Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold'

Welcome April and welcome to my centennial blog post.  I've planned nothing special to mark the occasion except to thank those of you who have been reading and commenting here for the past eleven or so months.  Although I don't consider this a garden blog, gardening is how I spend most of my free time so by default most of my posts are about gardening and most of my readers are gardeners.  Going forward I hope I can continue to find the time and subject matter to keep things interesting and to keep regular readers coming back.

In my annual spring quest to shuffle plants into what I hope will be more pleasing and creative combinations I spend lots of time perusing photos from last garden season.  During a recent perusal session I came across a plant that I relocated last spring and in the process turned it into one of my garden stars.   

That plant is Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold'.

For many years I had this plant tucked away in an obscure corner of the garden behind a Boxwood and under Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice' to provide the shade I thought it required. 

In 2011, I attended the Buffalo Garden Walk as part of my annual "idyllunion" weekend with internet garden friends.  After the walk, we moved the party to Rochester for a few days where we had the opportunity to visit some lovely private gardens including the garden of Jerry Kral.  Jerry is a true plant collector and has created one of the finest residential private gardens I have ever seen.

At the beginning of the tour, as we came around a corner onto the driveway, the first plant that caught my eye was a beautifully grown specimen of 'Axminster Gold' growing happily in what appeared to be full sun.  In late July.  Huh?

When asked, Jerry said as long as it received regular water it was perfectly happy in what I would have considered too sunny a spot.  Jerry also indicated that he was not fond of the flowers so he cut off the flowering stalks.

Immediately my mind went into design mode.  My plant looked great in the spring, flowered and then proceeded to look like crap which is why I never considered moving it into a more front and center position in the garden.  Occasionally I would deadhead and dead leaf it but only if I fell over it.  My mistake.

Last spring I got out early and dug it up.  I had heard they were difficult to propagate and they are expensive to buy so I was a bit concerned when the root mass fell apart.  But I took a chance and made three divisions.  One I planted in mostly shade with a bit of morning sun next to the patio.

The second went into the screen porch garden on the east side of my house, far enough from the house where I it would get a good shot of sun.

Division number three was gifted to one of my very deserving garden friends.

Both of my transplants were planted near annuals and container gardens so I was able to make sure they received regular water.  I did let them flower but was quick to cut off the flowering stalks as soon as they finished as well as any tattered leaves.  They were gorgeous all season.  Here is a perfect example of how important it is to plant the right plant in the right site.

Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold' produces fresh new foliage all season so although the leaves do get ratty, removing them doesn't diminish the plant in any way.  The foliage is covered in irritating prickly hairs so best to wear gloves when handling it but that's about the only negative.

If you're a foliage nut and not already growing this (and can find one reasonably priced), what are you waiting for?


Sue~

Just Grow It-Musa basjoo

In 2004, a renovation to my house provided long awaited direct access to the backyard.  I wanted a space for outdoor living/dining and a patio seemed like the natural choice based on the lay of the land.  Before the patio was even completed I was already envisioning all the cool plants I could grow in the new surrounding garden beds.  The main patio bed is about twelve feet deep and backed by a south facing wall of the garage.  I suspected it would be a micro climate where I could get away with growing plants borderline for my hardiness zone.  At the top of my list was Musa basjoo, the hardy banana.

In the spring of 2005 I ordered one from Fairweather Gardens, one of my favorite mail order nurseries.  When it arrived in April it was dormant in a gallon container.  I planted it immediately and before long little banana leaves started to sprout.

Musa basjoo in September 2005

Musa basjoo is right up my plant collecting alley.  Besides being a huge conversation piece, no other hardy semi-hardy plant provides such bold tropical foliage for northern gardens.  And except for regular water no special care is required.  By the end of the first summer I felt like I was in my own little tropical paradise.  But...I had to get it through the winter because then, and only then would I be able to stake my claim in the land of zonal denial.  

After a frost took out the foliage, I cut the whole plant back to about a foot, surrounded it with a wire cage filled with shredded leaves and crossed my fingers.  The spring of 2006 was warmer than the elusive "normal" so often referred to by those who attempt to predict weather in New England.  In April I noticed what I thought was the shredded leaves settling in the cage but quickly realized the plant was growing from the cuts I made the previous fall.  Nothing above ground had died back.  Incredible!

By September 2007 it was starting to form a grove

Summer 2008-Criminentlies!

By the summer of 2008 I kept expecting to see Jimmy Buffett serving margaritas on my patio.  Since I wasn't looking to join the Chiquita family and I really wanted to grow other plants in this garden, I decided to do away with the winter protection program.  Now growth starts later and from ground level   

September 2011-Musa basjoo at a size much more in scale with the rest of the garden but still a large and dramatic foliage focal point.

On the two occasions when my garden has been open to the public, Musa basjoo was the most asked about plant.  It was fun to watch people try to peek at the base without being to obvious.  Then the inevitable question, "Do you bring that in for the winter?" followed by the look of surprise at my answer.  Yes siree, Musa basjoo is a hardy plant for me!  And if you garden in zone six (and possibly the warmer side of five) it will probably be hardy for you too.

If you think you might want to give Musa basjoo a shot, I recommend spring planting and winter protection for at least the first year.  A protected site and good soil amended with compost will help ensure success.  For a couple of years I've been toying with the idea of trying to grow it in another, less protected garden area just to see what happens I just haven't found the right spot.