Epilobiums or Perils of planting weeds?/ stability of variegation?

Last year I developed a passion for weeds!

I have always loved Epilobium angustifolium ( Although its appearance
always brings me a little sadness because I think the Summer is on the turn)


Marion Cran (popular in the 20's30's and forties) writes about a "country
woman"  asking for a root of epy- lobies from her garden for her own patch.

Following WW2 ,its"mythical" spread to every bombsite in the country,
carried in the wind currents forming the wake of trains,not to mention its
invasive qualiies rendered it a weed. Does it deserved to be reconsidered?

I have planted Eangustifolium album which i find well behaved and it hasn't
seeded in my garden.  
Last Year i planted E. hirsutum "Well Creek" which is variegated. it looked
great planted by pure chance in open shade between a pink flowered
Hydrangea and Hydrangea arborescens "Annabelle" Thie pink of the flower
toning with the pink of the hydrangea and the variegation of the leaves
harminising with the flowers of "Annabelle" i was very proud of it . My
"Well Creek" looked better than the one I saw at the Beth Chatto garden
last August.


pride goes before a fall of course and now things are worrying me. In the
spring loads of rosettes of variegated leaves sprang up in a loose circle
of about I metre diameter around the parent plant.  Invasive! Arrgh you
should see the rhizomes! But I thought ,"Hang in there with it" and whack
out the surplus plants to my garden club sale. But now as the main stem has
started to grow the leaves have lost their variegation. Occasionally i
think i can see an extra fine white line running down the margins of the
leaves but I fell that this is  an act of self delusion because i just
don't want to believe that all the plants have reverted to the wild form..


Any comments advice/ greatly received.

Does anyone knowif  E. a. Isobel is a synonym for Elizabeth,

I saw a couple of Epilobiums at Perrybrook nursery last year that really
blew my mind and I am sorely tempted.

Anyone grwon any of these or am i the only nut?


 
Colette Dunkley
Upton Wirral Merseyside England Approximates USDA Zones 8/9
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