Re: [SG] astilbes/ now color in shade

I didn't know you could grow Penstemons in the shade.  Mine is in full sun
and it's flower is a blue/red.  I love this plant because for us in Zone 8,
it stays green all year and is a good filler plant since it bushes out wide.
Pauline Botelho
Wilmington, NC
gnp@wilmington.net
-----Original Message-----
From: GeneBush <genebush@OTHERSIDE.COM>
To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU <shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Date: Thursday, June 03, 1999 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SG] astilbes/ now color in shade


>Hello Nancy,
>        Like most plants a mature stand shows off to best advantage. I have
three
>mature clumps in the garden that are now about 7 or 8 years old. Very nice,
>indeed. Quite showy. There is probably a difference in color perception
>between us. I happen to enjoy the quiter side of color. When planting I
>usually go for the complimentary side of things rater than the contrasting.
>
>        Have you tried some of the Penstemons that a re coming into bloom
now?
>many of the hybrids that are crossed with the more show western species do
>not like our winters, but P. digitalis Huskers Red has nice foliage and
>lavender-white flowers and is effective in mature clumps. My favorite,
>however, is P. smallii. Reaches about two feet, can have up to 50 flowers
>on a stem. Color is a peachy -rose-purple. Not an eye-popper, but effective
>and nice. Digitalis are just coming into bloom here. Several perennial
>species and hybrids to play with there.
>        Yes, I carry the Spigelia and have a few divisions remaining.
>        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: Re: [SG] astilbes/ now color in shade
>> Date: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 7:32 PM
>>
>> 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
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