Re: [SG] astilbes/ now color in shade

Gene: I saw this in a demonstration garden at the New York Botanical Garden
and was not terribly impressed. However, I think I saw a single plant and
maybe this is something that does better en masse? I like that it's blooming
right now--I'm in the midst of a real dull period. Is this something you carry?
My latest attempt to bring strong color to the shade is using tropical
bulbs. (Yeah I have corydalis lutea and yellow wax bells but they're not
quite in the same league as peonies.) Right now a bright orange scadoxus
multiflorus (from Brent and Becky's Bulbs) is close to blooming, so I'll see
if this theory works.
Nancy


>        Here is one for you. Do not see this one nearly enough in gardens.
One of
>our natives, easy to grow and an eyepopper. coming into bloom right now in
>the garden ( about 2 weeks early like everything else this season).
> Be sure and check out Spigelia marilandrica or Indian Pink/ Worm Root.
>About 2 feet in height when mature, shade lover that enjoys plenty of
>light, will take mostly sun with adequate moisture. The bloom stalk is
>terminal, and blooms from the bottom up. Each large bloom is a scarlet tube
>with a waxy sheen. At the end of each tube is a firecracker explosion of a
>little yellow-green star. Bloom stem is about 6 inches long. Showy from any
>point in the garden when in bloom. Foliage is also a keeper and stays
>around until heavy freeze. Does break dormancy late in the spring and is a
>slow grower. Therefore the expense in most catalogs... when you can find
>it.
>        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
>          around the woods - around the world
>genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
>
>----------
>> From: Nancy Stedman <stedman@INTERPORT.NET>
>> Subject: [SG] astilbes
>> Date: Tuesday, June 01, 1999 2:25 PM
>>
>> Someone recently mentioned astilbes. I love them because they're
>virtually
>> the only plants that provide bright color in the shade in summer. But I
>was
>> wondering what everyone uses as companion plants (other than the
>predictable
>> hostas). I have heucheras, creeping campanulas, short Oriental lilies and
>> eupatorium 'Chocolate' but I bet someone's doing something much more
>clever.
>> Nancy (in NYC, zone 6B)>
>
>
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