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I am always on the look out for odd and unusual plants to work into my gardens.
Here's a few photos of some rarely seen or hard to get perennials ideal for draught conditions and sandy soil.
I purchase all these rare and hard to find from www.GardensNorth.com.
1/ Jovibarba ~ small rosette mix~ These are similar to what everyone calls Hen's and Chickens. These guys are a separate species in the sempervivum group of succulents.
2/ Orostachys spinosa~ this particular species comes from Siberia so can withstand zone 2! It looks like a sempervivum but it is not!
3/ Escobaria vivipara ~ This one is a winter hardy pincushion type cactus hardy to zone 2/3. You will need to look closely at the photo to see how small they are at this point, with just a tiny tuff of needles on top of the small pinky bulb like structure.
4/ Delosperma aff. congestum ~ common name Ice Plant. This species is hardy to zone 2/3
I'll post more at a later time!
Cool Ron. Right now I need drought tolerant plants. Those look really cool. I know some succulents can not be in full hot sun. How are those for that condition. I have a very hot sunny spot I was going to make a zerascape garden and those would be perfect.
Cool Ron. Right now I need drought tolerant plants. Those look really cool. I know some succulents can not be in full hot sun. How are those for that condition. I have a very hot sunny spot I was going to make a zerascape garden and those would be perfect.
Full sun and well draining soil for the colder wetter months!
Since I'll be redoing the summer house gardens I need low maintanance perennials that love sandy dry soil!
In otrher areas you could create a raised beds using mostly sand to do xeriscape gardens.
I'll post more photos of seeds I started and they are not just succulent types! Most are easy to start without need for winter sowing/cold stratification. Though I do have quite a few that I'll be sowing in November and place in a cold frame!
Here's a few more perennials that love heat and dry soil:
1/ Salvia jurisicii (pink form) ~difficult to get good germination
2/ Anacyclus depressus ~ Atlas Mts. Daisy ~very easy from seed
3/ Linum flavum 'Compactum' ~ easy bit would do better from winter sowing.
4/ Petrorhagia saxifraga ~very easy ~ as is a close realative ~ Petrorhagia illyrica ssp. haynaldiana
5/ Thermopsis lanceolta ~ easy (pea family)~ great for poor well draining soils
They're sooo easy!
I have some sempervivums too. The large cultivars in a mix! I sowed them 10 days ago, germination in 6 days at 76F and here's a photo:
I just think that is wonderful. I guess I have never tried to grow them from seed.
How long before they can go outside. OR how old are the ones in the 1st pics
I started the first one on March 23rd....it's right on the label under growlights!!! the second and third ones were the first to go outside in mid April. The rest went out in May.
Greenhouse? Who needs a greenhouse when there's zip-lock freezer bags!!
I have grow lights in the basement, but I started most of them in an east facing window with morning sun.
Once the seeds germinate, which is anywhere from 3 days to 14, or so days at around 70F, I take them out of their bags and they go outside in a bright shaded area for a few days.....then gradually into some sun....then more sun. need to check on them daily and water them accordingly!
At the 2 leaf stage (some seedlings do not have a second leaf stage, so it can be a guessing game if they are cacti, or succulents) they are transplanted into cell packs, either 4 cells or 6 depending on how large the seedlings are!
Once the cell packs are full of roots they are potted up into 4 inch pots, though some went right into 6 inch pots due to rapid top and root growth!
Ron, Thanks for the info. Sounds perfect for my location I wanted them in. Will Gardensnoth ship to the US? I went to the link you posted but didn't have enough time to check out all the particulars. They do have some wonderful things and very affordable. I am thinking my son and I could do a joint venture. We have a casual market with come and go vendors on day a month. Would be great to have some of those selections for sale.
Seeds to the US require a phytosanitary inspection!
Here the info from GardensNorth:
Import Regulations Phytosanitary Certificates All seed imported into the USA (from any area of the world) now requires a phytosanitary certificate. This technically affects both the commercial and private movement of seed across the American border. I urge all my American customers to contact the powers that be to voice your concern about what this restriction on the free movment of seed will ultimately mean not only for the gardener, but for the future of healthy plant communities. We hope that this regulation by the USDA will be modified or changed over time. Meanwhile, we will try our best. You will have to pay extra for a phytosanitary certificate; but we have kept our price down to the actual cost of the inspection and paperwork. I cannot promise that your orders will move as quickly as in the past (expect an extra week for processing time) but we will work hard to expedite your orders.
Here's some more photos of my inventory of seedlings:
I need to do some replacement of some of the older trees and shrubs on the property so chose trees that grow fast and tolerate draught conditions as well as sandy soil:
1/ Catalpa ovata
2/ above seedling a few weeks later
3/ Betula platyphylla var. japonica ~ 'Japanese Birch'
4/ Caragana aborescens 'Siberian Pea Tree' grows to 12ft
5/ Caryopteris clandonensis 'Worchester Gold' <-- found around 12 seedlings growing around the one I had in the front garden, which I potted up to take to the summer house. Now I have a nice number to work with.
Ugh! Thanks Big Brother. I guess that's because of all those "personal use gardeners" getting seed from sources across boarders. I just want to grow some pretties for myself. LOL! I'll have to check the fees. I might be able to find a US source.
Thanks for your hard work Ron. Now you make me drool.
Here's the next batch:
1/ Symphyanda hoffmanii ~ related to the campanulas~ very easy from seed
2/ Edraianthus graminifolius ~ small rock garden perennial ~ very draught tolerant
3/ Dianthus arenatius ~ this diantsus can be grown in pure sand!
4/ Asclepias viridis ~ similar to tuberose but with larger green flowers...blooms all summer.
5/ Asclepias tuberosa ~ very easy, blooms all summer
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