I planted Coreopsis "Autumn Blush" and Lobelia "Queen Victoria" last spring - both did great in my garden all summer. However, I still see no sign of life - am I jumping the gun thinking that they didn't make it? Anyone else have experience with these varieties?
Coreopsis and Lobelia not coming back in Zone 5?
My guess is you're jumping the gun--are you even past your last frost date yet? Plants that may be sensitive to late frosts are sometimes smart enough not to come up until it's definitely safe to do so so I'd give them some more time before you give up. I grow other cultivars of the Coreopsis and a couple of other species of Lobelia and they weren't the first things to come back for me when our spring started.
I'm not seeing any signs of my Moonbeam Coreopsis, but the Sunrays are up, ckk. I'm in a zone 6. I've had trouble with some Coreopsis in the past, come to think of it, it was Moonbeam, and Flying Saucer.
That lobelia is not a long-lived perennial in your zone and often dies out over the winter if you have unusual weather. I live further south in Maryland... borderline zone 6 and I had lobelia cardinalis growing well for 2 years...we had a horrendous February with ice storms and the plants sat with 5 inches of ice on them. That did them in. Also, many of the newer coreopsis cultivars are NOT reliable hardy as well.
One thing about the lobelias though...if you allowed them to go to seed last year, you will have lots and lots of seedlings sprouting right about now.
I sent Garden Crossings, the company that I bought the plants from, a question about when I could expect the plants in question to come up, and whether they offered any guarantee on the plants. Here is the answer that I got:
"We do guarantee our plants, but I would give them a few more weeks to emerge. It is still a little early. Please let us know if any do not come up and we will replace them for you.
Thank you,
Chad Walters
Garden Crossings"
What a great company!
Thanks to all of you that replied. I will keep watch.
I lost two Moonbeans last winter, so I replanted. I think these are goners too. I may have to rethink replacing it.
That was 2 moonbeam loses for me, the 'Tickseed ' do good tho.........I think I might just stick with those.
I lost my Queen Victoria, too, and I'm annoyed about it considering the price I paid. I'm going back to the store with the receipt and the plant tag. I have to Google 'Autumn Blush' to see if it's the one I lost. Coreopsis 'Zagreb' is as reliable as can be.
I lost 'Sweet Dreams' a few years ago, after just one season. I won't buy it again.
Oooo, thanks pirl, thats good to know about 'Zagreb' . Do you know anything about "Jethro Tull' ( coreopsis that is! not the rock group! lol
I've heard RAVE reviews about it but haven't seen it and I've been to six nurseries since Saturday.
Well, thats also good to hear! maybe I'll see one while I'm out tomorrow. I also planted some very tiny 'Sunrays' and I'm babieing them. I really like Coreopsis! Usually You just see the "Moonbeam', Creme Brulee' and the plain "Tickseed" around here. Seem to be the most popular I guess. I've never had a 'threadleaf come back hmm...........
I also lost a Coreopsis rosea 'Sweet Dreams' a few years back. I have since learned that they like good drainage. I think it was the wetness from melting snow and my rather slow draining clay soil that did them in. I now have Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' growing in the same place and it seems to do fine. I also grow some Coreopsis verticillata and Coreopsis lanceolata in different areas.
A quick search did not turn up a species associated with Coreopsis "Autumn Blush". I guess it is some type of hybrid.
- Brent
Autumn Blush is a Tickseed - does that help?
My 'Zagreb' is coming back strong, pretty happy about that.... here's a little Jethro Tull trivia for anyone who's interested, the band was named after a 18th century British agricultural scientist who invented the seed drill:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_Tull_%28agriculturist%29
My "Moonbeam" coreopsis is up, but only maybe ½" of very dark green, sort of grassy shoots. DiSabatto-Aust (sp?)says "Moonbeam" is one of the less hardy cultivars, and the last two winters have had cold without snow cover, so I'm glad to see it return at all. - Julie
I am not really up on the various Coreopsis species and the difference between them. I thought that "tickseed" was a generic common name applied to Coreopsis in general. I have heard the term "thread-leaf Coreopsis" applied to Coreopsis verticillata and "lance-leaf Coreopsis" applied to Coreopsis lanceolata.
This page has some good information on growing Coreopsis: http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/specials.specDetail/recID/22/index.htm
- Brent
Tickseed is just the common name. I like both types that I've grown.
Brent, thanks for that link. According to what I read there, "Autumn Blush" is related to "Nana". It is supposed to be hardy to Zone 4.
Still no sign of life. I'll give it a couple of more weeks. The Hosta that I planted last year is just now peeping out the ground, whereas my older established Hosta started to come up two weeks ago (same variety). I'm hoping that's what's going on here. We did have a very cold and snowy spring.
My Tequila Sunrise Coreopsis is coming back very well. And, one of 2 Sweet Dreams is just now poking through the ground. Still no sign of the forementioned Lobelia... Just picked up a couple of new Autumn Blush - so I'm going to read up on the link offered above and try to help myself keep them around for awhile. :) Thanks for sharing that info...