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New England Gardening

Helianthus max 'Santa Fe'

16 years ago

This fabulous 8'+ beauty started blooming on 5 October, was in full bloom on 16 Oct, and finished just before Halloween. It certainly flops, but I have no talent for staking. I plan to divide it (if that's possible) next Spring, so if anyone would like some, I am taking reservations now! Pollinating insects love it -- but I haven't seen any birds looking for seeds.

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Comments (11)

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
16 years ago
It looks like a bunch of little kids leaning out and waving to the cars going by!

Nice plant!

Claire
Marie Tulin
16 years ago
Hi Carolyn,
put my name in! I have a sunny place for flowers now...
Marie
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Comments (11)
Hi Jennifer, so sorry your Helianthus 'Lemon queen; isn't doing so well. I planted one in Spring of 06, full sun, sandy loam, well-drained, and it was quite vigorous. This Spring I wanted to move it because it was too tall for the location and the rootball was HUGE for the 2nd year. I got six divisions, I gave away 2 and planted 4 in kind of a hedge in the back corner of the garden in partial sun with annuals in front. I've found they grow well in full or half sun, except they are somewhat smaller in less sun. They are rather drought-tolerant in my garden, but did wilt some this summer due to the drought. Lemon queen grows well, but the Veronicastrum won't grow for me just a few feet away. Go figure. It stopped blooming a couple weeks ago, but here's what it looked like this summer. That's probably about 2 1/2 plants worth in the picture and they are about 4-5 feet tall. I think this plant is a real beauty:
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(hitting self in head!) I should have known to specify the ocnditions: southern NH, zone 5, full sun from late morning to dusk, good air circulation, beds were put in last year and amended, also the guy doing the work said that the soil was already pretty good. Would rather avoid annuals for this area, want flowers sometime in the summer, early or late is fine. The other plants planned - but not yet in the ground are Kiss Me Rosa which looks to be a deep pink, headed to coral??, Carol Mackie Daphne, a peony (haven't picked the color yet) s ome day lilies and Bevan's Variety geranium as ground cover. I found a hardy hibiscus called Kopper King (white with pinkred veins) and one called Old Yella (yellow), also Plum Crazy (strong pink). Do you think they would mix well with the other plants? And maybe I could still put in 3 of black hollyhocks as well? Too much? This bed is right up against the covered back porch and the tall flowers will be what you see when sitting on the porch. It is not intended to be a "quiet" garden!
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Comments (21)
The Miscanthus is behind the daisies which are Anthemis Susannah Mitchell, which is short with small button blossoms. If you can see a little pink on the right, that is a Knock Out Rose next to the Miscanthus, which hasn't had a yellow leaf on it through this dry spell and last year was the last thing blooming in my yard. The Pennisetum Hamlin is very tame and fits right under that BBush. There are a few others that are taller that are nice. Have you seen the pink blossomed 'Karley Rose'? It is just a little larger than the Hamelin. There is also one called Moudry which I think is gorgeous. BTW, here in zone 5/6 I have not seen a seedling from my Pennisetum. I saw a great combo in someone's front yard... Hardy Hibiscus, Shasta Daisies and Joe Pye Weed with Miscanthus gracillimus. It gets huge and probably wouldn't work for you dtd. But the pretty Pink Hardy Hibiscus, with the Joe Pye Weed was eyecatching. Here is that P. Moudry, wish I had room for that! :-) I just love tabs on a browser, don't you? [g] Nandina are very pretty. They have fall color too, right? Bluestem is great and I wish I had room to grow it. I also love Indian Grass which I didn't dare plant so I put it in a pot this year..lol. Not exactly happy there. [g] You know you are talking about prairie plants there dtd! :-) I see from your OP that you mentioned Joe Pye Weed there already that might be staying. I measured my 'Little Joe' just now and it is about to bloom and stands 45" high. First year in, so don't know if it will get larger. I also measured the bed my Butterfly Bush is in and it is 7ft deep at the point the BBush is planted. I did plant it forward, because my neighbor has an evergreen on the other side of the fence that hangs over a good foot and a half. There are about 5 trees right along my fence line behind that whole bed, so that BBush has to deal with dry conditions for sure. I just looked up 'The Blues'...isn't that so pretty! I came across a grass comparison chart in my travels and posted the link below for anyone interested. Here is a link that might be useful: Grasses comparison chart
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Dining in New Mexico and Oregon...
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Comments (14)
My late DH and I spent a week at Santa Fe and Taos every year for 7 or 8 years. What did we do? We ate and shopped! LOL! We stayed at The Inn at Loretto most of the time and loved having breakfast on the patio there. And we ate dinner there several times too. Very nice! Another favorite place was La Casa Sena, just off the Plaza. Lunch in the courtyard, or a late drink or snack in the Cantina was great. The Pink Adobe was another favorite....in fact I had my birthday dinner there a couple of years. And we ate lunch there several times. We found the Coyote Cafe, "OK"....actually better than OK but not for the price. In Taos I don't think you can beat Doc Martin's in any way!.....except for price! Lots of $$ but worth it! We also ate several times at The Apple tree and loved that....but you had to be sure you reserved early! There was a place on the East side of the plaza that had dining on a second floor balcony where the people watching on the plaza was great. Good place for a beer and a bowl of chili....informal and good. And there is another place who's name escapes me...north of Santa Fe on the Opera road....think it was at Chimayo. Of course we ate lots of other places too....but those were the memorable ones where we returned to repeatedly. Enjoy!! Sounds like a great trip....and what fun to be part of the artist crowd!! Linda C
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mayalena
Original Author
16 years ago
I love your analogy, Claire! I will never see them lean without thinking of kids waving now. LOL.
Marie -- you are in!
C.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
16 years ago
Mayalena...I like the way that plant works next to the stairs that way...nice placement and pretty plant. I sort of like the leaning..it looks very natural!

