Re: Mexican Mountain Daisies



Trevor writes:

> I am also trying Crambe maritima for the effect its glaucous foliage
will create. Its flowers and sprawling habit I like very much too.
Crambe cordifolia has proven something of a disappointment here. Its
leaves get eaten by every caterpillar in the entire neighbourhood -
there are lots of market gardens nearby where cabbages, brussels
sprouts, kale, cauliflowers and broccoli are grown, and I wonder if
there is enough late rain to get it to flowering stage. I've given it an
extra feed this year. If it doesn't perform out it goes.
> trevor n

I have grown both of these for years.  The Crambe maritima is rarely
attacked by caterpillars and is just sending up its rather insignificant
flower stalks now but of course it is the big wavy leaves that make such
a nice show - I have it in an area of the garden that is mainly a
collection of silver, purple, and blue foliage.  The Crambe cordifolia
is a fantastic plant and worth the nibbled leaves when it puts up 6-7
foot  clouds of white.  It is mainly the white cabbage butterfly that
attacks the first leaves, which can be removed or are eventually
smothered by huge new unmarred leaves after the caterpillars have gone.

Diane Pertson
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