Re: Comments on these perennials appreciated - Knautia

In a message dated 5/17/00 3:12:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
llebpmac_bob@hotmail.com writes:

<< I think not. It's a much underappreciated perennial. I'm surprised that 
 there isn't a pure white Knautia yet though.  I rather like most of the 
 scabious-like flowers I've seen.  Now the one I really covet is Cephalaria 
 gigantica (or is it gigantea?).  That's an impressive looking plant. >>

Hi Bob,

One thing not mentioned about knautia and appreciated by me in the past three 
years of NYS drought is that this plant will grow in very dry poor soil.  
Knautia is  hardy in zone 4.   On self seeding has anyone notice that this is 
a big self seeder year.  Our beds are filled with everything in great 
numbers.  I do not recall seeing seedlings in this number in previous years.

Now that Cephalaria - that is a great BIG plant with flowers not much larger 
than the discussed knautia, a pale yellow.  I saw it growing in the perennial 
gardens of Montreal Botanic and tried it one year. It reaches over six feet 
and is quite rangy.  I should think you might combine it with some other tall 
plant, maybe purple leaved cannas.

As continually noticed by me, advice in the middle south states does not 
usually apply to us. Therefore, the Cephalaria may grow taller in other parts 
of the country.  Our growing season, frost-free, is around 120 days more or 
less.  We have had a frost-free May so far and that has been a treat.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY z4

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