Re: Gaura/Elephant Ears
- To:
- Subject: Re: Gaura/Elephant Ears
- From: R* C*
- Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 21:03:45 -0400
Bergenia is definitely different from Colocasia. I have never bothered
trying to grow Colocasia because I am not willing to bring any more bulbs,
corms and tubers in than I already do-Dahlias and Gladiolas are quite
enough, but I heartily recommend growing the Bergenias to those of you who
don't. The blooms are okay, and if you get them, a definite plus-but the
bloom stalks are sometimes killed back by those late winter early spring
cold snaps. Likely to be less of a problem in your warmer zone than mine.
The plants are well worth growing for the foliage alone though, The big
not by Colocasia or rhubarb standards admittedly) round green leaves give
you interesting contrast to many other perennial leaf types, and at least
some of them change to an attractive red in the fall. They are hardy in
your zone Marie and one or two plants will make an attractive addition.
Mine seem very happy in full sun and don't get any more water than our
sometimes spotty rainfall provides.
As for the Gaura, I would give it a try if you can find it either as a plant
or as seed. My Heritage Perennials list shows it as being hardy to zone 5
with a mulch being recommended in zones 5 and 6. They are talking about
Canadian zones which are generally one lower than the USDA ones, so that
essentially they mean USDA zones 4 and 5. If it works you will have added a
very nice plant to your collection, and if not you will be out a couple of
dollars for either the seed package or a plant. Even if a plant only makes
it through two or three seasons before you hit a very cold spell that kills
it, you will have had the pleasure of it blooming in your garden for those
seasons.
Bob Campbell
USDA 4..
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