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Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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Posted by pegzhere 5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 22, 06 at 11:07
| I am new here and a pretty new gardener. We have a shady area under deciduous trees roghly 15 yds. x 5 yds in size. I have decided that I want to make it a nice shady garden with hosta among other things. I also would like to have a few different groundcovers - I eventually want most of the ground covered with some sort opf perennial and nto much mulch.
My neighbor has this chameleon plant and it seems there are hgoroor stories 2:1 on it. It is just so pretty though and I would love to try and use it so I am searching out anyone that has a GOOD experience with it that they can share. TIA!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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| OK - I went back and corrected all my typos in the preview and they still showed up - sorry for that - novice poster here in addition to novice gardener :) |
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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| It likes moisture and sun - if you give it that, stand back and watch out. Lacking sun but having moisture - continue to stand back. Dry might keep it in check with the tree root competition. I'd just try a small plant of it and see how it does. You don't want to have to water it all the time and it doesn't look that good when it's dry. Different colors and sizes of hosta will be nice. Once established and mulched heavily to retain moisture hosta will be a very good choice for the long haul. I have a hosta bed planted under maple and oak with heavy root competition. I've now found there is enough dappled light to have the following in addition to hostas:
Epimedium
violets and violas
Japanese Anemone
Carex Evergold
Strawberry Saxifrage
a carpet of Lady Fern and Hay Scented Fern
Sweet Woodruff
Lily of the Valley
I don't have it but I know Cyclamen would grow there
Cinnamon Fern
Hesperis matronalis - Dames Rocket Shrubs:
Clethra - will bloom in shade
a small azalea - I think its called Karen
PJM Rhododendron
Lindera benzoin - spicebush
Sambucus The Hosta I have in this deep shade area are: Francee
Francis Williams - needs a little sun to look its best
Plantaginea
Inniswood
longifolia
Gold Heart
Krossa Regal in general I find the longifolia and many of the blues can grow in deep shade and look great.
F |
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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| Pegherz: After you correct the typos in the preview you must hit the preview button **again**. The new page will show your post with all the changes and THEN hit the submit button. If you just correct the typos in the lower box and then hit submit the changes won't take. What ever is in the preview is what gets posted not what is in the typing box. Don't feel bad. I learned this the hard way - by trial and error. |
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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- Posted by nancyd 5/Rochester, NY (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 25, 06 at 9:26
| Yes, I've had a good experience with it - in my pond. It's very invasive if planted in rich soil, but maybe under a tree would be OK. As mentioned, you may not like it as much because it tends to brown out if too dry. I have bishop's weed (another highly invasive plant) on a dry hill where I don't care if it takes over and it stays contained to that spot. I'm just trying to crowd out the weeds, but as a rule, I think it's best to stay away from invasive plants unless you really have a trouble spot. Lamium, vinca, pachysandra are some other groundcovers for shade. Use well behaved perennials first. I think you'll like that better in the long run. Any garden planted under or near large trees will need extra watering by you. You're competing with large tree roots which suck up the water and the tree canopy doesn't let alot of moisture in. It can be done - I've got a few spots like that myself, but just know that you have to water more in those beds. |
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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Some invasive plants I have in dry shade-
Symphytum ibericum, groundcover comfrey (you'll probably never get rid of this if you plant it)
Geranium macrorrhizum Some less invasive, choicer plants-
Vinca minor- glossy leaves, evergreen, flowers in spring, variegated forms
Wintergreen- glossy leaves, evergreen, small white flowers, red edible berries
Anemone nemarosa- comes up in late winter, covered with dainty flowers in early spring, goes dormant in the summer so it needs no watering I have Houttuynia cordata and like it. In sun, dry conditions, it is not vigorous enough for me as it can't compete with weed grasses or peppermint. In a bed with Pulmonaria and Ajuga it lends very nice color highlights. It still is not aggressive there. Perhaps our dry summers keep it in check. People who report problems probably get a lot of summer rain. |
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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| This plant is a nightmare. It was here when we moved into the house. I have been digging it up trying to kill it with roundup and it is still here. Think it thrives on weed killer. Would not suggest you use Houttuynia unless you are really desperate and do not mind it taking over all of your beds. |
RE: Chameleon Plant - anyone have a GOOD experience with it?
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I read the input on the chameleon plant and wondered if anyone has found a solution? It ( the chameleon plant )truly is a nightmare ~ I can�t get rid ot it and am afraid it is going to take over EVERYTHING before long. I thought it to be a pretty "little" thing when I first planted it ~ there was a warning that said it would "spread" but this stuff is choking out my Hosta, Astilbe, wintercreeper, and moving into the lawn. I would appreciate any input on a solution.
Thanks |
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