Re: What I wish I hadn't planted


Hello to all from a newbie in Malaga in Spain -- I just joined the list last week. 


I've inherited a smallish garden and I haven't seen anything yet (9 months in) that I dread, although I do wish that the hedge weren't bamboo; it's a 'dwarf' variety, but still. Spring rains caused a small forest of spikes in the lawn, advancing menacingly towards the house... not sure how terrified to be. I am still considering my plantings, and this discussion has been very helpful with some clear DANGER signs, thank you. A. mollis though is definitely on my 'possible' list (if you see what I mean).


Picking up on an earlier email on the related category of 'plants best enjoyed in your neighbour's garden': I love the rampant Pyrostegia venusta which cascades over my entrance wall from next door. It's a stunning luminous orange from December to February, and soothing lush green the rest of the time. And no watering, no work, just the occasional trim of the ends trailing on the floor :)


S.


>________________________________
> From: Pamela Steele <pamela.steele@re-taste.com>
>To: Fran de la Mota <franciscojavier@delamota.es>; medit plants forum <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu> 
>Sent: Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 11:54
>Subject: RE: What I wish I hadn't planted
> 
>
>
> 
>Here on the Costa Blanca in Spain, ÂAcanthus 
Mollis always looks amazing. ItÂgives us a wonderful green lushness 
which is hard to obtain here in this rocky, difficult terrain. The spikes 
are huge and look very dramatic under pines. I just cut off any leaves 
which lookÂyellowÂand newÂones will appearÂquickly. I 
agree with Fran, you must assiduously remove the all seed spikes to control 
it.ÂÂÂ
>Pamela
>Â
>Â
>Â-----Original Message-----
>From: medit-plants-request@ucdavis.edu [m*@ucdavis.edu]On 
Behalf Of Fran de la Mota
>Sent: 22 May 2013 11:32
>To: medit plants forum
>Subject: Re: What I wish I hadn't 
planted
>
>
>For me here in central Spain, Acanthus mollis. ItÂÂnever looks good in our climate: too cold in winter, too dry in summer andÂÂsnails love it.ÂDespite this, it still sets an enormous amount of seed.ÂÂIf you are not careful to remove the seed spikes before the seed is shot allÂÂover the garden, you'll have hundreds of seedlings next year. And they areÂÂvery difficult ot erradicate: they have a deep root that is almost impossibleÂÂto remove completely from the soil and any bit of it that is left in theÂÂground will sprout again. 
>>Â
>>Fran
>>Â
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>Francisco 
ÂÂJavier de la Mota Daniel
>>Miraflores de la Sierra
>>Madrid, Spain
>>http://www.facebook.com/arboretodelamota
>>Â
>>Â
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>From: Kurt Mize 
>>>To: Nan Sterman 
>>>Cc: medit plants forum 
>>>Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:38ÂÂAM
>>>Subject: Re: What I wish I hadn'tÂÂplanted
>>>
>>>
>>>I have to agree with my sister Karrie regarding the Macfadyena.ÂÂÂIt spreads rapidly and quickly produces a multitude of tubers thatÂÂresemble wooden sweet potatoes. ÂThe slightest bit of a tuber left inÂÂthe ground can grow into a fence-smothering monster in a single season.ÂÂÂWe've been trying unsuccessfully to eradicate ours for aÂÂdecade.
>>>
>>>Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>On May 21, 2013, at 11:28 PM, Nan Sterman <TalkingPoints@plantsoup.com>ÂÂwrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>Funny, Karrie, I've not had that problemÂÂwith Macfadyena but its good to know. ÂAs for the Crocosmia, sameÂÂthing here. ÂJust to be sure, Crocosmia bloom in spring, ChasmantheÂÂin summer? ÂThey look so similar that the best way to distinguishÂÂbetween them is bloom time 
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On May 21, 2013, at 8:32 AM, Reid Home <pkssreid@comcast.net>ÂÂwrote:
>>>>
>>>>2ÂÂmonsters:
>>>>>MacfadyenaÂÂunguis-cati: just like everyoneÂÂelse, I planted it to cover an unsightly fence, which it did admirablyÂÂfor a few years, and then it decided to take over everything, theÂÂPodocarpus, the pine, the Eucalyptus nicholii, and the entire bed belowÂÂis filled with the little tubers that sprout from the many seeds in theÂÂpods that are too high up to remove before they settle in. We areÂÂstill working to keep to eliminate this, and will undoubtedly be doingÂÂso for several years.
>>>>>Crocosmia:Âthis is the tribbles ofÂÂthe plant world. A neighbor gave me a few bulbs and they multiplyÂÂso fast, you canât keep up with it. If you want to naturalize anÂÂarea, they would be great â if not, only plant where confined byÂÂconcrete â though they will lift it up!
>>>>>Â
>>>>>KarrieÂÂReid
>>>>>Â
>>>>
>
>
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