Re: L. cardinalis hardiness in UK was: Cannas plus Lobelias and Crocosmias
Hello Janet, Valerie & Marge,
Lobelia cardinalis can be a bit quirky. If it sows its own seed and come up on
it rock it will probably thrive.... try transplanting one and it may or may not
make it. There is one aspect to this plant that gets missed often. After they
complete blooming and set seeds, the middle stems usually die out. New off-sets
will form in the fall for next year's performance. Those dark green rosettes are
quite tiny. If they get mulched over they are rotted and dead by spring.
Their natural habitat is soggy to moist, some shade, so doubt this is
factoring into the English equation.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Marge Talt <mtalt@clark.net>
Subject: Re: L. cardinalis hardiness in UK was: Cannas plus Lobelias and
Crocosmias
> Janet - and Valerie, this is most curious to me. Assume your -8 is
> Celsius, which = 17.6 Fahrenheit, according to the best converter
> I've found on the
> web...http://www.metricusa.com/Conversion_Frameset2.htm
>
> If this is so, then Lobelia cardinalis should be perfectly hardy in
> anything your winter can throw at them. Gets colder than that in my
> garden - and even colder in Dean's, and mine are happy as clams at
> the edge of my "bog"....so it can't be winter damp that accounts for
> winter losses in the UK, either, as the ground is pretty soggy where
> mine are.
>
> Only reason that occurs to me that these plants might not be
> considered hardy in the UK is the lack of really hot summers to ripen
> them....but I always thought they were plants who actually preferred
> cooler weather.
>
> Or, wonder if some myth is being passed down through the ages about
> the hardiness of this species...happens..
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
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