Re: silver and grey foliage/Phlomis

In a message dated 3/25/2002 12:52:10 AM Central Standard Time, 
mtalt@hort.net writes:


> Have you tried Phlomis fruticosa, Kemberly?  Should grow for you; is
> a Med. plant, a woody sub-shrub.  Actually blooms in yellow, but not
> for me as I don't have enough sun to offer it; grow it for the
> foliage.
> 

Marge:  I do have Phlomis......the foliage is outstanding.  I have mine 
growing in a raised bed that receives filtered sun throughout day.  I 
received this as a tiny seedling a couple of years ago at a swap and it grew 
into a nice large plant in just one season.  Mine does bloom here but I'm not 
a real fan of the blooms either.  I do, however, let it bloom and go to seed 
each year to keep a good supply of these.  

By late last summer the Phlomis was looking very tacky and tattered (after 
it's 2nd summer in the garden).......I had kept seed from earlier in the year 
and took a chance and cut it back to the ground before fall.  The plant 
responded beautifully.  We were fortunate in having a very mild fall with 
plenty of cool nights - I think this is why the Phlomis responded so 
positively and was so forgiving of my pruning hand.

I tried a seedling in full sun last year and it did grow enough to bloom but 
the plant was short lived....as soon as the summer temps got 95 degrees plus 
the plant was history.  I think the combo of heat, humidity and total neglect 
on my part, was just too much for this plant to handle.  This bed was/is in 
need of cultivating and compost added.  This is a task that I carried out 
this weekend.  Maybe, with the renewal of my bed, I'll try another.

A plant that I received last year's Spring Swap is Mullein---now I really 
like this plant.  The leaves are larger than Lamb's Ear but have the same 
"downy" appearance.  This plant blooms yellow too but somehow the blooms are 
more tolerable than the Phlomis - I think because it doesn't have such an 
ugly appearance when the blooms fade.  This one will seed everywhere given 
the opportunity but where it pops up will surprise you and it generally 
works.  If it doesn't - it is very easy to rid of.  Late last fall I cut off 
the faded bloom spike and soon, several short spikes appeared...the plant 
seems to be in non-stop bloom....nice plant.

A wonderful "silver" foliaged plant for me is the Licorice Plant AKA 
Hedichrysum petiolare.  In one growing season this plant went from a tiny 4" 
rooted cutting to a nice 2' x 2 spread. I have trailing over the large rock 
border - very pretty.  The only maintenance I've ever given this plant is a 
heavy hair cut now and again---not because it looked bad but because it was 
getting too big and covering up some other plants.


Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9

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