Do These Perennials Bloom First Year?

17 years ago

I started a few new perennials from seed this year (thanks to Sharon for most) and I was wondering if there's any chance they will bloom the first year.

- Sea Holly

- Verbascum nigrum

- Soapwort

- Alyssum saxatile

- Lychnis chalcedonia (Maltese Cross)

- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

- Dalea purpurea

- Heliopsis helianthoides

- Rudbeckia hirta

Any advice appreciated!

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Comments (11)

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
17 years ago
Rudbeckia should. I'm not sure if my soapwort did or not - can't remember. I know the lychnis didn't.
SeaOtterCove
17 years ago
I don't think either the Sea Holly, Soapwort or Echinacea purperea will bloom in the first year. Heliopsis helianthoids and Alyssum saxatile might bloom for you. You'll have to let us know if any of them bloom this year for you.

Syreeta
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Crazy_Gardener
17 years ago
- Sea Holly (no)
- Verbascum nigrum (yes)
- Soapwort (yes, if it was the Saponaria ocymoides)
- Alyssum saxatile (no)
- Lychnis chalcedonia (Maltese Cross) (if they do, very sparsely)
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) (no)
- Dalea purpurea (no)
- Heliopsis helianthoides (a few maybe)
- Rudbeckia hirta (yes)

Sharon
northspruce
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks gals, I guess I will have a fairly sparse new perennial bed this year! ;0) I'm glad about the Verbascum though because I planted a bunch of it at work and it looks a little funny with no flowers.
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
17 years ago
Make sure you deadhead that verbascum, Gil - i have a verbascum explosion going on here!
northspruce
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes thank you Marcia, I figured it was seedy, when I indoor sowed it this spring I think I had 125% germination. Impossible? Apparently not! LOL That's why some ended up at work.
northspruce
Original Author
17 years ago
The verdict!

- Sea Holly (no)
- Verbascum nigrum (yes)
- Soapwort (no)
- Alyssum saxatile (no, but they have grown very nicely)
- Lychnis chalcedonia (Maltese Cross) (yes, but very sparsely)
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) (no)
- Dalea purpurea (no) (not actually sure where I planted this... guess I will never know now)
- Heliopsis helianthoides (yes)
- Rudbeckia hirta (no)

Just wanted to ask too, does anyone know if Gaillardia "Torchlight" comes true from seed? I have been collecting a ton of seeds to transport my garden to the new house. I have literally pounds of tall mixed snapdragon seeds for trade if anyone's interested.
Crazy_Gardener
17 years ago
G. 'Torchlight' is a cultivar indicated by the placement of the name between single quotes. Some cultivars will come true from seed usually they don't. If you want to keep your varieties true as possible, plant similar species of plants on opposite ends of your garden as far away as possible.

But thatÂs the beauty of collecting seeds, nature's own surprises ;)

Sharon
northspruce
Original Author
17 years ago
Sharon, yup I know it's a cultivar but an F1 or F2 hybrid will not come true even from self pollination... so I was wondering it it was a lost cause. It's the only Gaillardia I have that has bloomed this year so hopefully it will be true.

Is it wrong to use double quotes for cultivar names? I have been using doubles all this time, am I wrong?
Crazy_Gardener
17 years ago
Botanically, yes, cultivar names are set in ÂsingleÂ quotes.
If you really want to get scientific, the name should also have the species name after the genus name as well, Gaillardia aristata 'Torchlight'. ;)

If it's the only Gaillardia species you have in the garden, you'll have a better chance of having the same special characteristics.

Sharon
northspruce
Original Author
17 years ago
Y'know, this is gonna sound really dumb but I haven't figured out what the special characteristics are. It's really nice but doesn't look much different from 'Goblin' (just one apostrophe! LOL). Unless they are taller... mine are very tall.