When should I give up on a perennial's return ?

10 years ago

How do you know for certain that a perennial is not going to return? By what date do you think most should be showing signs of life?

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Comments (8)

alabamanicole
10 years ago
With this spring, it's hard to say; lots of things are late. We had a mild winter, but also a wet one which can kill, too. What's the plant you are concerned about?
zelenkabach
Original Author
10 years ago
I planted a bunch of new perennials last year, including some angel's trumpets that I had grown from cuttings of my own plants.
Many of the new plantings from last year have been up and running for a month. My established angel's trumpets are well on there way, but the ones I planted last year have mixed results. A couple have returned but others...nothing. I had a Night blooming jasmine that I planted last year that isn't doing anything, although the old stump is still strongly attached. I am mourning the loss of a lion's tale (wild dagga) that hasn't done anything.

Such is life, but I was just curious as to what the conventional wisdom would advise, as these plants are new to me so I don't know their history.

I already accidentally dug up a viable plant from last year that just hadn't started to leaf out, so I am a little cautious.

Thanks in advance for any advice!
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I seriously doubt it will come true from seed. I looked up Ohio, generally it shows you don't get more than 40" of rain per season, thats good for agastache. Any more than 40"-- forget it. I have planted many plants that are listed as not hardy in my zone. Time after time the plant will make it just fine in spite of what I read online to the contrary. I take these zones with a grain of salt especially when I read info online which is all over the map. This happens all the time.......Yesterday I bought Spanish Lavender because its supposed to take summer humidity better. Many sites say zone 8-9, some say 7 another said 6, still another says no frost or freezing at all. The tag says -10 degrees. Who is right? I'm planting it in soil amended with gravel with a couple large rocks close by to help protect the roots on the top of a slope. We have many well established lantanas that make it just fine here in these parts that are listed over & over online as not hardy, along with several other plants I've looked up. Who comes up with these zones on tags anyway? Three plants makes a nice visual clump of color (or it just gives you three times better chance for one to make it). One plant merely makes for a specimen so that factors in for me. Wet winters, thats the bigger problem, but then, that would be the case with most any agastache.
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When should I Give Up on a Cutting?
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Ficus c is an extremely vigorous tree, so we can get away with practices rooting them that would be disastrous in other less vigorous plants. Still, the two most important influences on cutting success is the state of vitality and health of the parent plant, and cleanliness. In operations that propagate vegetatively, great pains are taken to see that the stock plants are in peak vitality and free of diseases. The propagation area and all things that come in contact with the plant are sterile or as close to sterile as possible. Nutrients in the propagation media/media solution actually inhibit the cuttings ability to remain hydrated. Additionally, the cutting cannot utilize nutrients until root primordia appear. At that point, it's beneficial to apply a weak fertilizer solution. Be patient. You're on people time and the tree is on tree time. They're different ..... and only one of you is capable of making allowances for that difference. ;o) .... and please don't move the cutting around so you can check for roots. You'll easily break the microscopic hair roots and set the rooting process back. Good luck. Al
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bulzi
10 years ago
Just noticed that the plumbago is up a couple of inches. Lantana is taking its time, with warm weather it should pop on up. I hope.

What ever does not come back will lend its place to something new.
alabamanicole
10 years ago
I'm not familiar with those plants and when they should pop up, lynnsdaughter, but my stevia and lantana haven't come up yet and I have every reason to think they should come back.

With the nice rain and a solid week of warm weather ahead of us, I may give up if they don't pop up by the end of the week or two.
drippy
10 years ago
Stevia comes back here? Cool! I got some at the Huntsville Botanical Garden sale, and was prepared to cut & dry it all at the end of the season, thinking it was an annual. I'll leave some for next year! :)
alabamanicole
10 years ago
It comes back if we have a zone 8 winter. It will also reseed itself although germination rates are really poor so it's a little dicey and it's unlikely to take over.
bulzi
10 years ago
OMG, Just Googled " When should I give up on a perennial's return". It refers back to here.....patience is a perennial's virtue.

It seems to take for ever for the Hidden Lily to emerge.....and when it does---- I wonder--- why have that...?....,but always glad to see it.
drippy
10 years ago
I have a salt marsh hibiscus I grew from seed that has been struggling along for a couple of years. It looked truly dead until today, when I saw just a little green coming back from the base. I wait a loooong time before I give up on perennials.

Thanks for the tip on the stevia, Nicole.

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When should I give up on a perennial's return ?

Comments (8)

alabamanicole

zelenkabach
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When should I give up on a perennial's return ?

Comments (8)

alabamanicole

zelenkabachOriginal Author

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bulzi

alabamanicole

drippy

alabamanicole

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drippy

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zelenkabach
Original Author