Mine is in bright shade except for a couple of hours a day when they get full sun. They have spread a lot (even into the lawn), but don't bloom as much as when they were first planted about 5 years ago.

I have to give mine regular water to keep them from drooping. I'd hate to think how much they'd need if they were in full sun here. But you're in a cooler zone, so maybe they'll do better there with more sun.

I have this wonderful plant both in full sun and dappled sun, and the full sun blooms more, but the one in dappled sun holds it's own. I agree with treelover about the water..... the one in full sun requires a lot.

Yes, I think it will. I have several, and the one in partial shade looks so much better than the one in full sun which tends to droop alot. Beware, after a few years they will start taking over - I'm always having to thin mine away from it's neighbors. They also like to be fertilized and watered alot. I'm moving some into a large container to see if it will do well, and then will probably remove the ones from the gardens. I love this plant, but it is getting to be a bully.

Yes! I have Turk's cap behind them and really like the mix of red and dark blue flowers.

I have mine the same way Cynthia. It does look nice. Also sometimes I put some white impatiens beneath them for the "patriotic look". Also, gold shrimp plant looks good with them. That's the look I have this year.

I may have the same show here, debndal. Are you gold shrimps also called Lollipops! I have them in front of the others too.

Oh, goody! And I LOVE the idea of the Turks' Cap behind. I was actually trying to decide between the two. The spot is odd-shaped, but is about 9x5 or so, bordered on two sides by concrete, one by the house, and one by a picket fence. Maybe that'll keep it corralled. How many of each should I plant? I've heard the salvia can get pretty big.

cynthia - yep - gold shrimp plant and lemon lolipops are the same plant. They are a great combo! Sometimes I just accidentally put together a really striking grouping.

Rachel - unless you are wanting a big impact real fast one of each plant will fill the space in 2-3 years - they both can get fairly large. My turk's cap is 5' tall x 4-5' wide. Salvia gets about 4' tall and will spread to eternity if you let it. If you want a faster impact you could plant more, but you will probably end up removing some later - maybe to put in another area or give away.
Lemon lolipops aka gold shrimp plant, are annuals for me so I plant 1-2 when I use them in that grouping. Mine have only gotten about 2 1/2' tall.

Thanks, debndal. I would like impact, but I'm too cheap :-) Think I'll stick with one, maybe two of each.

debndal
I did my lollies up and overwinter. I know it's a royal pain. This spring I thought they were dead. I neglected them and there wasn't a leaf on them. I planted in a part sun location and they turned into a gorgeous lush planting behind red caladiums and in front of chili picine (Texas native chili pepper that returns well for me)

I bought a few big pots of lollies to put in front of the salvias because I truly didn't have much hope for last year's lollies and now I can't tell the difference!

If you find some time, try digging them up and overwintering. I believe these were dormant when I brought them out. They might make it in a garage.

c

Hey, both colors of my shrimp plant are inground, and both return for me like any other perennial. I have one in a container because I like to get blooms sooner, but the ones inground have a much deeper color. I love these plants. You may want to leave one inground just to see if it returns next spring. It would really save a lot of digging.

I'll try digging one up and keeping one in ground this year to see what happens. I have a small greenhouse I set up in winter, so I'll try it in there. Maybe I have been too quick to pull them up in the spring and they would have come back if I'd been more patient.
Glad to know the chili pequin comes back for you. I got a couple this year still in pots and contemplating whether I'd keep them potted up or try in the ground. In the ground they will go! Thanks for the tips Carrie and Cynthia.

treelover,

Mine is about 3 or 4 years old and I rarely get blooms. It's in dappled shade/full sun - depending on the time of year.

Debnal, I didn't realize that you had to fertilize them. That may be what mine need!

Cynthia, Your Turks Cap combo sounds delish! I've got to get over to your Paradise soon! :)

ocdgardener - yes, every time I throw some fertilizer their way they reward me with a nice flush of blooms.

I had no idea they would come back...but after I really neglected mine this year...and they are big and lush now I would believe it! Of course, we had a mild winter.

This year I got some of the red. Huge leaves but no flowers other than the one it had when I got it at the clearance sale in July....don't you just love those sales? Great for gardening fools who are smiling slaves to our little plants of joy

c

Will white or pink Turk's cap be hardy here? Or is red the better bet?

My pink wintered over in Granbury last winter. I think the low was 27 and just for a few hours. It's supposed to be hardy to 8b, but the nursery said that it was hardy here.

Pam

Thanks! Think I might try it with protection.