This is mine. I left them in a gallon pot all summer. Just moved these into the large pots abut 6 weeks ago. Gave one to a friend in the spring, she put it in the ground and its 3 feet tall.

Calif_Sue has a nice plant in the database.

Julia ans Susan, thanks for sharing those pics. I wouldn't mind trying some started from seed here indoors in February to see how big they get by August/September. I see that that they are annuals around here, but, so is the Castor Beans that I grow here. It would be a nice contrast to the CB in my opinion.
Castor Bean with Only The Lonely

Only The Lonely. flowering


Strobilantes. Everybody, including DW the skeptic , love this one. Had it right by the driveway. I am going to incorporate more in the landscape next season.

I want one of these next spring.
http://www.burpee.com/perennia...

beautiful

Hi Jo Ann, I see you started your poppy seeds in the milk jugs. I am going to broadcast some more of my seeds next week.

Wow....Mike, what can I say? those are all beautiful additions to the landscape.

Double Scoop Raspberry is a beautiful coneflower, some are not as vigorous as they pretend, hopefully you will not order from Burpee. @NJBob probably has one and could tell you more.

Thanks for telling me the name of that purple plant, I saw one before somewhere but did not know what it was. Great foliage! I would like a couple in the spring I will see what happens. LOL.

Mike, good luck with those seeds. I have that double scoop not sure it's still around though. Never can grow Persian Shield around her, think it's just to cool even in the summer. There are some really good seed Echies out there which may be less expensive that buying the double scoop. If you do buy be careful who you buy from. Bob grows a lot of the vegetative grown echies so I'll let him explain.

Double Scoop series have not done great for me so far. They have survived but not grown that well. Give very good drainage and if possible do in a raised area. Mine have done much better since doing this , a area that holds water and freezes is a sure way to lose them. I only feed a handful of bonemeal each Spring . Try to not let them flower the first year if they are plug sized and I do not plant them after July . They need time to develop a good root system. For the single flowers there are some very good seed varieties like Cheyenne Spirit that offers a multitude of colors at a good savings compared to the tissue culture plants. But for the doubles the ones from AB Cultivars have done the best for me.

I like the PowWow Berry and it is a seed variety. Plus they have that rich color you might be looking for. Register with this company and they will let you know when they are on sale. I get a lot of plants from SRG and they do well.

http://www.santarosagardens.co...

http://www.all-americaselectio...

springcolor said: Never can grow Persian Shield around her, think it's just to cool even in the summer.

I am planning on growing it as an annual in the hosta garden. But the hosta garden is on the south side of house and I was told one time that plants near the foundation stay warmer. I will mulch this plant as an experiment to see if it over winters here.
Pepper's Greenhouse has this listed under house plants so you might still be able to enjoy them.

http://site.mawebcenters.com/a...

virginiarose said:Calif_Sue has a nice plant in the database.

• Honey Bush (Melianthus major)
• Uploaded by Calif_Sue

The picture above was taken in the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which rarely, gets frost.
The one I planted in my garden over 2 years ago is about 7 ft tall, I plan to cut it back soon so it will hopefully increase it's bushiness. Here is some more info: http://www.anniesannuals.com/p...
I also just planted this one a couple of weeks ago, it can tolerate a bit lower zones:
http://www.anniesannuals.com/p...

and I would like to try this one too, I am a sucker for large interesting foliage!
http://www.anniesannuals.com/p...

I actually like the 'Melianthus major' better. Is it the camera or do the leaves have a blue tint? I just love that. Is it hard to prune, is it woody?

Yes, they do have a bluish tint. I bet mine is toast, got in the 20's here last night.

Yes, the Annie's Annuals descriptions I linked above describe them as "blue-grey leaves". Such a nice color contrast with greens, gold and bronze foliage.

Thanks!!

Susan and Sue, thanks for those links. It appears that they should be hardy for the both of you. I am going to incorporate some next season. Hopefully, I can save the seeds for future planting. A few years ago I bought some foliage plants from Heronswood and somewhere else only to watch them slowly decline and/or disappear. To name a few. Only RA is still here and barely holding on. AT (two plants) survived for about three yrs but, never got taller than eight inches. LTB, well, I was just pushing the hardiness boundary. The experiment goes on. RA will be moved next spring. The rabbits love to chew on this one.
Rheum Ace Of Hearts
Rodgersia Aesculifolia
Sambucus Nigra Black Beauty
Astilboides Tabularis
Lavatera Thuringiaca 'Barnsley
SNBB



AT


RAOH

I've always loved 'Sambucus Nigra Black Beauty' but it is too hot and humid here.
'

Susan, I am going to try that one again. As you can see it was a very big plant that survived the winter then dwindled away the next season.