Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 04:39:37 -0700
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Penstemon & Agastache in Wet Climates
To: HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu

From:Haji Warf <hajiwarf@YAHOO.COM>@listserv.lsu.edu on 06/16/2002 04:39
AM MST

--- Nancy L Newfield <colibri@WEBDSI.COM> wrote:
I haven't been able to grow Penstemon or
> Agastache. Must be
> better in your drier climate.

Nancy,

I have a habit of ignoring advice, only to realize
that advice is the short cut most of the time. Once in
awhile, though, my stubbornness pays off.

One of these occasions was my unquenchable desire to
grow penstemons and agastaches, despite being in the
swampy climate of Washington, D.C. (I know, some parts
of Louisiana ARE real swamps). If I were in Arizona,
these would thrive, but the humidity and
wet-at-the-wrong-time rain patterns here would surely
do them in.

Not so, I found out. At least, for a number of them.

Right now, I have so many tall red penstemons
blooming, their stalks are all over each other. I grew
these from seed, so they've been in there at least two
years. Some of the agastaches are proving to be as
large as the catalog said. There are those that
struggle as predicted, but many don't. The difference
for these survivors is drainage and soil. Some succumb
no matter what you do, however. I found that many of
the agastaches are very short-lived perennials,
returning but in a weakened state.

In the raised bed that the majority of my penstemons
and agastache are isolated in is wholly mulched with
#8 (small blue/gray gravel). The soil consists of 50%
course sand, 50% quality top soil, with some gravel
that's worked itself in; no clay. The perimeter of the
bed is supported by rip rap stones stacked upon each
other (I love going to the stone yard and picking each
piece myself; was there just yesterday, buying slate
pieces to line my bog). The entire bed gently slopes
toward the west. This seems to provide the conditions
under which these plants will grow.

I also am able to grow stachys coccinea to monster
size, as well as Arizona columbine (which blooms
forever, it seems), and California fuchsias drape over
the sides. My Salvia greggiis anchor the back of the
bed.

With experimentation, I'll bet you can grow certain
cultivars of penstemons and agastaches, if the right
conditions are created.

Watch out for Agastache rupestris, if you have gravel
walkways nearby. They reseed (but, oh, I love the
wispy look everywhere!). I must have a half-dozen
volunteers in unexpected places that I let stay, and
it's lovely. Mine are about to bloom next week.

If you want to know what did and did not work for me,
just e-mail. The advice might be a short-cut (or
not!).

Haji Warf
Arlington, VA