How is this for a pleasant combination? The 'Chocolate' Eupatorium rugosa is coming up through a bunch of 'Goldsturm' brown eyed Susan's. I can't hardly wait for the Goldsturm to bloom because the yellow with the with the purple will be stunning.
What's not to love about this purple plant? It blooms in the fall (my favorite season) with a white a flower. It is easy to care for and volunteers pretty freely. I have grown it in my garden for over six years now and love it.
All except for the numerous babies. Normally volunteers are welcomed in the garden. Even here in the vegetable garden growing amongst the brick paths the volunteers are welcomed. When they are small. Right now they are small and sweet, but will grow quickly and take over. They have to go. Pulling them is not a problem. I cannot believe the astronomical amount of volunteers I have this year. This is not a usual occurrence in my garden. What do you think I should do? Pull them and give them away with a hearty warning? Or toss them and pull all of the plants?
On tour day all visitors were offered a free Chocolate Eupatorium with a warning of their self seeding abilities. Most are gone now and I do hope everyone who took a plant or two home enjoys them. I have enjoyed my chocolate for the past six years and was happy to share. Remember though, they can self seed prolifically. I have found that the more sun they get, the more self seeding this plant will do. Be warned and enjoy the purple with white flowers come fall.
in the garden....
Hi Tina, I left a comment but forgot to sign into blogger so it is gone. sigh. I vote to not toss the eupatorium, give it to others if you can find any who want it. Mine does not spread like that, in fact it is struggling in the black garden, very dry over there, and I know it likes it wetter. I have Joe Pye, Snake Root, and the wild ageratum that are lush, but chocolate is just hanging on, for some reason. Now purple perilla, it has self sown by the hundreds and is not knee high, time to pull it and let it feed the compost before it flowers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Frances! I was a bit worried when I checked this plant out on Dave's Garden. A couple of people said it was a prolific selfseeder but I have NOT had this problem. Even so, they are so easy to pull if you don't want the extras. I wasn't sure if I should give it out to visitors but always have in the six years I have grown it. I love it! I am also glad you mentioned perilla. Everyone who sees the chocolate thinks 'basil', aka perilla. That is ONE plant I would never have in my garden (I learned the hard way), and if I did-I couldn't give it away. btw, I thought your perilla in the gravel was charming! The problem is that it would spread far and wide as you know. What is your favorite garden season?
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteThis Eupatorium is indeed a great looking plant...I have the wildflower one with white and/or blue flowers...it is a weedy invasive. Which doesn't pull out of the ground easily! I leave it a few places and yank out the rest. If you are keeping some babies for give away...put me on the list, please.
I have perilla and chop off the flower heads ...it looks great with thread leaf bluestar.
gail
Gail, I should see you at the August PPS? I can pot up a few and bring them there for you. I love these plants and am happy to hear other gardeners feel the same. They should do well in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThey are very pretty. I think my favorite purple plant is Secretia (sp?). I love that stuff!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking I would add this eupatorium to my plant wish list till I saw the invasive comment. I might try it anyway; I'm always looking for another plant that blooms in the fall.
ReplyDeleteMissed your coneflower post--it definitely wins my vote for plant of the month! I haven't tried any of the newer cultivars because I've heard they're just not as hardy as the old reliable purple ones. But I agree, if they could only come up with one that blooms in shade!
The rain has finally found us. It is raining very hard here. Great for the gardens tho.
ReplyDeleteI love that burgundy folliage, but have to agree with some of the others on the self-seeding. I'm still trying to rid my garden of the morning glories that I grew a few years ago, the seed must be able to stay dormant for awhile.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina --if it's purple it has to be pretty:) Great color! Painters couldn't finish today --it was really overcast and everything wet from last nights storm. And, then it downpoured around 0800 --lots of much needed rain so the deck will have to wait to be finished but the flowers and trees are very happy --me too! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteI have a few things potted for you..the Hypericum, Downy Woodmint and PPPP! Can't wait to see you in August!
Gail
Very lovely plant, I vote to give them away. Sounds like they can seed quite a ways from the mother. Some people might like that, like me {:?)
ReplyDeleteIt will be stunning with the Brown Eyes!! Our Brown Eyes bloom here in late July or mid August so yours should be coming before long I would think.
ReplyDeleteI vote to give away what you can and feed the compost the rest, but then again, if you feed the compost they will probably show up all over the place forever. But it sure is a pretty plant so if it is hardy enough to grow here I would not mind having some as it also sounds like Dawn would.
Hope all has a great day. My day could not be better if we would just get some of that rain!!
