RE: Amsonia
perennials@hort.net
  • Subject: RE: Amsonia
  • From: &* M* <1*@rewrite.hort.net>
  • Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 16:00:26 -0400
I put Amsonia tabernaemontana in on the east side of a Maple tree years 
probably 20 ago and it's huge now. Of course, it can't be moved and so it's 
flower production diminished as it got shadier. Then a winter storm took out 
the branches that shaded it and it got happy and produced hundreds of 
seedlings I harvested. I've trimmed back the shade again and it seems happy. 
I really don't do anything to it.  

I put Amsonia Short Stack out in full sun about 10 years ago.  Even when 
crowded it did fine, though I've thinned the other plantings so it can shine. 
  The center on both of these have become woody but they keep putting out new 
growth outside the ring.

A. hubrechtii didn't do well for me so I got rid of it.  I got A. Blue Ice a 
few years ago and it almost died out; I've since moved it to a drier location 
and it seems happier.  The Blue Ice I got this year is a flat of little guys 
that will hopefully develop to saleable size.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf 
Of Christopher P. Lindsey
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2014 1:05 PM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: Re: What's new in your garden?

----- Original Message -----

> You scored some nice ones! At a hardware store yet.  I used to have 
> Heuchera Dale's Strain but didn't like its flowers and sold it off but 
> I missed its lovely leaves and just got another one yesterday at a 
> friend's private sale.

I wasn't planning to buy any plants this year because we're redoing the 
kitchen and I'm counting pennies, but at that price I figured I could be at 
least a little naughty.  :)

> Below are my ordered plants this year. I also picked up a few locally, 
> Lithodora GWard, Catananche White.

Very nice list too!  You'll have to keep us updated!

I have a question about Amsonia as I've kind of given up on them.  
What's the secret to keeping them around?  Mine usually last about three 
years and by then I have a large, fist-sized woody base that decides not to 
come back the following spring.  I thought it might need mulch like Heuchera, 
but that seems to speed up the process.

Any tips?

Chris

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