We’ve all got plants we really love. Probably hundeds of them. And maybe some we hate and banish as soon as spotted. But what about the inbetween ones, which we have but are not sure about?
I’m noticing several. One is a British native, which is no doubt how it found its way to me. The Royal Horticultural Society describe it thus:
“Robust, attractive and easy to grow, this native perennial is ideal for mixed planting schemes. The red-flushed stems of hemp agrimony support handsome, lobed foliage, and they’re crowned in summer, with large, flat-topped clusters of pink, purple or white flowers, which are a magnet for butterflies.
Eupatorium cannabinum is a native wildflower commonly found in damp meadows, stream edges and woodland margins across the UK and Europe, where it is valued for attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators.”
What’s not to love?
Bit wishy washy?
Well, it’s putting itself rather randomly in places I don’t much want it. And in it’s early stages in spring I don’t feel confident that it’s not one of its near relations which I have bought, planted and love. I could be ruthless in the places I just don’t want it and know what it is, but I find myself hesitating and doing that for too long. Until it’s suddenly in flower and I’m thinking it maybe looks quite nice. Or does it?
Not by now it doesn’t. That’s today. Next year I will be ruthless and heave out every one of these plants and point the pollinators elsewhere. There is plenty for them. So there.
At Veddw, next to the plant everyone wants to know about : it’s on here
What about evening primrose? Our version appears to be Oenothera glazioviana (Oenothera erythrosepala, Oenothera lamarckiana). When we visited Great Dixter you couldn’t move for it.
So here’s a warning – it was everywhere. You got to love it to let it do that. Well, the flower is quite pretty:
But there always seems to be a lot of gone over flowers on a stem. It looks kind of scrappy. I’m not sure why I haven’t done some yanking, but it may be because it is adding some refreshing colour? Is that enough, when it does have an intrinsically weedy look?
I think part of the problem is the way these blighters sneak up on you, so you don’t notice till too late.
Then there’s your bloke liking it when you don’t:
This is Nemesia ‘Nesia Tutti Frutti’ and I think it’s rather a mess, that flower. I was going to stick it in the compost bin, this being the only use I have for a compost bin, so it’s good to avail myself of it. But no, Charles likes it! But it is an annual and I don’t suppose he’ll notice if it just doesn’t reappear next year.
And there’s this, which looks really pretty:
Looks great, doesn’t it? I don’t know what it is apart from it looks like that which used to be called an aster. However – it comes with an enormous amount of foliage which looks like nothing but a bitty mess all summer. And the flowers are actually tiny (Don’t photos lie?!)
But there are loads of little buds……
But look at it in context:
Yes, it looks a mess. Too much straggly foliage. Do I keep it? And the others??? Nah. Time to be ruthless, next spring!
(And if you’re wondering why it’s me today instead of Award Winning Marianne – she’s clearly still slowly recovering from that Award Winning….)
Whut??? Anne, have you not yet learned that aesthetics have practically no role in gardens these days? Oh, the shame . . . considering foliage or, gasp, flower color.! If these exuberances are not held in check, the next thing we’ll see is the restful negative space of a LAWN!!! Heaven forfend!
Hopefully, I shall not be forced again to send another comment with so many exclamation points!
I know, it’s awful, isn’t it? However, some of us just go for the greater challenge, realising that all that pollinator, wildlife stuff is for the birds. (Hm…was that what I meant?!).
There’s a use for all these plants if they’re part of a meadow-style sweep of perennials. But perhaps they can be removed from more composed cottage-style beds where you’ll sit and feel immersed by the plantings. You get to move whatever migrates elsewhere. And if that activity tests your patience, compost it now. Keep yanking it if it returns.
It’s the yank I think.
anne, you know the rule: “when in doubt, jerk it out”.
Good one!
I am in North Western Ontario, zone 3, and love Joe Pye (eupatorium). He is the last one to arrive in spring, but he makes a strong statement and for me, it is all about the butterflies and bees.
I also have oenothera, not far from Joe. Oenothera likes to travel, but is easily pulled. It also has nice red stems in the fall
Introducing an element of doubt now…….
Here in my Ottawa, Canada , garden, I arrived at the same conclusion regarding evening primrose. Still debating what I will do: yank it out or give it one more chance? The flowers ARE pretty, well, at least the few you get to see.
Let’s both eliminate it. It’s not pulling its weight.
What about the pink Evening Primrose: Oenothera speciosa I think it can spread and run amok, too but it can be stunning when in full bloom
That’s new to me – might try it!
Beware, nwphilagardener isn’t joking when they said it can run amok.
I don’t mind amok if I like a plant. Bronze fennel seeds all over the place and I love it, would hate to be without it. So….maybe……
As far as I’m concerned if it’s growing in my paths it’s days are numbered.
You missed one!
Do any of you read Fine Gardening’s GPOD? Today’s post on a Netherland garden might help Anne address her Rant’s issues
Had never heard of it. Shall look!
Smell the Oenothera. You’ll want it!