Comments on: Perennials I’ve Killed

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:27:49 +0000

Susan – don’t be so quick to give up on artemesia “powis castle”…I live near you in rockville, MD and I’ve been growing that one for years and I find it to be very hardy and have no problems with it in humid weather…what it HATES is wet feet – keep it in a well drained spot (or a pot on the patio) and it will/should do fine…

By: Kathy, Washington Gardener

Kathy, Washington Gardener — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:28:04 +0000

If you want to try Artemnesia ‘LimeLight’ instead I got a few monster plants you can have – it’ll never die and spreads like crazy
Some perennials are just short-lived by nature. Anise Hyssop dies out for me – but occasionally comes back from re-seeding. I also find that my Yarrow (white and pink, not common yellow) gets choked off by other surrounding perennials and can die off if not looked after.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:10:58 +0000

I agree with your comments, with the exception of blue flax. It doesn’t last long, but while I had it it was delicate and airy and a lovely shade of blue. (Though my own comments remind me of cooks who speak about “delicate flavor,” which means that unless the ingredient is exquisitely fresh, you can’t taste it…)

By: Don

Don — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:59:03 +0000

I once dropped a large rock on a Cypripedium formosanum that I had just bought for an unseemly amount of money.Oh, the horror!

By: Jenette

Jenette — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:40:32 +0000

Susan..I’ve just recently discovered the Garden Rant and now your own blog– I really like your approach to gardening, especially the honesty. Gosh, I thought I was the only one who routinely loses perennials that the how-to books and magazines make look so easy. It’s taken me awhile but I am slowly learning the fine art of micro-climate assessment and plant placement and the fact that sometimes, no matter what, there are just varieties that will bomb out in my garden regardless of the effort I make. Keep up the great work !

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:06:58 +0000

Monarda and I just don’t get along. They seem to last two year and only bloom one of them, but I keep trying. Not sure why, but perhaps it’s because I hate losing.