Re: Anyone collect heucheras?
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Anyone collect heucheras?
- From: M* T*
- Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 00:30:23 -0400
Hmmm, Kris. All three of these bloom for me, if the deer don't eat
off the astilbe buds first.
What kind of conditions are you growing these plants in? Sun, shade,
part shade, high shade, dry soil, moist soil....
I find that Alchemilla (lady's mantle) likes a retentive soil. I
have them in one really sandy spot next to a patio and they seed
around but are practically dwarf, as they are when they seed into the
cracks of the patio stones in this location, which gets some sun and
is rather dry. In other places, where they seed into the paving
cracks (which they prefer to the nice beds I prepare for them) and it
remains damp, they get almost as large as I see in the photos - but
never quite because they really prefer cooler summer weather -
something I can't give them. But, they do not like to dry out. They
will grow and bloom in a fair amount of shade, but prefer some
sun...I have read 'full sun' for these plants and assume that in the
UK and northern parts of the US, they would take this, if not need
it.
Astilbe are water hogs who like a rich soil. They also, in my
climate, like a good deal of shade, but need light, if not dappled
sun, to bloom well. I find they also benefit from being divided
every few years, like Heucheras.
I moved most of mine to my "bog" garden - planted them on the edges
on little mounds so their crowns wouldn't be soggy and they are
loving it...unfortunately, so are the deer who keep getting in there
and having a nip on their way through. Grew them for years in
regular borders, but finally couldn't stand their misery in our
recent dry summers, so moved them. They really like moisture. Can,
I understand, take full sun if the soil remains continually
damp...have no experience of this.
Heuchera, I find, prefer a loose, organic soil that does not dry out,
in partial sun. I have grown them in deep shade and amended clay for
years and they simply do not perform as well as they do in my raised
beds, which are filled with spent potting soil and get about 2 or 3
hours of late morning sun.
If you are in northern IL, all the above plants probably want more
sun than they get in my garden, which is in MD, near Washington,
DC.....if not sun, then good light.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Kris Plunkett <krisp64@ONEBOX.COM>
> Date: Sunday, June 18, 2000 3:41 PM
>
> I would like to know the secret in getting them to bloom. I have
several
> things that have never bloomed. Coral bells and ladys mantle.
> Also was wondering about my astillbe. It bloomed last year but
failed
> to this year. I don't fertilize so I wondering if I need to try it
in
> a different locale and give it a balanced fertilizer.
> I am happy to report that my jacobs ladder is blooming. I had one
in
> to dry of a location last year and had to buy a new one. So I'm
glad
> this one is happy where's it at. :)
>
> Kris P IL
