I had just one Verbena bonariensis sprout last year...where I would have liked to have had several.

Sunny and humid today, so right now I'm wishing there wasn't quite so many trees and overgrowth surrounding our property...they're thick enough now that they're blocking the breeze. Back when we had plenty of shady yard trees it wasn't quite as apparent, but now that a lot of them are gone this little valley just sits here and quietly steams...sauna anyone?

It's much the same here. Temp is 89°, heat index 92. I just watered a few areas and I'm HOT!

Karen

I thought of another one, but for a different reason: Maltese Cross. I love it's pretty bright red flowers in early summer. But most of the summer the foliage looks brown and half-dead. It gets pretty ugly, but I keep a couple of them anyway. Love-hate.

Karen

kqcrna said:I thought of another one, but for a different reason: Maltese Cross. I love it's pretty bright red flowers in early summer. But most of the summer the foliage looks brown and half-dead. It gets pretty ugly, but I keep a couple of them anyway. Love-hate.

Karen

When I bought mine the description said to plant it behind something that gets tall after the Lychnis is done blooming! That is just what I did. I never notice it after it is done blooming

I think Hakonechloa is vying for the list!

Is it invasive Pirl? I was trying to figure where I might stuff one? I think they're pretty.

Karen

Heh. And here, too. I was just thrilled to be able to pick up a few more this year!

From now on I'll just pot them up. They expand faster than I can keep digging and dividing, then replanting. "Invasive" is iffy but certainly they're aggressive. They are gorgeous but there's work involved.


Two years ago I moved a small chunk of it to the location shown and it has grown and overtaken the Frances Williams hosta and the sedum.

I have grown many kinds of Hakone grass and they have never been invasive. I wish mine would spread more.
Pirl how big do yous get ? For me tops 2 feet at the base and then they stop. Most times a foot at the base.

I've never measured, Bob, but here's a photo of the one I constantly have to divide and you can estimate the width of the base.


I took out the three chunks that are obvious in the photo but had to drench the ground repeatedly in order to get the saw through the roots. When I was done I took another photo of the plant from the front to show it doesn't appear to have been touched.


Here's just one clump from that removal (shown in a five gallon tub):

That is one huge clump!!! I bought my first one last year, and I think I have it in a place where it is not getting enough water - enough to stay alive, but not thrive and so it stays the same size. After looking at yours, it may be best to keep it where it is

The two varieties I have are slow growers. I wouldnt call them invasive at all.
Stripe it Rich and All Gold.

Wow, that's impressive Arlene! Very pretty but sounds like high maintenance with all the dividing. Yours are nice JoAnn. How long have you had them? I like things that stay pretty small.

I have a little variegated lirope that I've had for years. It has stayed the same size for 30 years! It has been moved to 3 or 4 different spots but stays the same.


Karen

Here's the progression from 2007 to 2012. Potting up divisions sounds easiest for me in the future.

That clump looks great. Mine look much more like the ones Jo Ann has.

Here's yet another example of how a few tiny pieces becomes overwhelming (for the spot) in just 3 years:


No sign of the sedum or the hosta remains.

pirl said:Here's yet another example of how a few tiny pieces becomes overwhelming (for the spot) in just 3 years:


No sign of the sedum or the hosta remains.

Holy cow!! I was just admiring this plant in my neighbor's garden. Perhaps I will continue to do so from afar!

What is that sedum? It is so pretty!

Thanks. I love that sedum as well. Here it is: Garden Stonecrop (Hylotelephium erythrostictum 'Mediovariegatum')

If you buy a plant, or are offered a chunk of it, you might do well to pot it up so you won't have the struggle with digging it up every few years.

pirl said:Thanks. I love that sedum as well. Here it is: Garden Stonecrop (Hylotelephium erythrostictum 'Mediovariegatum')

If you buy a plant, or are offered a chunk of it, you might do well to pot it up so you won't have the struggle with digging it up every few years.

Another love/hate??

I am thinking of your grass more as full sized rather then invasive. But thinking of grasses has anybody else made the mistake of ribbon grass.