I keep it from spreading by planting it in an impossible situation: right over the roots of huge maple trees. It doesn't get a chance to explode, it's just trying to survive. If it eventually gets out of control (or spreads seed in other places) then I'm in trouble.

I agree with newbie, plant it in a tough area (such as dry, with a lot of hard or gravel-y soil) and it might deter it from spreading fast. That is the sort area I put the Ribbon Grass and Artemesia 'Limelight' and it has helped keep them in check some.

I kind of let my LOTV grow where it wants to, since it is in an out of the way spot that gets some foot traffic near summertime (because of the raspberry patch). I noticed it is creeping just a little farther into the garden than I would like, so after it is done blooming I plan to rip out a few runners.

It runs like Forest Gump but boy does LOTV smell wonderful!! One of my favorite scents- flowers even have a fragrance when dried!
CMK

A neighbor planted it beneath her tree and tried to contain it with an edger. It managed to 'escape' and is now spreading beyond the tree.

I had one and I planted it in an above ground container. However I noticed it didn't perform well so I decided to remove it altogether. I love the aroma but if it's something available only in spring, I'd rather reserve my garden spaces for other plants.

I have some on my property that was here before me. It is on the north side of the house in a very dark corner. There are very few plants of it there. I have an idea that a former owner has tried to destroy it and it is just now making a come back. I have nothing on that side of the house except for a yard of scraggly Blue grass so I don't mind if it naturalizes over there.

I love plants that send a waft of scent in through the windows in the early summer.

MeMo

I planted one today. It is in a scrabbley area. My grandmother grew it, and I have always wanted a patch of it. I may regret it, but It can''t be much harder to control or kill than the passion flower was. If it is, so be it. A little challenge isn't a bad thing.
kay

Newbie, I started mine under a very old maple tree where I was having trouble getting anything to grow. As the result of a couple of storms, we lost the tree or least the top of it. The old trunk is probably 8 or 9 foot tall. I have been using it as a support for clematis. I should have started trying to rein in the LOTV long before now.
I had thought of trying a edging to contain it but if that doesn't work, I guess I will be resorting to the grubbing hoe. LOL

Trunk with clematis {{gwi:674969}}From 2010-05-13

I also had LOTV when I moved here, but in all these years it hasn't spread very much at all. Naturally, when you want something to it doesn't. Mom gave me some from her house two years ago and I planted it in front of the old outhouse. So far it seems to like it there.

I have it in a couple of spots. It grows under the porches in almost complete darkness and drought! In other places it tries to spread into the lawn or further than I want it to and I just keep ripping it out - a war of attrition in those areas! It is not allowed anyvhere near the main perennial beds - only under trees or shrubs.

Mine doesn't spread very fast as it's under coniferous trees and I don't amend the soil at all. So it grows in dry clay soil that looks like dust - I actually feel sorry for it but it's spreading slowly and I'm afraid to amend the soil or fertilize it as it might become a problem. I did give it a drink of very diluted alfalfa tea recently and covered it with leaves last fall.

I had a couple of pips given to me and I planted them under a shrub in the front yard next to a cement walkway. That was before I realized what a problem it could be. It didn't do anything for a couple of years but then all of a sudden, it made a big leap. By then I had read a lot about it's aggressive tendencies and I ripped it out. I haven't seen it in the past two years. I hope it doesn't come back.

I didn't find it noticeably fragrant. It was a small patch. I can't imagine how large a patch you have to have for it to waft in the window. Mine was facing east and had morning sun and looked dry and unhappy when out of bloom. I love fragrant plants but there are so many that offer more with less risk of creating a problem.

I planted mine in the center of an island bed where the shade from the dogwoods seemed to prevent anything else from doing well. Plus I wanted a groundcover in there so I wouldn't have to crawl in on my hands and knees to mulch. They stayed pretty contained in that area until I was forced to severely cut back the dogwoods, which allowed a lot more light into the center of the bed. This spring I noticed that they were spreading much more aggressively and I had to dig out quite a bit that was not where I wanted it. They had been planted in this area for probably 8-10 years and this was the first time I had ever had to take any action to contain them. I'll see what they do this year and if they get too wild I guess I'll have to take them out and find a more sun tolerant, but better behaved groundcover.

Totally Confused

Same as most here... if it's in a lousy spot (bad soil and shaded) it isn't bad. Give it any encouragement and it gets thick and spreads FAST. lol! Every so many years it will get too carried away for me and then I dig and dig and dig. Unfortunately, it's in more than a few spots. This is definitely a year I'll have to do some digging. It's always easy to give it away... wish I could find someone to come help dig! But I still love it, so will always have some. Mine's in full bloom now. :)

lilyday,

How pretty! What is the hosta all the way to the back left with the large variegated leaves? I need it!

Megan

Megan, I wish I could answer your question. Hostas were some of the first plants that I bought because I had so much shade. I didn't keep up with the names, never dreamed that I would ever care what their names were but now I wish I knew. I don't even have a count of how many NOID hostas I have.
Sue

Everyone talks how invasive it is, and in my garden it is very timid. I keep on planting it 4 years in a row, and it barely blooming, much less spreading - sun, shade, dry, wet areas - I've tried them all. Would love for it to spread - absolutely adore the fragrance!