pm2
terrene
16 years ago
I'm placing a reservation! I LOVE tall showy Helianthus. I'll swap you some 'Lemon Queen' next Spring.

Maybe if you pinch all the stems in June it would grow a little less lanky? That's what I do with Lemon Queen.
mayalena
Original Author
16 years ago
Wonderful, Terrene. Happy to swap!
Marie Tulin
16 years ago
Terrene,
I have a lot of plants! Need any shade lovers? Or monarda? or boltonia? or aster Alma Potsche? or....or.....or....
oh yeah, I'd love some lemon queen.
We are getting so ahead of ourselves. Where is the spring swap next year. DTD made some hasty offer a few months back, but has been mighty quiet on the subject since then. DTD, are you planning a long, long trip next spring?
terrene
16 years ago
No problem, Idabean, I have four good-sized Lemon Queens and should have plenty of divisions. They are vigorous growers. Isn't it exciting to have some new sunny areas? Is that where you took those Norway maples down?

Anyway, I thought I read some mention in some post some months back that you wanted to host another swap at your house? :)

And yes, I will need shade lovers, because I'm planning large new gardens in the back which will be a mix of sun and shade (the sun where I'm having a HUGE norway maple taken down).

We may be getting way ahead of ourselves, but I'm already having "gardening withdrawal"! Believe it or not, though, I actually transplanted a Siberian Iris last week! Those things are indestructible, I think. And I planted a few cool-season grasses. Crossing my fingers they make it.
diggingthedirt
16 years ago
Mayalena, that's a great helianthus!

Marie, nope, no long trips, but lots of short ones this spring - no firm dates for any of them yet. Your house is probably a lot more convenient than mine for most forum members, though! And, I'd love to see what you've done with your garden since your last swap, and to see how that amazing ginger is doing.
lschibley
16 years ago
Hi Carolyn,

If there is still any to be had, I'd love a piece. When you look at my house the land sharply drops to the left and the front porch just kind of hangs in space. I'm thinking if I plant this off the left side the highest flowers will just be popping over the top of the porch rail leaning toward the front door. I'm thinking that would be a fun effect. I'd have to figure out how to get it to lean that way. Or would it all just flop down the hill...hmmmm.

Would plymouth be too far away for a swap? I was thinking of offering my house for the event. When is it normally held?

Lisa
mayalena
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Lisa. I think I have plenty to share, depending on how division goes. I do love the flowers from the top of the deck. It provides a great view of bees and butterflies in October. It sounds like Terrene has another variety too, so you'll have to do a little research.... As to the swap, I think everyone's kidding as they start to toss the hot potato around. We'll probably try to plan it in April or May. There's no "normally" here either. Plymouth sounds GREAT to me!
And, as your house is closer to the Cape, maybe it'll be easier to get some of our Cape Cod and Islands forum buddies to come!
We'll put you on the spot next Spring.
Best,
C

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