|
|
Post by merlin on Apr 16, 2011 20:52:53 GMT
.......but are they?, it said so on the label on the three we bought today. I thought it would save having to sow every year and the perfume was great. But, are they really hardy, have you lost any recently?
|
|
|
|
Post by steve on Apr 16, 2011 20:59:13 GMT
I think they are hardy but biennial so will only last 2 yrs tops
|
|
|
|
Post by Geranium on Apr 16, 2011 21:00:50 GMT
Some are definitely hardy here, Merlin. 'Bowles' Mauve' is, 'Walbertson's Fragrant Sunshine' E. linifolium and 'Constant Cheer' all came through the winter.  |
|
|
|
Post by cowslip on Apr 16, 2011 21:05:37 GMT
Do you mean the perennial type? I have "Bowles Mauve" which is certainly hardy and easy to take cuttings from. With the so called biennials I have some that I keep from year to year by trimming them after flowering and they grow into neat little bushes throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetpea on Apr 16, 2011 22:53:30 GMT
wallflowers are very hardy plants. Strictly speaking a short lived perennial but usually grown as a biennial as the floral display tends to reduce after the second year.
if you sow seed in may/June and transplant 6" or so apart then pinch out the growing tip you will get really sturdy bushy plants much better than you will ever see in GCs.
|
|
|
|
Post by grindle on Apr 17, 2011 4:36:42 GMT
 not hardy here, I lost mine last year and this year
|
|
|
|
Post by merlin on Apr 17, 2011 6:21:33 GMT
I'm relieved to hear that some of you haven't lost them, especially as they were £7 each !!!!
Winter Moon
Apricot Delight
Fragrant Sunshine (lives up to it's name)
and Bowles' Mauve'
I'll definately be taking cuttings and hope we don't get any more arctic winters.
I'll trim after flowering too.
Thank you all for the info.
|
|
|
|
Post by steve on Apr 17, 2011 7:53:04 GMT
Ah not the biennial bedders then, ....they are Supposedly hardy merlin Are they what you have/had Grindle? |
|
|
|
Post by Cherry on Apr 17, 2011 10:27:13 GMT
I have always grown Bowles Mauve and have an orangey one as well. They are fine.
|
|
|
|
Post by grindle on Apr 17, 2011 12:44:31 GMT
Ah not the biennial bedders then, ....they are Supposedly hardy merlin Are they what you have/had Grindle? yes Bowles Mauve, so far I've lost 3 years running, Apricot Delight died this winter and another one didn't make it through last winter, it could be that they had been in too long, although I remember having had BM in the other garden for quite a long time  |
|
|
|
Post by Cherry on Apr 17, 2011 12:56:13 GMT
I always take cuttings of Bowles Mauve every year, but the cuttings look quite bad this year. The one in the ground fared better.
|
|
|
|
Post by Geranium on Apr 17, 2011 14:14:35 GMT
Strictly speaking, the perennial ones are Erysimums, and the biennials are related, but called something like "Cheiranthes"? I know that's not right - my brain's hurting trying to remember.  |
|
|
|
Post by steve on Apr 17, 2011 14:29:56 GMT
Bowles mauve is also loved by butterflies |
|
|
|
Post by Geranium on Apr 17, 2011 19:03:20 GMT
I was almost right. The biennials are called Cheiranthus cheiri, or Erysimum cheiri. The perennials are just Erysimum and a name - like E. 'Bowles' Mauve'.
I didn't remember - I had to look it up! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Fractal on Apr 17, 2011 19:05:34 GMT
I think the key here is to take cuttings (usually in July) to keep these sub-shrubby types going. They normally live for three or maybe four years before dying out though one in my mums garden I recall lasted for about five years before dying out. Bowles Mauve is the best known of these slightly shrubby types though there are a few more shades appearing as forms intermediate between it and the more true biennial types appear in garden centres. These may well prove intermediate in more ways than just flower colour and be less long lived however.
The biennial types of course normally last only two years though I have managed a third year out of them by dead heading immediately after flowering and feeding them well.
As said, cuttings in July to keep them going from year to year.
|
|
not hardy here, I lost mine last year and this year
