Re: Self-seeding perennials

Bill,

I think it may be climate related.  Tho' why Brunnera doesn't seed
for you, I don't know, as it likes a cool climate much better than a
hot, sticky one - same for Alchemilla.  A number of the plants on my
list seed madly into the gravel of the drive and parking area, but
not into my beds and borders - or into paving cracks.  Go figure.  I
have Aruncus in paving cracks and if I don't get it out while it's a
seedling, I have to lift the paving to remove it. Will it seed into
the bed the parent plants are growing in..not on your life.

Several of them seed only mildly and several with abandon, but all of
them show up here and there about the place.  Some make fine
compost:-)

My Tovara filiformis 'Painter's Palette'  acted like it wasn't going
to make it for about three years and last year, I started noticing
some seedlings - some very remote from the parents.  This year, I see
the stand is going to have increased substantially and there are
seedlings showing up in odd spots.  So, give yours some time.  I was
warned that this one can get as weedy as other members of the
Polygonum family, to which it is closely related and, I think, used
to be one of.  Didn't believe it, but may change my mind.

Nicotiana sylvestris is one who has only started seeding with
incredible abandon the last few years that we've had mild winters. 
Had so much of it last year, I was pulling it out by the bucket full.
 The adult plants will winter over if it's mild.  I see them starting
to emerge now.  But, if winter is severe, I lose the lot.  So, think
you're climate is just too cold for it.  I've tried transplanting the
seedlings, but they seem to object mightily and die on me.

I betcha $$$ I know what your mystery weed is...bitter cress, AKA
Cardamine hirsuta or C. Pensylvanica.  I have scans of this beast in
an article I did last spring...scroll down, it's about half way down
or so.  Hate this plant, tho' it is kinda cute when it first emerges
and flowers.

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/shade_gardening/19409

Rather than arriving in mulch, I'd guess it was in some plants
purchased - it seems to be a terrific weed in nurseries that grow
their plants outside.  Once you've got it, it takes extreme
dedication to eradicate it.  I pull every one I see, but they are
past masters at hiding under plants so you don't find them until it's
too late.  They are also what I call cool weather or early weeds
because they germinate in fall, through mild spells in winter and in
early spring.  Those who germinate in fall and remain, grow in mild
winter spells so they are ready to pop those seeds at the first hint
of heat.

I didn't' mention good old chickweed as I think it's an annual
...billowing blankets of same make nice compost..it likes the south
just as well as the north:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
-----------------------------------------------
Current Article  :Early Weeds
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
------------------------------------------------
Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date
http://www.hort.net/mtalt/article-index.html
------------------------------------------------
All Suite101.com garden topics :
http://www.suite101.com/category.cfm/gardening

----------
> From: Blee811@aol.com
> Date: Friday, May 12, 2000 11:40 PM
> 
> Marge, the plants in your garden are much more sexually active than
the ones 
> in mine.  Or else just more fertile.  Here are some from your list
that I 
> wish would spread themselves around in my garden, but they don't
(and a 
> couple that do).
>  
>  Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian bugloss)
>  Hesperis matronalis (dames rocket - sometimes classed as a
biennial)--Can't 
> get it to persist at all!!!
>   Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard)
>   Astilbe, primarily 'chinensis 'Pumila' and taquetii 'Superba'
>  Allium spp ( if I don't get them deadheaded right away)
>  Lobelia cardinalis (siphilitica IS rampant here but I like it!)
>  Symphytum grandiflorum 
>   Campanula latifolia
>   Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle)
>   Primula japonica spp.
>  Stachys byzantina (lamb's ears)--Oh, this shows up everywhere!
>  Thalictrum glaucum (T. flavum speciosum, T. speciosissimum)
>   Nicotiana sylvestris (I end up buying this every year!)
>   Tovara filiformis 'Painter's Palette' (My one plant barely
continues from 
> year to year)
> 
>  And, yes, I have the same prolific weeds you do, plus chickweed (I
think 
> it's the kudzu of the North) and a strange weed with little white
flowers 
> that turn into exploding seed heads that I haven't identified yet. 
Some of 
> us in Cincinnati never saw this weed until about 10 years ago and
we think it 
> arrived in mulch.  Very prolific.
> 
> Bill Lee

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index