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Re: [PRIMROSES] Polygonatum and Podophyllum was: Planting under trees was: New Member Bio

Well, Sheila,

Podophyllum is native in my woods and about, oh, maybe 18 years or so ago I
moved a clump to a spot under a tight group of mixed hardwood trees (also
native).  It has spread to cover probably an area 10' by 10' in competition
with the tree roots, azalea roots, Hedera helix, pachysandra, arisaema
triphyllum, Polystichum arostichoides (Christmas fern) and assorted other
things.   It grows right up to the tree trunks and beyond -- in amongst the
ivy and pachysandra and up between the cracks of some flagstone stepping
stones laid to get back into the area without stepping on too many plants.
Matter of fact, if you're interested, here's a photo of it, taken in very
early spring:

http://suite101.com/userfiles/176/pod.jpg

Now, I do water this area when it's really dry in summer, but it doesn't
get as much as other beds and the soil really gets dried out.  Those trees
just suck up the water, not to mention the ivy, which is pretty greedy
itself.  So, I felt comfortable saying it would do well in dry shade.

My Polygonatum (both the giant and the variegated) share a small triangular
bed with a hosta they are trying to devour and some astilbe.  This is in my
"pets" area and gets pretty close attention and regular watering, so I
didn't like to say they would do well in dry shade, since mine aren't in
those conditions.

We need some others who grow these plants in various conditions to speak up
here and add to the knowledge base!

Nancy Swell....You're south of me, but same general area,  and I *know* you
must grow these guys.  Have any words of wisdom here???

Anybody else???

One caveat, in my garden, is that my base soil is good old Maryland clay
and very retentive, even during drought.  Although there are areas that get
powder dry down a foot or more during very dry summers.  If one had sand
based soil, I think plant tolerance of dry conditions would vary.

All these plants are under the canopy of mature trees, although the
Polygonatum do get a little slanted sun around mid day and the tree limbs
are 10' to 12' off the ground, so there is light.

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: Michael D. Cook <mikecook@PIPELINE.COM>
> Date: Saturday, January 03, 1998 3:06 AM
>
> Marge, I was wondering the same thing about your inclusion of
podophyllum,
> because I was thinking of all the wild ones on my parent's property,
which
> grow in moist clay beside a creek.  I forgot all about my own
> (store-bought) podophyllum, which was watered not once since its first
year
> (this year was its third) and it has tripled in crowns!  I bought
Solomon's
> Seal because it was advertised as a dry-shade plant, but have been
growing
> it in a garden bed where it is watered well, and it is growing
> fantastically.  That is the variegated type.  I also bought the giant
> Polygonatum communis (commutatum? whatever), and it died in a shady spot
> where it received a moderate amount of moisture.  So my own experience
with
> Solomon's Seal is inconclusive, and I can't be sure if the water had
> anything to do with one's success and the other's failure.  Perhaps some
of
> our fellows have grown this plant, and can shed a little light on the
water
> issue.
>
> Sheila S.
> mikecook@pipeline.com
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