or will we be forced to schedule a swap AT YOUR HOUSE to get you time there? Oh wait even that may not work.. A mobile swap inside a tour bus going on happy's errands....
Once it takes off, I think balloon flowers can get 3 feet tall... mine are just starting to get big now that they're in the ground... plant it, and stand back! I did start some dwarf ones too, but I'm pretty sure the swap plants were regular sized ones. I always thought of them as short plants, for some reason... but I've seen them in public gardens, and they're definitely one to put toward the back of the bed! LOL
From my experience 3 feet is a max though. More of a 24 incher for me.
I have also had balloon Flowers (Platycodon) for years....the blue ones kind of died out--then I got some white ones from someone at a Swap a year ago....
Mine have always grown in a sunny bed and have not exceeded 18" in height. matter of fact--they tend to lean over and grow close to the ground with their tips curved upward...
I miss my blue ones....:o(
funny my blue ones didn't last long either Gita... I did manage to save some seed from one that did make it
but the white seems to live much longer
Ok...I took a pic yesterday (will post in AM) of a mystery blue flower that's grown up beside my gardenia....hmmmm?????
OK Guys, So it could be any size!! Thanks!!! LOL
Hi Sally, what were the somewhat fuzzy, variegated plants you gave me? I thought you had them marked as Plecanthrus? But I'm having trouble finding one that looks like yours to identify it. I mainly want to know if it prefers sun or shade.
thanks!
This message was edited Jun 28, 2009 1:47 PM
Sounds like the Cuban Oregano I got from Sally, square stem, opposite leaves, and usually grows in sun to partial shade.
Try this one:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56154/
I think miatablu was the one who brought this 'into the fold' of swapping, as it were. It rooted and grew so well over winter for me! The leaf size can vary with conditions--I planted one out withleaves about three inches long (growlight from the winter) but the new growth (AM shade, some PM sun, large mixed pot) has branched and the leaves are smaller- Anyway, tough plant!
Stormy--
Now that my Balloon Flower has grown to it's full lenth--I have to say it is almost 2' tall. hard to say--as it leans forward....Should bloom soon.
Went outside just now to take a picture--and Lo, and behold! There are blue ones blooming! I though i only had white!!! These must have skipped a season last year!
G.
Sally what a memory you have! Yeah I brought this to Hart's Swap in 2007. It was way easy to root so I remember I had a lot and was trying to get rid of what I had at the end of the swap. I keep ending up with one little cutting at the end of each winter, and I'm not really too interested in keeping it going anymore, but no matter how much I ignore and abuse it, it keeps going and I can't bear to toss it. Mines doing very well in it's plastic cup right now :)
I had a big Cuban Oregano for a couple of years and rooted lots of cuttings from it. I loved the look and the leaves but didn't really care for the scent -- one of those herbal aromas that you either love or you don't -- so the parent plant finally went to Happy. I don't remember if Miata got it from me or found it elsewhere.
Diana (wind) you gave me some kind of orangeJapanese iris seeds? I have sprouts!
Nope Critter. You tried to give it to me, but I already had mine. I remember how happy you were that Happy took it :)
Thanks Sally, that looks like it :) Good luck with the iris. Mine is in its second year and it doubled or tripled in size, no blooms yet, so it may take a few years for yours to get established.
LOL I do remember trying to pawn it off on you, Miata! Thanks for jogging my memory. It's such an attractive plant, and it's tough as nails... it's just smelly.
Was there one of those on the prize table?, if so I got it and it has survived being knocked off the deck rail.
I likely did throw one on the prize table (mex oregano) I can see that flying off a deck rail, and rooting right where it lands before you even find it LOL Mine is in this pot along with begonia and coleus.
I loved the Cuban Oregano Critter gave me -- and then I killed it off last winter. I don't know what happened! It was so healthy that I was able to root a gazillion for a prior swap. It must not have liked my tough-love approach to watering!
Sally, that looks like the Chocolate Drop Coleus in your container, glad it is doing good for you.
Gita, I bought some new pots for your Begonias, they are looking really good, and the burg is looking good and healthy also, your's and another one from a co-op had some set back when I potted both up to bigger containers and then had some chilly and windy weather and could not drag them back into the house.(They will go into the basement end of season) I am still looking for buds on both but no sign of any. I saw Holly's on the container thread and am a bit jealous, hers is blooming.
Nisi--
Here is the Cherokee Purple tomato you gave me. it is now almost 3' tall and has made a couple of tomatoes.
Thanks again! G.
Gita:
Glad it's doing well. This is the first year I have tried CP; can't wait to taste it. Many people (including you) seem to like it enough to grow it repeatedly.
YES! it is tasty and seems to have very few seeds. Most of them are located around the perimeter of the fruit. near the skin part. The flesh is fairly solid and a nice, dark red....
Here! This is a dinner-size plate
here--sliced open....
Yes ladygardener, that's your coleus--likes the spot! Not too bad, the dark spots echo the dark begonia foliage, and is same shape as plectranthus foliage but different pattern and color.
It's an easy grower, Sally, winters over very well if you want to bring in the whole pot.
Gita, I'll have to try that tomato some time, it looks really yummy.
Happy, That's why I was begging for the Cuban Oregano. I just love it and haven't been able to keep it over the last 2 winters. Really must work on my overwintering skills. I have that same tough love approach to watering, too. I usually start out good then the force confinement upstairs over the holidays just does them in. Too crowded, sometimes I miss watering a pot here or there and the spider mites usually just go crazy.
Just stick pieces in a bottle of water on a windowsill, it will root and grow all winter.
claypa,
I have tried keeping herbs in water on a windowsill, but they tend to lose that "zing" of flavor if not outside. Just not as flavorful.
I have tried Basil, Dill, Parsley, etc.....
G.
The Cuban oregano (Plectranthus) they're talking about is only hardy to zone 9b, so it has to be brought inside and kept alive somehow. Those other plants you mentioned are annuals, I don't think there's any way to overwinter them.
You people are so good you don't need a pic.
What is this vine I am growing from somebody's swapped seeds from Feb, I think it'll have red flowers, right now not blooming yet. Has unusual spiky sort of leaves, like maple but with 8-10 pointy spikes. So what is it? I think----Ohh cardinal climber??????
LOL I'm at that awkward age where memory problems are setting in but sometimes I can overcome at the last moment...
Cypress vine, or maybe cardinal climber, the Plantfiles on this one is confusemicating
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/662/
This message was edited Jul 12, 2009 5:40 PM
Yes, Sally.....That would be the cardinal Climber.....
Is that what you meant when you said---Gita has one?
I grow one every year letting it scamper all over my kitchen side, wrought iron railing....
This will be pretty- I have three clumps of it along the garden fence so there will be a nice display when it gets going. Thanks Gita-
I somehow didn't manage to start one this year, but my coral honeysuckle is doing well, so the hummers have forgiven me. The seeds might have come from me, or at least I'm pretty sure I was giving those out, but others were too I'm sure!