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What is the plant you just can't ditch?

13 years ago

All right, normally I say shovel prune the stuff that isn't working for whatever reason, but then again I think maybe we all have that plant or two that is cr@ppy but we just can't ditch - so what is yours?

Mine is an antique alba rose "Queen of Denmark" (Koen-something or other). Growth is spindly, it's bare at the bottom with a handful of leaves at the top of each branch, I only get a small amount of flowers during it's once-a-year bloom cycle - yet I just can't get rid of it. I have no clue why I can't, either... :0/

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Comments (4)

neverenoughflowers
13 years ago
I have some pretty purple phlox (unknown variety) that was given to me by my husband's late grandmother. She was growing it in her garden since the 1950's and I dug it up and moved it with us when we bought this house 17 years. ago.

The problem is it a powdery mildew magnet and every year looks terrible by mid summer. I have tried moving it, giving it lots of air circulation, cutting way back etc. but it stills looks awful. But....it was his grandmother's and I just can't bring myself to rip it out.

Carol
kentstar
13 years ago
My Maria Stern rose. It is virused but looks so lovely when it does bloom. I keep vacillating about it and still keep giving it more chances. Sigh...
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I can relate. Went to the farm supply several years ago to get some jalapeno starts only to find one puny nine pack. It was all they had and I didn't have time to look elsewhere so I took them. I went in to pay for them and there in a box were hundreds of bare root jalapenos that someone had pulled out the commercial Speedlings trays. I asked the man how much they wanted for them and he said they were free and did I want some! One of the local truck farmers had brought in his extras after he'd filled his field. I said "heck yes!" so the man grabbed a big handful and shoved them in a bag and handed it to me. I decided I couldn't rightly put back the 9-pack after that so I bought it too. This is how I cam to plant forty five jalapenos. All but one of them grew to maturity. Picked better than eight pounds of peppers the first time! Fortunately I'd already decided to try my hand at making chipotles so they didn't go to waste. That was three years ago and I've still got enough of them left to get me through to this summer's harvest. Just can't stand to throw away a perfectly good plant... .....Alan.
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joannpalmyra
13 years ago
Cranesbill. A gardening neighbor gave me a plant when I first moved here 17 years ago. The first couple years it was gorgeous, growing in a neat mound covered with pinkish-purple flowers. I loved it.
Now I have several plants outlining my front garden, and they always look so sloppy. They have seeded and pop up everywhere - especially where I don't want them. I have pulled a few wanderers, but I cannot bring myself to get rid of them all.
tiffy_z5_6_can
13 years ago
The plant I can't ditch is the one which happens to reseed right in the front of the border and is taller than everything else. I know that this plant will grow like gangbusters and be a real showpiece so I just have to see it.

This year it was the Digitalis which grew in the front of the Hosta gardens... They are still blooming at 6+feet and are still spectacular. We're in for some rain and winds tonight so that might take care of my problem. :O)

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