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Re: [PRIMROSES] Gunnera + Hi + msc. was: Companion plants

Hi everybody,

I've been lurking on the list since its existence was first posted on other
lists I'm on -- mainly for lack of time to participate.  Have been saving
all the posts, thinking I'd catch up over the holidays.  Today, I cleverly
managed to corrupt my inbox to the point of having to reinstall my mail
program, so all I have are messages that just arrived.  sigh...  Have been
delighted to see the increased activity and have found the few posts I've
had a chance to read very interesting.....looks like a great group
assembling!

I recognize some names and some of you may recognize mine.  Am looking
forward to getting to know those of you I haven't met.  Rather than bore
everyone with stuff about me, I invite you to my topic on Suite101 -- the
URL is in my SIG -- and if you'd like to see parts of my garden, so you
know where I'm coming from, it's up on the Suite's garden tour.....along
with Diana Pederson's!   The URL to the tour directory page is :

http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/tourguide.htm

First an old thread from memory:  I really like the idea of changing the
list name to Shadegardens (or whatever it was :-})  as it is so hard to
only talk about one species -- as much as I love primroses -- and, of
course, shade gardening is my "thing" :-)

To the point:

Diana, I have long been lusting for Gunnera manicata, but have put off
getting it because I was worried about its  being hardy in my cool part of
USDA z 7 *and* I have no really nice pondside conditions for it.  So I
reading that you consider it hardy to z.7 has me all excited.  I understand
from my reading it wants its crowns on dry land and roots where they can
get lots of water.  Is this correct?  Will they grow in average moist clay
based garden borders with supplemental watering???

I gather you're growing yours in containers for sale.  Do you also grow it
in the ground?  If so, do you have it in waterside conditions?  Plus, what
do you use to cover the crowns for winter?  I have read in Beth Chatto's
books that she folds the spent leaves over them, but, knowing her gardens
are in a warmer climate than mine, I have wondered if this is enough.  Any
words of wisdom?  I also wonder whether, in my climate -- which turns into
a damp, sticky furnace in summer-- they would do well in medium shade?
Most of what I've read has them in sun and the only places I've actually
seen them were at Kew and Beth Chatto's garden and in both they were in sun
at the edge of a pond.  Also, do you know if they are on bambi's preferred
munch list?

Does anyone on the list grow this plant in z. 7?
.....................

I've grown Corydalis lutea for many years.  It is only partially evergreen
for me.  It stays green until the weather really gets bitter and then
retreats until spring.  It has come back faithfully, although I'm not
certain that this is the original plant and not self sown seedlings as it
seems to move around a bit.  Blooms just about all summer in its quiet way.
 Lovely foliage.  Have acquired several others this year, but have not had
a chance to really evaluate how well they will do in my garden -- think
I'll wait and see if they come back for me in the spring before I open my
big mouth about them :-)

......................

Also....re the Pulmonaria posts from this afternoon (the earlier ones are
lost)...I do find P. 'Mrs. Moon' subject to mildew when the soil is dry and
the weather cool...doesn't seem to make much difference about ambient
humidity and this can happen about any time during the growing season for
me if the weather conditions are just right (or wrong)....so agree they
need supplemental watering.  I've got it all over as it seeds about fairly
madly and some batches get mildew pretty badly and others not at all.


Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
http://www.suite101.com/frontpage/frontpage.cfm?topicID=222
Gardening Topic Index for Suite101:
http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/gardening.html


----------
> From: Diana L. Politika <diana@OLYMPUS.NET>
> To: PRIMROSES@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Re: [PRIMROSES] Companion plants
> Date: Saturday, December 27, 1997 10:21 PM
>
> Diana Pederson wrote:
> >
> > Diana:
> >
> > I almost sent a similar message.  I've only seen pictures of Gunnera.
How
> > tall do these get?  I need some taller plants to mix with gooseneck
> > loosestrife that would cover the foundation of a townehouse.  We aren't
> > allowed to plant our own shrubs but can do all the annuals, perennials
or
> > bulbs we want.
> >
> Gunnera chiloensis grows to about 3 feet tall with leaves 4 to 6 feet
> across.  It has hard spines on the leaf stalks.
> Gunnera manicata grows 5 to 6 feet tall and the leaves on a perfectly
> cultured speciman can reach 9 feet across. The spines on it's stalk are
> soft.
> Both are hardy to zone 7, although I cover the crowns at the nursery
> during the winter while they are in containers. (We're Zone 8)
> Both are suitable to bog gardens also.  I know one grower who grows them
> in wading pools.
> I have a G. manicata in the shady corner of my yard as a backdrop to my
> primula collection; flanked on each side by ferns and dicentra.
>
> > Some one else mentioned cordalyis (not sure I'm remembering the
spelling
> > right here).  Do you classify this as a perennial or a shrub?  I've
seen it
> > both ways in catalogs and wonder?  If it is woody, then it would be
> > prohibited for me.
> >
>  Corydalis lutea is an evergreen to 20 inches.  It's considered bushy,
> but you could argue the point of shrub vs perennial (which they really
> are).  C. flexosa is the 'Blue Panda'.  Also a perennial.  Lutea is the
> one I have on tentative schedule, that I could not recall during my
> prior post.
>
> the primrose society
>  I've found
> > only 2 types are generally available here and then primarily in the
middle
> > of winter when they are sold as "houseplants".  I don't find that they
do
> > well inside our heated houses.  I know someone with an older home and
rather
> > leaky windows--they do find for her.
> Primroses like cool conditions.  They often bloom a second time in the
> Pacific Northwest during the fall.
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