Re: Palace Purple and a little more

In a message dated 7/22/00 6:22:57 AM Central Daylight Time, cajun4@HOME.COM
writes:

<< Tell me folks = How would you rate the "Palace Purple" Heuchera for over
all
 quality & beauty on a scale of 1-10? Is it in the top 10 of it's class?
  >>


Cajun:  In my shade garden I focus on foliage and the wonderful contrast and
"drama" it can add to my shade gardening.  Being so far down here the plant
doesn't seem to perform as well as for the folks that are gardening in zone 5
- 6 soooo, being a zone 9 gardener and it only being my first growing season
for this plant I would rate this plant a 4:

1 point for still being alive
1 point for the foliage color and leaf shape
1 point for it not being an aggressive spreader
1 point because I was feeling charitable this morning

This could change next year as the plant matures and the mound becomes larger
in my overgrown garden.  Even though it is said that the blooms are
insignificant I still would like to see them - In the photos I've seen they
appear wispy and airy and should mine bloom for me next year I think it would
make a beautiful contrast with some of my bold tropical foliage plants that
are near by.  If this plant decides it will not bloom for me and stays
small-ish, I will probably move it next year to the edge of the garden, snug
with the rock edging so that it will be better seen.  I'm not one to get rid
of plants or toss them in the trash (with the exception of the Ruellia's)...I
simply find a new home in my garden that is better suited for the plant.

This year I finally found a new home and garden for my hosta's - I'm not sure
if the mild winters played a role in the downfall of these guys or the heat
and drought of summer.  For the past two springs they have emerged from their
"winter" sleep to grow a couple of leaves and the plants seem to struggle to
get that far.  They are now in the care of a gardening friend in northern
Mississippi.....she still gets the heat but the fall/winter seasons come much
sooner for her than me - I hope they fair better for her than they did me.

I've since learned that I can get the same "bang" that a hosta would provide
with it's beautiful mounding foliage by planting the ginger known as
Kaempferia (peacock ginger) and for about the same amount of money.  These
have proven themselves in my garden and as long as they are provided with
moisture they seem to thrive in the heat and bloom continuously.

Well - I better stop, I'm way off the original subject of the Palace
Purple.....guess this coffee is stronger than I thought this morning.

Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9
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