| The key to growing Romneya comes at planting time. Romneya roots are very, very sensitive to being disturbed.
The best way to plant is - Plant in fall, into full sun.
- Well draining soil is best but Romneya will tolerate heavier soils too
- Water the Romney in the container so the roots are damp at planting.
- Dig a hole slightly wider but no deeper than nursery can.
- Prepare the hole for planting - however you best like to do it. I have very sandy soils to which I add a few handfuls of worm castings, then fill the hole with water and let it drain through. I don't add any other organic matter, soil amendment, or fertilizer.
- Using a knife or shears or whatever cutting device you prefer, lay the Romney in its nursery can on its. Cut the bottom off of the can. Avoid touching the roots as best you can.
- Put your hand under the plant to support the rootball, then move the can with the plant still inside and the sides intact, gently into the hole.
- Stand the can upright, then gently cut away rest of the can. I like to slit it from the bottom to top, in several locations.
Now, with the rootball in the hole - Keep supporting the root ball as best you can while you gently refill the hole with soil.
- Firm the soil around the plant, and drip water in to settle the soil.
Voila! You should now have success!
Because this plant is a spreader (as Diane's friend discovered), you might want to put a root barrier around it. That said, give each plant enough room to spread at least six feet in diameter.
After that first summer or two, turn the water off - Its the best way I've found to limit the spread. My garden gets 11" of precipitation on average and my three Romney plants (started as 1 gallons about 15 years ago) cover about a 20' spread. They haven't been watered for years but the flower reliably. In fact, they are in flower now! On Jun 22, 2011, at 8:17 PM, Diane Whitehead wrote: I've had no success getting Romneya to grow for me, despite having planted strongly-growing pots of it several times. A friend in Victoria has it growing outside her dining room, and somehow it has infiltrated the house foundation because it also emerges from the heating grate in the dining room floor.
Jasminum X stephanense does something similar at my house - it has grown through an upstairs window frame. It is odd to see the part in the bedroom vigorous and green in winter while the rest of the vine is looking miserable outside.
Diane Whitehead
Victoria, B.C., Canada
cool mediterranean climate
mild dry summers, mild rainy winters
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