Re: Re: [OT] Perennials that fit in and play nice?
- To:
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] Re: [OT] Perennials that fit in and play nice?
- From: J* a* C* W*
- Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 20:16:12 -0600
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> From: Rascalbob13@cs.com
> I would like to suggest that you try a perrennial called Mirabilis (I
> probably don't have that spelled right). They are a perrennial that
doesn't
> start to come up until late April or early May. They start blooming
sometime
> in late June and stay until after several heavy frosts in the fall. They
are
> interesting in that they open from "dusk to dawn" and close up during the
> daylight.
Donna,
You have the correct spelling - the plant you have described is Mirabilis
jalapa, the Four O'Clock (so named for the bloom habits you mention) or
Marvel of Peru (though as the specific name indicates, it is really a
native of Mexico - from the same area that gave us Jalapeno peppers). This
plant is usually grown as an annual in colder Zones, such as mine, as the
tubers cannot survive normal winters here. I would not choose it as a
companion plant for irises, as it can grow quite rank and cast quite a bit
of shade on the rhizomes. There was a discussion of this plant on the list
in February, 1997, which can be accessed in the Archives.
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2, AHS Zone 7)
jcwalters@bridgernet.com
