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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2007 11:01:10 GMT
Hi all,
I've revamped a bed which is going to be largely cannas and penstemon ... but these flower quite late. I was wondering if anyone could suggest something with red, orange or purple flowers that come early, so that it doesn't look dead in late spring/early summer? All I've thought of so far is Gladiolus Byzantium (sp?), the reddish-purple one ... I know that does well around here. It has to be something upright, rather than low and spreading, so that the cannas can poke their way through ;D ... thanks and cheers ...
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Post by jean on Aug 22, 2007 20:35:37 GMT
Aqualegia are good for early spring flowers CC and there are purple/black flowers available and how about some foxgloves  |
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Post by beejay on Aug 23, 2007 7:45:34 GMT
Not sure if they are upright enough for your requirements but what about perennial wallflowers which come in a number of colours.
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Post by Weeterrier on Aug 23, 2007 9:09:12 GMT
The big alliums? Or a shorter growing Clematis on a wigwam? That would be purple. What about roses for the hot colours? Not tall enough perhaps? Difficult  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2007 9:27:53 GMT
Thanks everyone - Jlottie, I actually have a few Aquilegia 'Chocolate Soldier' seedlings; they're pretty poorly at the moment (only 5 germinated and 3 survived), but if they make it they'd be perfect ... Beejay, perennial wallflowers sound interesting (ignorent moment here - I thought they were only biennial  ) - WT, I really like the clematis-on-a-wigwam idea ... must Google .... cheers ;D |
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Post by beejay on Aug 23, 2007 12:09:10 GMT
I don't think perennial wallflowers are as well known as the biennial ones. The best known is Bowles Mauve which flowers for most of the year. They are short lived perennials & can get a bit leggy if you let them but are very easy to propogate from cuttings! There are other colours around but not sure what they are. I vaguly recollect seeing a sort of 2 tone red/yellow flower & I know you can get yellow.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2007 12:42:38 GMT
Thanks Beejay ... I've been googling Bowles Mauve, which looks ideal ... but none of the big seed companies do it, and I'm pretty sure no-one I know has a plant I could take a cutting from ... and absolutely sure that the two accessible garden centres won't have it (they only do quick turnover plants that last for ever on the shelves) ... will keep trying, it looks lovely ... cheers ...
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Post by Barbara on Aug 23, 2007 14:19:13 GMT
hi cc what about red tulips, or sparaxis,? or good old iris, it comes in some really good purples. alliums ? all quite early i think. barbara |
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Post by Weeterrier on Aug 23, 2007 17:25:29 GMT
I have just been looking at the 'Spalding' catalogue. They do a Dutch Iris mixture called "Tiger" mixed. They are a mix of blues purples and oranges. my neighbour grew them this year, and they are scrumptious.
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Post by beejay on Aug 23, 2007 18:43:07 GMT
Thanks Beejay ... I've been googling Bowles Mauve, which looks ideal ... but none of the big seed companies do it, and I'm pretty sure no-one I know has a plant I could take a cutting from ... and absolutely sure that the two accessible garden centres won't have it (they only do quick turnover plants that last for ever on the shelves) ... will keep trying, it looks lovely ... cheers ... If I had done some cuttings I would have sent you some! Actually,I may actually take some. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2007 13:48:29 GMT
Thanks Beejay ... even if you had some, I'm not sure they would survive our atrocious postal system ;D I'll be going down to Cork at some time in the autumn, where there are some excellent GCs/nurseries, and will have a scout around ... meanwhile the aquilegia seedlings seem to be perking up a bit, although I doubt they'll flower next year. WT, that Irish mixture sounds lovely ... oh dear, so much choice, so little garden ;D ... cheers ...
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) - WT, I really like the clematis-on-a-wigwam idea ... must Google .... cheers ;D