Re: Ferns/Astilbe/Aconitum???

Louise,

IMHO, you will need to take the advice if creating a tiny moist boggy
bit with a plastic liner in order to keep either the royal fern or
any astilbe happy where you want to plant them.  Not all that hard to
do, really.  Royal fern is absolutely lovely when it gets going and
has enough water - billows its skirts out and takes up a goodly bit
of space.  Needs, I think, a touch of sun during the day - morning
preferably...not a plant for a dank, dark corner.  Or failing a
direct ray or two, at least some light.

You might also consider goat's beard ( Aruncus).  I have some under a
maple where it gets pretty dry.  They do not reach the height of some
that don't have this kind of root competition, but look sort of like
astilbe on steroids...same effect; white flowers.

If you do dig a place for moisture, watch cutting the locust roots.
If it behaves anything like black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), it
will sprout up from damaged or cut roots and try to make more trees.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Louise Niemer <naturverbunden@EMAIL.COM>
>
> I have a rather narrow, awkard area that I need something with
height and
> ruffle.  I am thinking of 'Royal Ferns' or astilbe
'Straussenfedder'
> (ostrich plume).  The area is not dry but not really moist either
as there
> is a blue spruce to one side, and 'Skyline' honey locust (under
which the
> plants are needed) to the other.  I water regularly but both of
these do
> tend to suck up water quickly.  Can anyone share any insight and/or
> experience with either of these?
>
> Alternately, I'm thinking of transplanting my aconitum over there
but have
> heard that they don't like to be disturbed.  They're just not doing
anything
> spectacular right now where they are - usually trash-out when it is
time for
> them to bloom.  Any advice in that regard is also greatly
appreciated!
>
> Louise Niemer, zone 5
> Park Hills, Kentucky
>
>
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