Comments on: FIGHTING BOREDOM: 10 NEW PLANTS I’VE NEVER GROWN BEFORE

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 06:19:35 +0000

In reply to Douglas Hunt. Thanks Douglas and Panayoti - I suspect then that what I have is the hybrid form from Burpee, which I did start from seed last year. Still, brilliant (and yes, very tall!).

By: Douglas Hunt

Douglas Hunt — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 06:16:16 +0000

I'm glad to see you've discovered Ipomopsis. Here in Florida, where it is native to much of the north and central peninsula, it is often referred to as Standing Cypress. A biennial, but it will bloom from seed the first year if the growing season is long enough. Here it will reach 6 feet in a season, in which case it has a tendency to become Falling Cypress. So it definitely benefits from company. A hummingbird magnet, as you might expect. All the ones I've seen have been a more vivid red than yours.

By: Panayoti Kelaidis

Panayoti Kelaidis — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 09:15:07 +0000

Wonderful pix: many of those are new to me too! Your Ipomopsis (Gilia) rubra is a lovely color form. Our's are usually more solid red. Those nasturtiums rock! As does Tithonia (which I must grow again!)..but never tried Browallia…very cool!

By: Nic

Nic — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 18:09:54 +0000

So many cool plants! I have never had any luck with Roscoeas, though I am always very tempted by them.

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:42:18 +0000

In reply to Rod L. Rod - Maybe with more people becoming familiar with these plants, they will begin to become available in the trade, after all, that's what happened to Brugmansia and Alocasia, right?

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:40:19 +0000

JOHN – The way I see it: if you feel the need to stroke your Tithonia in your own garden, who am I to judge?

By: john in cranston

john in cranston — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 07:00:25 +0000

I have a friend in Virginia who pulls out her hair every spring because she is unable to find Tithonia in the nurseries (and unable to raise it on her own).
Me? I pick up a few at the Southside Community Land Trust sale(incredible sale, a must visit) in Providence every year. It's a big winner in the garden, especially at a distance because it will draw anyone across the yard to see it close. And those velvety stems? Feels so wrong (and so right) to stroke them. It is a late starter, loves the heat, and ultimately takes up a lot of room.

And asarina- been a few years, we should really get re-acquainted.

Nice list, thanks..

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 20:52:03 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

It's a secret.
Actually, I just started them much later than I did the first two times that I tried to germinate them. Soil temp 70ºF, sown thinly and they seem to need light to germinate. Also, some Cuphea have a nasty habit of being difficult to germinate due to a natural inhibitor (or so I have been told – not sure this is true), and seed which has been rinsed prior to drying germinates better than seed which has not – I still need to confirm this. A continuously moist soil is said to help as well, but I would say that the key for me was sowing individual pots this year with 2 seeds each and pinching out, along with sowing later than April 1.

By: Rod L

Rod L — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 23:46:22 +0000

What a great list of unusual plants. The Ipomopsis is striking and I must seek out seed for next year. I have grown Tithonia in the past and must include it in the garden again. I currently have Ceratotheca in the garden and have grown it for many years. It is a stunning plant and garners many comments when in bloom. I have given seed to a friend who has a greenhouse operation in Nova Scotia, but like you said about the Tithonia it does not make for good early season sales.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 23:40:10 +0000

So what is the secret to growing Cuphea viscosissima?