Re: yellow and blue/ Aconitum
Hello Mary,
Sounds a bit like they are using up the energy in the roots and dying away.
Aconitum have fleshy roots that will store up energy to keep going. Use it up and
they just kind of gradually disappear. Not rich enough soil, stress of too much
exposure and not enough moisture.....
Also the older roots that get to be around three years old or more they
produce offsets and gradually pass away from old age. With good health one never
notices the change over from old to new as the clump is always there and blooming.
I would try a new location that protects them from the hot afternoon sun, dig
in plenty of compost and then mulch around the roots.
The one that blooms into December here is Baker's variety.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Mary R Wills <mrwill1@juno.com>
Subject: Re: yellow and blue/ Aconitum
> Gene,
> I am intrigued. (December!?!) I have a question though. The aconitums I
> had had declined the last 2 years, and coincidentally it has been since
> the I lost the tree I had shading that bed. It's a northern exposure so
> it still gets shade most of the year, but in the hottest part of the
> summer it's full sun. Would that account for the decline of the aconitums
> or might the fact that they were over 7 years old be a factor?
>
> Thanks,
> Mary zone 6 MO
>
> > You can have an Aconitum.. Monkshood... in bloom from June
> > through December
> > around here in the garden. Just have to read the descriptions
> > watching for the
> > bloom periods, then select some from each bloom period. Here my A.
> > henryi 'Spark'
> > is in bloom now. Next will be A. arendsii and A. 'Baker's Variety'.
> > I am trying to
> > add a few to the garden each year and watch them for performance and
> > more color
> > late in the season.
> > Monkshoods do want rich soil for best performance. Give them
> > plenty of compost
> > when preparing the area. Then mulch around , but not up on the
> > crowns, as they
> > like moisture but do not want to be smothered. Mulching up on the
> > crowns can cause
> > rot. I give mine plenty of light, but no direct sun for long periods
> > of time. Not
> > hard to grow and very rewarding in foliage and flower at a critical
> > time in the
> > garden. Also if you are a big fan of blue blooms ... these are the
> > ones.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
