Why? Have you ever seen a plant growing in a garden that you used to grow years ago? Do you ever wonder "why aren't I growing it now"?In my very first, very beginner-like garden I grew a large patch of Chelone. I'm pretty sure I didn't know how to pronounce it back then since I'm still not sure of how to say it today. The nick name around here is false turtle head.
Back to the story, I had this big clump of Chelone. I thought I was the best gardener in the world because it was just thriving! Then I tried to dig a piece out of the ground. It had roots like I'd never seen before, they just twisted and turned and went all over the place. I was freaked out by those roots and have never grown it again.
How silly is that?
Last week when we visited Stonecrop I saw this nice clump of Chelone. Oooohhh, I wish I had a nice clump of Chelone in my garden. Look how lovely it looks even now in early fall.I do have the white variety in my garden, it doesn't seem to be as fast growing as the pink variety. In fact, I don't remember seeing it bloom this summer but I was away much of July. It will be interesting to see if come spring I've matured enough to get past those weird roots and buy a pot of the pink Chelone 'Hot Lips'.
12 comments:
Hi Melanie, Chelone is a lovely plant - such a pretty little bloom.
I was delighted to see my mom has a couple of large clumps in her perennial borders when I visited her a couple of weeks ago.
Next spring she and I will be exchanging some divisions from our gardens, and hopefully some Chelone will be coming back home with me then!
That's a pretty wacky looking plant! Now I'm curious to see the roots - you'll have to post a pick of them, if you end up re-planting it.
Ha!!! I have one that comes up every year, and I always forget that it's there until I see it blooming cheerfully in the chaos of the Cultivated Wild Meadow. Nice that some plants can be counted on, even when otherwise forgotten! And nice of you to remind us that we should all revisit our gardening pasts and see if we haven't dropped a few plants along the way that are really worthy of our consideration!
Hi Melanie, Your Chelone looks like a nice plant to put in your garden come spring. I've never heard of it but then again, I'm way down here in the tropics. :-)
I kind of did that this year when I planted salvia coccinea for the first time in about 10 years. Now I've made several cuttings from it and have scattered it to a few places so I can enjoy it even more.
Meems@Hoe&Shovel
p.s. I enjoyed your posts on the stone troughs too. I remember when you took that vacation... what a treat to see those beautiful pieces of architecture.
Have tried some from seed several times with no success - not sure why? Everytime I see it either in a photo or garden - just want to try all over again (inspite of the googly roots - who knew?)
I tried it once but haven't again...maybe I need to take another look at it! it is a very pleasant pink! gail
Yes, yes, yes. I had a wonderful area of shasta daisies for years. Something happened and they were no more and in subsequent gardens, it has never been recreated. I miss those daisies.
Hi Melanie,
That is a great plant. I have never tried it, but it looks beautiful.
Such an interesting thought about plants from our past.
Best regards,
Philip
Hi Melanie!
I think Chelone is a nice plant and here in my garden in Sweden they dont get so big like yours seams to be.
But they are fine when they bloom so late in the fall.
I like to have the white one too, but I have not find any yet.
Ken
My problem is that I change my mind about what I want to have in my garden on a nearly weekly basis! I'm trying to be more patient -- hopefully I can manage. :-)
~Angela :-)
I really like this plant, too. I'd never had any experience with it before I planted it about 5 years ago. I don't know the variety, but it's pink. It is doing well at my place, despite the fact that it deals with quite a bit of shade. :-) Zone 5a, though I still consider myself Zone 4. ha.
Chelone is good for filling in a tough, shady area but is not even as showy as physostegia which is very similiar in behavior and color. I ripped mine out too. Haven't seen you in a while, come visit! I've been awfully busy gardening all year and am about to register a daylily (just one this year). Are you going to the national convention in Florida next May?
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