Well-Behaved Cold-Hardy (or "english gardeny" annual) Rose companions?
Aaron Rosarian Zone 5b
2 years ago
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I might have a wrong concept on Annuals:moss rose, dianthus!
Comments (8)Annuals are, as you said, plants that come up, flower, set seed, and die in one growing season. This season, however, can be variable. For instance, larkspur are planted in the fall in the south, flower in the spring, and die when the heat moves in. Yet, they are annuals. Your moss rose (portulaca) is a hot weater, self-seeding annual. If you grew it in an area one year, even though you pulled out the old plants at the end of the summer, it had already dropped thousands of seeds on the ground during the summer. The next spring, when the soil warms and the sun shines, up those seeds come. Moss rose (and many other annuals) that seed so generously are often called "annuals that behave like perennials". They are beloved (and occasionally cursed) for this trait. You do need to realize that if the varieties you grow were hybrids (as many portulacas are), when the seeds volunteer, they may very well not be the same colors as the ones you planted in the first place. Some gardeners actually "select" their own colors, by watching volunteer seedlings carefully and pulling out all except the ones they want to keep. Over a period of years, by allowing the desirables to set seed and denying this to the undesirables, they can get nearly all the volunteer seeds to come true. Now, for the dianthus. Botanically speaking, dianthus are bi-ennials. This means they come up from seed and make roots, stems and leaves in one year, overwinter, and then bloom, make seeds, and die the next year. "Bi"-meaning two. "Ennial", meaning year. Get it? This being said, there are lots of kinds of dianthus. Some do exactly what I just described. Some are self-seeding, so they volunteer. And some are very perennial-like in their behavior. I have some that are perennial-like. They return reliably, but to keep them in top health, they need to be divided every other year or so. I discard the old, tired centers, and replant the fresh, new divisions. It sounds like this is what you have. The funny thing is, one of the best perennial-like dianthus I have was in a six pack of the bi-ennials that I bought one fall. The other five bloomed the following spring and died when the heat moved in, but that one didn't. I have had it for several years now and have divided it and spread the wealth all around. Another one I have was a pass-along from a friend who got hers in the same way. Another, I ordered from a nursery. As you can see, dianthus are quite variable. (Just another note, MOST dianthus don't like the south's heat and humidity. But, as already stated, there are notable exceptions.) I'd say this one you have is a true keeper, for the odds were totally against it. Very few plants would have survivd that long in a four inch pot, let alone inside. I highly recommend that you put all the divisions outside, and give it some care. Sounds like a winner to me. Just so we cover all the definitions, a true perennial is a plant that, although the above-ground parts "die" each year, the roots do not. So, they are said to go "dormant" each winter (or sometimes summer, depending on the plant), and then the roots produce new stems, leaves, flowers, etc the following spring. Although most perennials can be grown from seed (though not necessarily easily), most do not bloom the first year from seed. But, since they return year after year, they are called perennial. The definitions are pretty clear-cut, but as you can see, the plants don't know that, and there is a good bit of blurring of the lines. Hope this helps! :)...See MoreCompanion plants in rose beds?
Comments (42)thanks, Peachiekean. I am a little bit confused with the blueberries? Can they be companions of roses? Won't their roots interfere with those of the roses? How about forget-me-nots? They seem so beautiful. Does anybody grow them with roses. Dear Gary, I grow Old roses like Damasks: Ispahan, Mme Hardy and Kazanlak, Portland Jacque Cartier, Bourbons: Louise Odier and Mme Pierre Oger (sorry for wrong spelling), Austins Pat Austin, Graham Thomas; Lavender Dream, Alba Meilland (?), Jeanne d'Arc (from Netherlands), Magic Miracle and some Japanese HTs (Momoka, Yuka, Yumeka) and floribundas, also Blue Boy (I think), Niagara Falls which is a climber and climbing America. My plans are to see all of them bloomÂ@together with the other plants, especially the tree called Summer Camelia (Natsutsubaki) which is not a rose. I want to see my garden with many flowers. I have planted for the first time chrysanthemums, daisies, lilies, irises, safran, gladiols, so I hope they bloom. Yesterday I planted marigolds. I planted hyssop, geraniums and other herbs like salvia, thyme, camomile, lavender, lemon balm and mint. thanks for the ideas and advice. Hopefully I won't kill my plants. They are my medicine from depression....See MoreFavorite Companion Plant for roses
Comments (33)Hmm...all this white flies talk has me worried. I have a hibiscus plant I overwinter indoors that is a magnet for white flies. I've tried organic and inorganic pesticides. Last year, it wasn't until I tried the granular 'kill everything' Bayer product that I finally got rid of them. Or course this year I have them again. Additionally, it has affected another potted plant. I hate to kill plants but should I just get rid of both plants to prevent the white flies from expanding into the roses in summer? Straw, I'm going to try the curry and clove solution. good to know! Jim, the rabbits don't go over your fence for tender growth?...See MoreShort purple/lavender colored companion flower for roses
Comments (20)Hi enchanted, it's Diane again. Previously I had suggested that Lauren's Grape poppy was a wonderful plant of the most gorgeous color. Lauren Ogden, a well known garden writer, seed expert, and book author is the developer of this poppy which she selected for over and over in her own garden, till she got the pure strain for Lauren's Grape seed. It's widely available now, but my favorite seeds are from the company, Renee's Garden, and they call their seeds, Lauren's Dark Grape, and it is a rich and dark color. These are annuals and bloom briefly, but the plant can fit about anywhere. The leaves are a beautiful silvery color, and I love the "pepper shaker" seed pod that develops. Let the plant reseed or gather seeds after the pod is ripe, and scatter in late winter or very early spring. Here are a couple of pics, taken by my talented granddaughter. There was a little too much sun the day these were taken. If you've seen my photos, I should mention that every one of them she photographed. DianeLauren's Dark Grape poppyLauren's Dark Grape Poppy Diane...See MoreDiane Brakefield
2 years agoAaron Rosarian Zone 5b
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAaron Rosarian Zone 5b thanked librarian_gardner_8b_pnwnoseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)
2 years agoAaron Rosarian Zone 5b thanked noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)Ashley Smith zone 5a
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