Re: Verbascum questions
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Verbascum questions
- From: M* D*
- Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 13:21:47 -0600
At 10:26 PM 11/18/98 -0800, Nan Sterman wrote:
>I'm thinking about my failures with verbascum this past year and wondering
>how to take a different approach. Aren't verbascum Helen Johnson and the
>recent showy varieties supposed to be perennial? In my garden, they seemed
>to die after a short stint. I had one in a part-sun, medium water spot,
>another in a full sun lower water spot, and one in a pot in my holding
>area. They all seemend to shrivel up and die.
>
>What do you all suggest before I give up? What conditions do they seem to
>thrive in?
>
>Nan
>
>P.S. I am in the cursed 364 day a year growing zone with no seasons, no
>winter break, and no time to sit by the fire and read catalogs. I could
>use a little sympathy here.... : }
Dear Nan,
I haven't grown V. 'Helen Johnson' but have grown V. chaixii both
the white w/red eye and yellow w/red eye and also V. phoeniceum 'Southern
Charm' in delicate shades of pink & apricot. Both are classified as
perennials although most Verbascums are biennial. I have had several large
clumps going for at least 10 years. However, in my garden, they do
disappear for awhile in late summer. There will be only the dried flower
stalks standing and all the leaves are gone. Then when the weather cools
and the fall rains begin, new basal rosettes appear in the clump. I don't
cut down the dried flower stems until I see the new rosettes so I know where
they are.
My Verbascums all grow on a very dry slope with little supplemental
water in part sun/part shade with other drought tolerant perennials such as
Dianthus, Artemesia, Lavender, Lychnis, Kniphofia, Sedum, Gaura, Perovskia,
Ballota, Salvia, Linaria, Echinacea, Penstemon, Nepeta & ornamental grasses.
Did you think V. 'Helen Johnson' was pretty? The jury seems to be
out on it here. I've heard it described as everything from "muddy lavender"
to "lovely apricot" so haven't been interested enough to try it. P.S. You
have my sincere sympathy, our 285 day growing season is all I can handle!
Marilyn Dube'
NATURAL DESIGN PLANTS
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, Oregon, Zone 8b
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