I wasnt going to respond to this post, as im not positive of the answer. But I noticed that no one else had any ideas. You cant NOT have your question answered! So ill try to help if I can. (Do you maybe mean Centranthus RUBER?) Ive been growing this plant for six years now, but im afraid im not really sure whats going on with yours. Plants will often do things that confound us, and that we simply cannot explain. There are three posible things I can think of that may be causing your problem First is that it may not care for the spot its planted in; good drainage is esential for this plant. The second is that it might have had a hard winter. I find NOT mulching in the fall often helps. The mulch will keep the moisture in and make the plants center rot out. I mulched my first Centranthus in the fall and it died over the winter because of it. Third possibility is that it's at the end of its life. Centranthus are rather short lived plants in general. Mine have reseeded a lot so that theres always new babies comming up to fill in over any that happen to die. Hope this helps you! CMK

It will get there. Your friends may not have trimmed their bushes. And your bush may be a late bloomer. I have quite a few varieties, some bloomed early June and some are just starting. I like it that way, as there are always flowers for the BFs. What kind do you have? My white flowering bush and my variegated leaf bush have just started blooming and I'm in zone 7. Also, if you pruned late, that may have slowed down your bush. You may have taken off the first buds. Your plant will be in better shape for having been pruned, and your flowers should be larger.

Wonderful photos, of beautiful passionflowers. I can see where this could become an addiction, like roses. I have a beautiful blue/purple one and then a lighter/smaller one. I'll have to post pictures later for identification. Thanks for sharing ~ FlowerLady

Mother Nature is perfectly capable of over watering. Which then brings up the question of location? Seems that when folks ask questions they leave out pieces - the location piece should have been put in the profile. When you say Mel's mix was it purchased Mel's mix or should be called My Mix - something you mixed together with? I remember in one of my early gardens - because it was out in the open I 'thought' it was getting sun all day. Then I made a point to actually check - Turns out there were trees all around the lot (not near the garden mind you) and it was only getting "direct" sunlight (not filtered or shaded light) for an hour and a half. Like business marketing - gardening is all about location, location, location. Pick the location First - then amend the soil.