Getting Azalea, clematis and beebalm to bloom

Fort Worth, TX

My north facing flower bed is loaded with perennial goodies. My John Fanick Phlox and Flame Acanthus, Asclepias Curassavica and Smooth Blue Aster are all blooming.

Now, the azaleas are up closer to the house and as the days shorten that zone doesn't get as much light, but in summer the afternoon sun hit them. I had azalea blooms in April or May but none since.

My beebalm in my north east bed bloomed beautifully, (that is a dryer bed if that helps). Northeast is somewhat shaded by a Texas Sage that has gotten large, didn't matter. North bed, shaded by Phlox, didn't bloom, not one flower all summer, all thru the bloom time of the other.

My clematis is shaded on the east by phlox, catches some sun in the afternoon, it hasn't bloomed since spring.

It's late in the year to use a miracle grow super bloom type fertilizer, besides which that might not be the problem, so I'm asking. There is skullcap mixed in there, I have removed a lot of baby smooth blue asters, there are still baby flame acanthus, possibly the bed is just too crowded.

Crinum lilies (milk and wine) and amaryllis in the center also haven't bloomed this summer, but when I dug and potted some amaryllis, they bloomed.

I keep bees and they need food, so I plant rather heavily.


these are this morning's pics. The newer 2 in front are Russian Sage.
Thumb of 2019-10-19/Prepper/0de96a

Thumbnail by Gypsi Thumbnail by Gypsi Thumbnail by Gypsi
Goldthwaite, TX(Zone 8a)

Both of my flame acanthus are in full sun and bloom all summer and fall. I had an azalea for a short time, and it could not take the conditions and soil in the center of Texas. Crinums are tough, but they seem to decide on a whim when to bloom. Thats not much help, but it's all I know.

Fort Worth, TX

well thank you. I have flame acanthus scattered all over, volunteers, the big one in the flowerbed does afford the porch the occasional view of a hummingbird (and it's smaller than turks cap which used to be in that bed)

North Texas got a tornado - well Dallas, where Texas Flower Child lives and Northaven Gardens got flattened. Got on here partly to see if everyone is ok

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