For hardy 'background plants' what traits do you think are most important and why? Obviously the ranking of these traits can vary according to the place, but, overall, which do you think is most important?
-Plant Foliage
-Plant growth form
-Flowers (display, colour, size, duration)
-Other features (bark, evergreen leaves, etc.)
To me, I'd say that the most important is foliage. Then I worry about the growth form, other features (exfolaiting bark), and then, lastly, the flowers.
Thoughts?
Rank- In order of importance
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TerdalFarm
- Palm Grove
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Recovery
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Paul Ont
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Ah, but Jim recovery shouldn't matter for these hardy plants! They should be ready to go all the time!hardyjim wrote:Recovery
Erik- Is Aucuba hardy in your area? It survives for me but is useless as an ornamental.
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TerdalFarm
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The one time I tried Aucuba, a decade ago, it died its first winter despite a good setting.
I've wanted to try them, and have seen a few growing in Tulsa that looked OK even after this winter. So I'm going to try again.
Debated buying very large specimens for a lot of money but maybe hardier vs. little ones I can think of as annuals if they die.
I bought two little ones. I'll protect them like I did the Indian Hawthorn, which made it.
None of those are for sale here. After this past winter, nurseries are going more conservative.
--Erik
I've wanted to try them, and have seen a few growing in Tulsa that looked OK even after this winter. So I'm going to try again.
Debated buying very large specimens for a lot of money but maybe hardier vs. little ones I can think of as annuals if they die.
I bought two little ones. I'll protect them like I did the Indian Hawthorn, which made it.
None of those are for sale here. After this past winter, nurseries are going more conservative.
--Erik
BILL MA wrote:To bad you guys don't live closer I just brought back 50 3 gallon aucubas. They do great here in the shade.
Bill
It depends on what spot I am trying to fill Paul.
Sometimes it's foliage,sometimes growth speed,sometimes flowers.
The main thing is that it comes back but I also try to find plants that are unusual
or not commonly seen in my area.
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TerdalFarm
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Bill,
I'm hoping you give us a full inventory sometime.
On my lunch break I went to that nearby parking lot nursery where a couple brought a truck load of Florida plants for sale. I am curious if you are selling the same things.
As for Aucuba, I can buy potted ones up to 7 gallon size locally, of three varieties. The main reason I am worried is that my tropical-theme garden is in the worst possible microclimate.
I planted my two little Aucuba in what I think of as my "Trachy garden" as it gets afternoon shade from a gazebo. They are in the shadiest part of that. They'll be blasted by wind in the winter but I'll protect them.
Speaking of protection (and I promise Paul, we are still on your topic!), did you protect those oleander of yours?
Jim,
does Aucuba count as exotic where you live?
--Erik
I'm hoping you give us a full inventory sometime.
On my lunch break I went to that nearby parking lot nursery where a couple brought a truck load of Florida plants for sale. I am curious if you are selling the same things.
As for Aucuba, I can buy potted ones up to 7 gallon size locally, of three varieties. The main reason I am worried is that my tropical-theme garden is in the worst possible microclimate.
I planted my two little Aucuba in what I think of as my "Trachy garden" as it gets afternoon shade from a gazebo. They are in the shadiest part of that. They'll be blasted by wind in the winter but I'll protect them.
Speaking of protection (and I promise Paul, we are still on your topic!), did you protect those oleander of yours?
Jim,
does Aucuba count as exotic where you live?
--Erik
Doesn't count at all 
because until you guys mentioned it,I never heard of it!
because until you guys mentioned it,I never heard of it!
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TerdalFarm
- Palm Grove
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Oh, sorry.
I grew up in Oregon where Aucuba was over-used to the point where serious gardeners wouldn't grow it. Kind of like Photinia here.
(Recall: my Photinia was killed by this winter. Says something about my gardening skills.)
When I moved to Oklahoma, I learned that Aucuba is a challenge here: our summers are too hot and our winters too cold.
When non-gardening folks have seen mine, what they say is, "Croton?"
--Erik
I grew up in Oregon where Aucuba was over-used to the point where serious gardeners wouldn't grow it. Kind of like Photinia here.
(Recall: my Photinia was killed by this winter. Says something about my gardening skills.)
When I moved to Oklahoma, I learned that Aucuba is a challenge here: our summers are too hot and our winters too cold.
When non-gardening folks have seen mine, what they say is, "Croton?"
--Erik