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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] New Member

May I ask you where you purchased your Veronia?...and price?

Luff, Janl

Michael D. Cook wrote:

> At 11:07 PM 1/14/98 -0800, you wrote:
>
> >My goal is to have a wild-life friendly backyard......birds and butterflys
> >and squirrels. Is this possible with a shade garden and what plants would
> >you recommend?
> >
> Hi; for butterflies there is nothing to rival Vernonia altissima.  It grows
> wild in the eastern USA, and is commercially available from Southern
> Perennials (their catalogue is on the Internet).  I bought all the
> so-called butterfly magnets: Buddleia, Asclepias, etc.  Maybe a butterfly
> or two would visit; never long enough to leave any eggs for the next year.
> But the Vernonia was swarmed by several species.
>
> Vernonia is usually described as a 'full sun' plant.  In such a location,
> it will grow to about 6' tall, with a vase-shaped habit.  In light or
> partial shade, it grows to 18-24" in height and is globular.  In late
> summer, it is covered with brilliant violet-blue blossoms that resemble
> tiny monarda flowers.  Foliage is narrow and graceful, rather like shrub
> willow.
>
> Vernonia will grow in any soil, from hard-packed, stony clay to sandy loam.
>  Fertilization is not recommended.  It can grow in boggy conditions and in
> drought; supplemental watering is usually only needed if your soil is
> extremely sandy. If you buy seeds, you will have about 10% of your
> seedlings germinate; 'sprouting' doubles the germination rate.
> Sheila Smith
> mikecook@pipeline.com
> Z 5/6
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