Re: Agastache

In a message dated 5/29/02 6:57:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
llebpmac_bob@hotmail.com writes:

<< As long as a plant isn't an obvious tropical, it's worth trying one or two 
 zones north >>

I think that is pretty much OK as well, but for some, the zoning,  even 
plants into zones 3,4and 5 don't live or die on temperature but rainfall and 
the seasons of the rainfall.

I have a few bulbs for winter bloom and there are plants in other classes as 
well that will die from winter moisture as they are native to more arid 
places.  The are fine here until the fall rains start and are dead in spring. 
 Some of these plants remain in the alpine catalogs where buyers will take 
great care with them.  So I have bunch that grow in pots because this is not 
arid Arizona.  

The Agastaches and Penstemons and others have both East Coast and West Coast 
species.  One of the reasons we lose some of these western plants is that the 
low temperature is OK but the wet soil of winter is not.

Another factor is winter sun.  For dividing up climates for plant care we on 
the East Coast are referred to as being in a Maritime climate.  I suppose 
that means cloudy and more humid than the cold parts of the mountain states 
where there are many clear sky days each year (first sigh).

Still, I would give a plant a try if zones were the only negative.  It does 
pay to try to find where a plant calls home when having trouble growing it.  
Some of the Agastaches discussed are western plants and while they survive 
the cold here, they do not survive the fall and winter wet seasons.  That is 
one of the reasons you often read "sharp drainage".  A plant might make it if 
you keep the roots drained nearly dry all winter.  Or, carry it off to a 
winter home such as covered frame.

Lewisias are sold regularly on the East Coast where most of them become 
annuals if not protected against fall rain.  Mine stay alive in rock piles 
which are part of landscape (sigh again) but not everyone has dry rock houses 
for Lewisias. It takes years to file all this into understanding why some 
plants do well and others not.  

I was for many years puzzled with the weather difference between zone 4 in NY 
and zone 4 in Colorado.  There is a lot difference.

Like, Bob, I would keep trying and do buy plants up to zone 6 and am often 
surprised.  Shrubbery is the group I find labelled for warmer places with 
plants often doing very well here.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4 

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