My Favorite Mistake: Hardy Ageratum
It all started with six tiny mail-order perennials. They were so small that I almost needed a magnifying glass to see them. I had read the warnings about these aggressive little plants and that it would be a mistake to turn them loose in my garden. Two years later, the hardy ageratum has spread to a swath that is probably fifty feet long! And, I like it!
Eupatorium coelestinum 'Wayside' or hardy ageratum, is similar in appearance to the fluffy little puffs of annual ageratum. The blooms are a soft, light blue that won't upset garden color schemes.
Rated for full to part sun in zones 5-8, this ageratum tolerates clay soil, is deer resistant and can handle wet locations such as my rain garden. It is a good height at around 15 inches, making it a nice edger. The stems of ageratum can blacken if the soil dries too much, but it blooms over a very long time in the summer. It is easy to transplant at any time with sufficient watering to get it established. Ageratum is also easy to pull up if it expands into unwanted spaces.
If planting hardy ageratum was a mistake, it's my favorite one so far!
Photos and story by Freda Cameron
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
George Washington's Mount Vernon is a reminder of the self-sufficiency of farms of historical significance. Did you know that Washingto... -
The image of a table laden with a bountiful harvest isn't just for Thanksgiving. Local farmers' markets and Community Supported Agri... -
By Freda Cameron Although the weather has passed for planting, this is a great time to plan a garden with the children in your family. Durin... -
Coreopsis ' Star Cluster ' in bloom with companions Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' ( foliage left) echinacea (multiple... -
There are few plants in the garden that are virtually maintenance-free. My favorite foliage plant is carex hachijoensis 'Evergold' ... -
I tried to make a garden plan when I spread the soil in fall 2006 to create the outer gardens. I researched and researched the right plant... -
These "green" disfigured coneflowers were removed and destroyed. I didn't plant any new " green bloom " echinace... -
May I see your identification please? Theft comes in many forms and recently garden bloggers have discovered that there are bad guys who wi... -
Katie and the Giant Cabbage The idea for Katie’s Krops began with a 9 year old girl and a 40 pound cabbage. In 2008 Katie brought home a ti... -
By Freda Cameron What is the process of working with a professional garden designer? I asked this question at a local garden center that ha...
0 comments:
Post a Comment