Plant lust

14 years ago

Last July, I developed an insatiable lust for indian pinks (Spigelia marilandica). I had to have this plant, and I ordered it online and babied it through the hot, humid D.C.-area summer. The seller specified no guarantee on plants purchased out of season by idiots like me.

All spring, I have been waiting to see if this plant would reappear. Last night, I saw four or five tiny shoots coming up. So it looks like this one will be a keeper. I did have to put a small cage over the shoots to protect them not from the usual menace, the deer, but errant basketballs that are drawn like magnets to this particular flower bed.

What plants do you covet?

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Comments (12)

floodthelast
14 years ago
Heleniums, azaleas and several others.
token28001
14 years ago
Confederate Rose. My cuttings died one by one. The seed germinated and they started dying one by one. I have two tiny seedlings that have been with me since late March. I put them in morning sun a couple weeks ago. Today, I saw a new sprout. I hope I can get at least 2 of these to live. They are huge and a great Southern plant.
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I bought a Japanese maple from them last fall, planted it within 24 hours. It was dormant, but seemed to be OK. This spring, there were buds. The leaves were slow to emerge from the buds, though (other Japanese maples in the neighborhood were in full leaf before the buds started opening). And then about six weeks ago, everything went dead. The buds/leaves seemed dead, but the trunk was still green, so I did not (yet) despair. I made sure it was watered once a week. At first, it looked like there might be new buds, but those have not materialized, and the trunk is now black. In short, the tree never leafed out. I contacted them, and they said their policy is to not provide refunds after 48 hours of receipt of the tree. I have bought plants regularly from a handful of places, and this is the first time I have had anyone refuse to either replace or refund. More than $200 down the drain. No leaves ever. I will not be buying from Plant Lust again.
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retiredprof
14 years ago
Black and Blue salvia. My loins are a-quiver with desire. That's Chaucer there. If they don't take, there's always marigolds. ;-)
ramazz
14 years ago
Prof, I thought you bought some of these. Mine are growing like crazy and seem to be spreading. They are lovely plants and do very well in zone 7, at least where I am. I hope yours fulfill your desires. If not, LMK and I can send you some.

Becky
retiredprof
14 years ago
Becky: I did buy them. Just keeping my fingers crossed that they will do well.
donn_
14 years ago
Shrubs and Grasses.

The Grass lust is nothing new...I've got hundreds of them in dozens of varieties, but I want more varieties. I have too many of some, and none of others. I guess I need to look for trades. I don't have room for 30 each of Miscanthus purpurescens 'Autumn Red' and Panicum amarum 'Dewey Blue.'

Shrubs is/are a newer interest. I've seen some recently which I'll have to acquire, one way or another. I've been gravitating toward Elderberry (Sambuca) recently, and I saw a "False Holly" version on Paul James the other day which is gorgeous.

I also want more Pieris. I have one which I grew from seed, now in it's third year (in a pot). It'll go into the ground this year, but I need more of these things.

Because of the (small) size of my property, I need dwarf shrubs, or those which can be trained small, Bonsai-style.
dr_deb
14 years ago
Oooooh, those Indian pinks are nice! And I thought I'd sated myself for this season.

:(

Deb
dirtbert
14 years ago
Hydrangeas. There are so few that will grow in my zone, but every year or two there are new varieties available.
I don't have many yet, but I'm hoping to take cuttings to root this year from Endless Summer and Pinky Winky.
I'm also hoping DH gets the endless not-so-subtle hints to get me a "Twist and Shout" variety for our anniversary :)
ktinmd
Original Author
14 years ago
Prof, I just checked out black and blue salvia. I may have to add this plant to my list.

Donn, I ordered Pieris japonica from Wayside a couple of years ago, but they had a crop failure, so I never got the plant. Thanks for reminding me of this beautiful shrub, I think :)

And Deb, I'm happy to spread around my Indian pink lust. The more, the merrier.

It's fun to learn which plants make other WSers all weak in the knees :)
karendee
14 years ago
I lust over almost every plant. It would be easier to ask about the ones I don't like the list is shorter.

I do lust over Hydrangeas also, I had some given to me on my first mother's day that I moved with a few times but left them in the last move and I sure do miss them!!! I did not think they would make the zone change with me from 7 to 5 :)

I also lust over veggies and herbs. I just love eating my own foods. I have seen some very unusual veggies and I love growing them.

Karen
donn_
14 years ago
After further research, I find I spelled Sambucus wrong, and the False Holly I saw on TV is Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'. It's a stunning shrub.
paulan70
14 years ago
I would love an Indian Pink. But so far not so for me. This year though I am searching for new to me snapdragons.
I am still thinking about ordering the "Candy Corn" variety from Parks. I am still waiting on a few to germinate that I started this year. Plus I am also always on the look out for more petunias to add to my ever growing collection. Now I just need more dirt in the sun to plant all of my babies.

Paula

Plant lust

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