Re: Rockery plants
- Subject: Re: Rockery plants
- From: John MacGregor j*@earthlink.net
- Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 11:34:56 -0800
on 1/11/05 7:51 AM, Catherine Ratner at catherineratner@earthlink.net wrote:
> My experience with Cerastium has been quite different; I couldn't get it to
> thrive at all on my slope where it received plenty of water. I concluded it
> didn't like my cool, foggy climate, heavy black adobe, and shade in the
> winter.
>
> Saponaria ocymoides, on the other hand, has been a big success. It is
> planted on another slope, north-facing, below a big cherry-plum so it is in
> shade in the summer. It is never watered and has spread very slowly, always
> blooms, and is a particular favorite of mine as it presents no problems of
> any kind. Maybe I should plant the Cerastium down there too?
Cathy,
It sounds to me like the only thing you need to grow Cerastium tomentosum is
to plant it in full sun. It definitely doesn't like shade. Even in
half-day shade it gets skinny and leggy, although it does persist and
spread--trying to grow itself out into the sun. As with all furry-leafed
plants, it likes to dry out a bit between waterings.
John MacGregor
South Pasadena, CA 91030
USDA zone 9 Sunset zones 21/23
