Re: Palace Purple and a little more

Kemberly:  :-)

BUT as a hosta lover (amongst a number of other shade plants), I have to say
that one species (cultivar?) of ginger can't come close to the variety of
hosta!  OK, sorry your climate is so in-hosta-ble....

However, looking at the latest issue of Hosta Journal, they've "given" three
people from three different parts of the country $2000 to "buy" hosta.  Two
other people worked on this regional southern list (the first got $150 and
the second got $500; all the below come from the first list) and I don't
know how far south they live (ask again if you want me to check).  Here are
some from the "Southern garden":

Antioch
August Moon
Lakeside Black Satin (I want one!! Or three!)
Blue Angel
Chinese Sunrise
Floradora
Francee
Lemon Lime
Royal Standard
Sagae
sieboldianan 'Elegans'
Solar Flare
Sum and Substance

There are probably a hundred more in this southern list. Of course YOU, you
lucky dog, get to plant tree ferns and other wonders from the jungles, so
I'm not feeling sorry for you (except that you don't have hosta)....

But at any rate, I haven't even had my coffee yet so I'm outta here for the
nonce.

Diann




> -----Original Message-----
> From: PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU]On Behalf Of
> Kemberly McLain
> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 5:44 AM
> To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SG] 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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