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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2006 12:35:05 GMT
Hi all,
Hope you can help. I have one bed around 1.2 x 1.2 m. At the back is a passionflower (baby) and honeysuckle; at the front is a no-name but lovely small dark pink cluster-flowered rose (bought from Aldi, no label). I use this bed as 'home' for annuals but I need something tall, and preferably purple flowering, in the middle. The problem is that there is an old, unremovable granite block around 8 inches below the surface - so whatever I plant has to be quite shallow-rooted. I had thought of acanthus mollis, but that apparently had deep roots (incidentally, thanks Rita). Can you thing of anything around 1 to 1.5 metres tall, or a bit more, but shallow rooted? I've gone through my 'A-Z', but everything suitable looked as though it would have quite deep roots. The other thing I was thinking of doing was growing Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' (which I know has shall roots) up a sort of obelisk, but I'm afraid it would get huge and don't know how it would respond to repeated cutting back ... any suggestions gratefully received ... cheers ...
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 16, 2006 13:39:46 GMT
Afternoon CC, how about Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)? Purple flowers, about 1m tall, anise scented, loved by bees and very tough. I had a clump growing year after year in concrete blocks under a pergola until it was flattened for a conservatory so I don't think your granite block would bother it. Or Phacelia tanacetifolia, which is usually grown as a green manure crop, but which is actually a very decorative, tall, purple flowering plant and is very shallow rooted. And I'm not sure your Solanum would appreciate being trimmed back a lot as it flowers on the current years wood.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2006 15:25:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2006 22:11:15 GMT
I don't think there will be enough depth of soil for a rose unfortunately, but how about Linaria triornithophora, easy from seed and glorious. Or how about a lavender?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2006 11:56:34 GMT
Hi Dee ... I've just googled Linaria triornithophora, what a scrumptious plant - I'd never seen it before, that's definitely one for the seed list ... cheers ...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2006 12:42:16 GMT
Oh dear, 4P, I've now googled the anise hyssop and it also looks lovely - I just need a bigger garden <dreams of an acre in the city centre smiley> ... cheers ...
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Post by beanie on Oct 5, 2006 13:40:46 GMT
hi c.c. solanum glasnevin does grow rather quickly. i prune mine back to a framework every year but in no time it's taken over the wall again. it's probably much to big for an obelisk
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2006 11:20:52 GMT
Thanks Beanie ... actually, I've planted my glasnevin in front of a large bare expanse of wall, so I'm delighted to know it'll romp away ... cheers ...
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