variegated foetidissima (was foetidissima seedlings)

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Hi,

 

I don't have much experience with the species, since I planted my first ones in March of 2003, but they have done quite well for me.  I have one supposed to have yellow seeds (the seeds were really orange), and the variegated one.  They both do quite nicely.  I planted them in my native gravelly clay soil with no amendment.  The soil is a bit alkaline, but I haven't tested the PH (guessing about 7.5).  The plants got little water through the winter, but have been kept moist (not wet) during the warm season.  They get shade during the hottest part of the day (they are on the northeast side of a shed).  I didn't know if they'd like growing in central New Mexico, but they seem to like it here.  The dry wind and heat don't really seem to bother them, but I'm not sure how they'd do in full sun.  They both flowered last spring, even though they'd only been in the ground for a month.  This year I see no buds yet, but it's been colder, and we had a severe hail three weeks ago followed by a severe freeze (12 hours below 25 F).  The plants weren't bothered much (except battered leaves), but the buds may have been destroyed before they were yet visible.

 

Dave,

USDA Zone 7 / 8