Plants that don't do too well for me

It's getting to be time for fall planting again, so I'm putting together
my wishlists and getting my orders in.

As I flip through the pages of catalogs, I keep seeing reminders of my
garden failures.  I've tried these on many different occassions, so 
I'm hoping that someone here can tell me what I'm doing wrong.  :)

I'm in zone 5b USDA, East Central Illinois.  We have hot, muggy summers
(heat indices around 105-110) and cool winters.

   Polemonium spp.

   I've tried the straight species and several cultivars with no luck. 
   Locations have ranged from partial shade to full shade, well-drained
   and dry to moist and watered.  No matter what I try, it doesn't seem
   to make a difference.  Am I just not meant to grow this plant?  It
   rarely lasts more than a year or two, and I've never seen flowers.

   Begonia grandis

   I've only tried this plant in two locations, both of which were 
   moderately dry with part-shade.  One plant died, but the other
   came up late this spring and has one or two scrawny leaves.  Does
   it need something else (well, probably, but what?)

   Spigelia marilandica

   This plant went into a part-shade, somewhat dry location and never
   came up.

   Eupatorium maculatum 'Chocolate'

   Another runt.  Last year it did well in partial shade with average
   moisture, but this year it's about 12" tall with only a single 
   stalk.  I suspect that it needs more water and shade.

   Gentiana septemfida

   I planted three plants in dry, well-drained beds ranging from full
   sun to full shade.  The one in full shade died, but the other 
   two are tiny.  They're only about 6" long with a single flowerbud
   on the end.

   Anemone ranunculoides and Anemone nemerosa

   It seems that I'm just not destined to grow these.  :)  I've tried
   in moist clay, moist well-drained beds, and dry areas.  I rarely
   get anything more than two or three leaves in spring, and then they
   promptly wither away with the heat.  I'm not sure if they'll come 
   back next year or not. 

I'm sure that there are many others, but these spring to mind first.  Any
suggestions?  Should I just give up?

What I don't understand is that other plants like my Cypripedium 
(ladyslipper) are doing fine.  I seem to have more luck growing the
difficult things.  :)

Thanks,

Chris

http://www.hort.net/gallery/      1999 online plant photos and growing!

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