I love eupatorium--I only wish it self-seeded the way yours has! I have the chocolate one in the white garden--it does fine, but we've never had babies. We also have a wild variety on the property, but it gets huge and isn't very pretty--that one, of course, self seeds. But I love the mix of the dark foliage with your grays and greens.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I too vote for coneflower for flower of the month. That one self seeds all over the place, and I'm delighted.
I think you did the right thing with the Chocolate Eupatorium. It's seems a waste to discard any plant, no matter how invasive it may be. And, it's such a pretty plant too.
ReplyDeleteRandy
Hand up waving while yelling, “I Want Some”! LOL. I really like the deep purple color of the plant! I added two purple colored items to the garden this year, Purple Emperor Sedum and Queen Victoria Lobelia. The Sedum, being an Arid Dry plant took right away but I am having a time getting the Lobelia established with this drought. I really do like the deep purple color...
ReplyDeleteJillybean, You and Skeeter both love that purple plant. I like it too but it does not return for me. It makes a statement!
ReplyDeleteRose, I don't consider this plant invasive but it will self seed-alot-if given the right conditions. They are easy to pull and it is worth growing. Try it anyhow and I bet you will love it.
Sarah, I am cheering and jumping up and down since midnight last night. Not much rain-about 1/2 inch but rain!
Perennial Gardener, I have never had luck with morning glories-probably why I am hooked on chocolate-I need something that will come back easily:) But I understand the frustration of pulling plants.
Anonymous, Definitely let the painters take a break to let stuff dry out. It figures we would get rain when you are painting! I am in the process of making fresh homemade blackberry cobbler. We picked a ton of them and blueberries on Saturday. The Tin Barn is on 41. You go past TSC, next turn past a huge cow, you stay on that road (bears left) and takes you to the tin barn. You should take all four kiddos and daddy and get you TONS of berries with all that help. I sure could've used it. $2 per pound-cheap and yummy! No charge for what you eat in the field. ;)I am going to post on it but wanted to tell you in case this weekend is free after last weekend's busy time.
Gail, It's a date! We should do dinner first? I'll check with Geri too. We usually carpool.
Dawn, I will pull some for when I pull some for Gail. I wish I had done this post earlier because I threw many away but still have some.
Mom, The brown eyes are JUST getting ready to bloom in this area. I will have to snap a photo when they do. It will be nice. I hope rain comes your way, we finally got some!
Cosmo, I have grown this six years and last year was the first time it seeded so much (for this year). Maybe because of the drought? Self preservation? I don't know but be patient and you will get some volunteers.
Randy, I appreciate you saying give it away and I hope everyone enjoys it, but let me give you an up front warning-some plants should NEVER be given away. Gardeners will be unhappy to get certain ones (like me). One that especially comes to mind is Gooseneck loosestrife. I was warned not to ever plant it. Of course, one gardeners bane is another's joy but no matter how desparate you may be for plants-don't take them all! btw, you got some awesome buys on the PGs. I LOVE these. I make more from cuttings. Very easy to do.
Now Skeeter I am wondering why I didn't hand off some to you when you came? Oh yes, I remember-you need to tell the Saint you MUST bring the truck so you can take back some plants from my garden.:) You are welcomed to them anytime. Spring is best though when they are small.
My vote would be to pot them up and give them away! They look great. You could mix them with some silvery foliage plants like your artemisia and get some real neat color combinations. The yellow and chocolate will look great.
ReplyDeleteWith the price of gas these days, we will bring the car!
ReplyDeleteI will be sure to have large plastic containers to place plants in the next time! LOL
Are you saying I am not allowed to come back to visit until next spring?
Not all all-just might wait until spring for chocolate unless they are still small when you come and you want to attempt it? Anyhow, you haven't seen the garden in summer and winter-so I am thinking soon?:) Anytime Skeeter!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great combination - I hope you take another photo when you have blossoms. I'd love to see the purple and yellow combination. I struggle each year with calendula seedlings. They're easy enough to pull out and thin, but there are SO MANY of them!
ReplyDeleteIf I could have only two colors in my garden and only two plants, I would choose Purple Heart with trailing Gold Lantana around it. I love these two colors together.
ReplyDeleteI don't worry about self seeding things. I love to see things pop up all over the place. It is a good surprise. Of course I don't plant large things without a container, but the smaller ones, like johnny jump ups or viola...I love them anywhere.
Amy, I struggle to grow calendula! That is funny. I will surely post a picture of it blooming with the purple. Any day now.
