Re: Ligularia (formerly What type of groundcover do I use??)

I was trying to get out of a local nursery alive and well when I spotted the
most incredible Ligularia, and had to have one.  It's called L. tussilaginea
'Cristata,' officially described as "Silvery crests with pink highlights
adorn this Japanese cultivar. Flowers very late with orange-yellow
daisy-like flowers. Partial shade to morning sun. Zones 4-9."  I will add
that the leaves are slightly larger than the Othello, but are hugely ruffled
with great substance.  Echoes a nearby ruffled Heuchera nicely. However, at
least at this point, the "pink highlights" is pure poetic license and does
not (yet?) appear on my plant.

Saw a stand (~10-12 plants) of flowering Othello that was awesome.

And yes (1) LOTS of water, especially the first year here in z5b-I dump
about 1/2 gallon per plant every 2-3 days for the first summer at least; and
(2) they're a main course for slugs, yum yum.  I have a Desdemona surrounded
by copper and even that one is swiss cheese (and in spite of maintaining
slug bait around it).

Diann

-----Original Message-----
From:   PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of
Jennifer A. Bishop
Sent:   Thursday, August 17, 2000 10:31 PM
To:     shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject:        Re: [SG] What type of groundcover do I use??

At 20:32 8/17/2000 EDT, you wrote:
>In a message dated 8/17/00 5:02:12 PM Central Daylight Time, jb@AWNET.COM
>writes:
>
><< Heurchellas..
> they are beautiful... or any of the Ligularies >>
>
>
>These are beautiful plants and I have tried Ligularies twice in my Gulf
>Coast, Zone 9 garden and they just can't take the summers.  I believe it
has
>something to do with the humidity combined with the heat - not really sure.
>
>

Ligularies love water.  They need shade from hot burning sun.  The humidity
should not really bother them but perhaps the heat does, but I would give
them lots and lots of water.  Even in my Zone 3 garden when they get dry
and it is a very hot day (we have a very dry heat here) they wilt very
badly, but as soon as I give them some water they perk right up again.  I
grow The Rocket of course and Orthello (which has a very ugly flower and
gets cut off).  They seem to be very prone to slug damage as well.  This has
the only down fall to this plant for me.  I entend to get all the Ligularies
that will survive in my zone for my collection, mix them.

Joe here are some Hosta that I would think would work in your Zone 9 garden.
I know that they need the 'chill time'.  What is the coldest temp you would
get in your 'dormant season'.  The greenhouses normally chill the temps to
around 33 or so degrees for their Hosta.  But some of the yellow/charteuse
colours hosta LOVE the sun and in fact show their best when they are given
lots of sun.  Again I think moisture is the key here.

Best Regards
Jennifer
Zone 3
WPG MB CA
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