Re: Tovara

Well, I've only got 'Painter's Palette'...for me, it varies depending
on where it is.  In really good soil in some sun, it gets about 2'
tall, including flower by the end of the season; in good soil in
shade, some plants are a little taller and some (I think younger from
self sown seed) are a little shorter; in lousy soil, it stays
shorter.  Might also get taller in moist conditions than dry.  Seems
to me that mine are taller this year than the past several years when
it's been drought time around here - this year we've had lots of rain
until recently.

Could be you've got yours in a really rich mix or maybe have fed them
a bit?  Sizes given for plants often reflect what the grower
experiences and not what happens in your garden, in my experience.

I've not cut mine back and the deer leave them alone, so I don't know
what they do if nipped back...does anybody know?  I know that mine
stand up better in stiff soil than in really soft soil where they do
tend to flop a bit.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Karen Butner <abtrlife@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Date: Monday, October 02, 2000 1:31 PM
>
> Hi group,
>
> I just bought three varieties of Tovara - T. virginiana, T.
virginiana
> 'variegata', and T. Painter's Palette. Until Christmas, when I
expect to
> receive lots of books :-), I only have the net for info, and I'm
not
> having much luck there. Tovara has been discussed lately and I have
> searched under the various names mentioned, but have not found what
I am
> looking for. Have actually ended up quite confused as to just what
to
> call it, etc. :-)
>
> What I want to know is does Tovara need to be cut back? If so, how
much
> and when. The tag for the variegata says 18-24" tall, but these
babies
> are at least 4' tall including the flower spikes. Something's not
right
> somewhere! They're tall enough I've had to stake them to keep them
from
> falling over. The other two varieties are in the 2' range and
standing
> up quite nicely.
>
> Thanks,
> Karen
> z5a
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