Re: lithodora diffusa
- Subject: Re: lithodora diffusa
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Sun, 06 May 2001 11:56:57 +1200
"DeFato, Joan" wrote:
>
> Mixed information. In Selected Plants for Southern California Gardens, it
> says that this plant does not like alkaline soil, is prone to root rot and
> should be watered sparingly.
> Hi!
>
> Does anyone grow Lithodora diffusa 'grace ward"? How big does it get and
> how drought tolerant is it? I am in the process of pulling out the plants
> that didn't survive our parking strip (water once a month) and would like
> to put in something low growing with blue flowers. The nursery label
> claims that lithodora diffusa is drought tolerant but my experience with
> commercial nursery labels has been that they are often times inaccurate
Hi
Botanica states flatly L diffusa cannot tolerate lime at all and
describes it as suited to cool temperate gardens.
I planted the cv Heavenly Blue (a deeper blue form than Grace Ward) on
top of a high sun-facing terrace wall at least twenty years ago, where
it would undoubtedly have perfect drainage and acid conditions, but is
only actually watered about every two weeks in just the dryest part of
the dryest summers. It started off fully exposed to summer sun (but only
here to max temps of around 75°F), but gradually the site has become
more shaded as other plants have grown. It has alway been straggly with
me, but by regular pruning I have kept it performing all these years.
A few years after it was planted I endeavoured to add Grace Ward next to
it, but this died after about a year. Whether it was the cultivar or the
particular plant I don't know, but it gave me the idea that Grace might
not be so easy as its fellow to establish.
I see from the illustration of Grace Ward in Botanica that the plant is
amenable to mulching, as it is shown with a straw mulch. This would
undoubtedly help the water situation and should work fine if the site is
well-drained.
My advice would be give it a try, but mulch well. You could be lucky,
especially if it can get a modicum of shade from surrounding plants.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
