Re: The perils of lysimachia
- To:
- Subject: Re: The perils of lysimachia
- From: M* &* H* K*
- Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 20:16:24 -0500
Val,
That's like what my Monarda 'Cambridge Scarlet' did - last year I spent
hours digging out some mint from one end of a bed, vowing never to let mint
into my garden again. Nearby I planted some Cambridge Scarlet, which was
just beautiful last year. Today I was working around, and lo and behold,
that Monarda has spread in every direction, and tunneled under two 6x6's
between two sections of the bed. I went to take some out to give to my
sister-in-law, and the stuff is just like the mint! Unbelievable roots
going everywhere. Well, I know it's in the mint family. And it is
beautiful.
I planted some of the purple-leafed lysimachia along our drive, but either
the deer or the rabbits wouldn't let it make any headway - I thought maybe
it would out-multiply them, but I haven't seen it yet this year. I think
I'll try Monarda there! Seriously, I should, because one of our most
abundant wildflowers is the lavender Monarda didyma.
Funny that you are in zone 6a in KY - are you in the mountains? I lived
near Elizabethtown years ago, and it was definitely milder than here.
Holly
East Bangor, PA - zone 6a/b
>Valerie Lowery@ZEON
>04/02/99 12:28 PM
>
> Hello to all!
>
>I thought I'd pass on a little cautionary advice to everyone. Last year I
>bought lysimachia ciliata 'FIRECRACKER' (a deep reddish purple-leaved plant
>with nodding yellow flowers) for it's lovely foliage. It grew moderately
>well last summer, although I thought it suffered a bit because of our
>extended drought. Was I ever wrong!!
>
>While tidying up the garden last weekend, I've noticed that the one plant
>has prolificated under the mulch into twelve. And they're spread all over
>the place. Right in the middle of my phlox, monarda, and (shock!)
>daylilies -- what a battle to be wrought this summer! I purposely put this
>plant in dry clay to keep it in check since it likes moisture...but I see
>that this did not work very well. I did not fertilize it nor did I water
>it. If it did this under those conditions, what would it do in a good
>garden??
>
>So, a note of caution for those wanting it. Either put it in a place where
>it can wreck havoc or contain it. It's a very pretty plant, but it has the
>tentacles of a rabid octopus.
>
>Val in KY
>zone 6a
>
>
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