ReplyDeleteEve, That is a very interesting combination! One that would be absolutely stunning and quite the eyecatcher. You are the second person on here today who says secretia (purple heart) is their favorite. Jillybean in Georgia and you in AL or MS? I am not sure, they are so close in your area. I may just have to try that plant again. It did not come back for me so I gave up. I too love the johnny jump ups and violas.
Hi Tina, tell Skeeter that the purple emperor sedum is great, but to give it a little water if it looks too bleached out. I think it is far superior to the new cultivar Black Jack, a sport of Matrona. Both can fade to green if there is a lack of water and too much direct sun. My favorite garden season? The prettiest is spring, after the winter, the daffodils are so cheering and there are so many spring flowering plants. But like my children, all the seasons are fine by me. We are lucky that we can do something in the garden all year around, just bundle up in winter, rain gear in wet and early morning in the heat. My favorite garden season, all of them.
ReplyDeleteGosh, big t-storms here tonight, thought I'd lost my 'puter but unplugging it from the back and replugging it did the trick to get it working again. Whew!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, sorry for your loss, you are doing better than I would with painting your house. The vinyl people came to repair ours and I fretted the WHOLE time.
Yes, I wouldn't mind some of this plant, even with the spreading.
I have allstars playing Friday and Sat. soooo we'll plan a time to be at moms but I don't know when yet. My team has a good chance for the states. Oay Vey....
Thanks for the info Frances! So far the Sedum is doing fine, well, except for the missing blooms due to hungry deer! ARgggg... I put the smelly stuff around it and no more deer bites thus far... It took a bit to get it going but now seems to be holding its own. The Lobelia is the problem child for the moment. It was falling over without water daily there for a while but perks right back up after a drink. Too dry to keep it going but seems to be doing better now since we had a bit of rain to soak the area...
ReplyDeleteRaining a bit now as I type too, not getting overly excited as it usual does not last for long but we will take what ever we get....
Tina, I told you I plan to see your garden in every season! A bit too hot for now though. Remember how hot it was in late May for my nickel tour? LOL...
Tina I do not know if I will be on very early tomorrow or not. Since I am not an early riser and when I get up it takes a while to take care of all the birds and now also have to tend to Rascal. By then will be leaving for town. Have a doctor's app. I might have broke my foot or lower leg or it might just be sprained. Anyway have done something and have not been to a doctor in 6 years!!!! Hate to go but gotta. Talk to when I get back. May also do some errands. At least go to Lowes and VIP and check out ramps as when we go south I wanna take my eletric wheelchair this time. That way no one has to load and unload the push one and then push me. Will be much better.
ReplyDeleteFrances, That is so wonderful to love the garden all year. I do too, but fall is my favorite season. Thanks for the info on the sedum. My Matrona is doing outstandingly. All of the plants are but the Japanese fern struggles since not so much rain. Pouring down now though, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain....
ReplyDeleteDawn, Raining here too. Good luck to Zack's team.
Skeeter, Yup, I expect we'll see you soonest. The Humane Society called me tonight. No luck. Of course they don't have a shelter. She told me I have a diluted tortoiseshell cat. Almost always female. She is a little sweetie. Follows us around and comes readily now. I got her a flea collar and she looks so funny. She can about fit in my hands. Still no luck with a new home.
Mom, I hope your leg is not broken! Anonymous's mother also had the same thing happen and it was a bad sprain, so hopefully that is all. Time to go to the doctors for sure. Don't worry about the blog. It is always here. I realize this when I have to dedicate my attention to the papers I have to write for school-like asap! Have a safe trip and don't work so hard.
Judie and Phil, If you are checking in-let me tell you beautiful rain is falling. So far in Woodlawn over one inch! Yahoo!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Judie and Phil....my heart stopped for a second. Our Judy was spelled diffent but since her funeral was only 6 days ago I thought maybe for a second it was a drean, no, nightmare.
ReplyDeleteOh I forgot but am glad you and Dawn got some rain. NOT A DROP HERE!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty. I need that plant. Now, where to put it?
ReplyDeleteI think they are a cool plant, even without the flowers. Although the evasive part about them doesn't appear. But they are pretty. And how often can you find a cool looking purple plant?
ReplyDeleteMom, Rest easy and thanks-hopefully you will soon get some rain.
ReplyDeleteAunt Debbi, I think they would look great by that Fairy rose you have growing so beautifully. Pink and purple go well together.
DP, This is an awesome plant-self seeding or not. At least we know it will always be in the garden...:) Like me. My kitty is doing awesome. If you can believe it, I think she is smaller than Luka. Such a bitty thing but acts like a grown up already. Sure you don't want another one?