Yellow Trumpet Vine

The Yellow Trumpet Vine

This is the time of year when most gardeners roam around their gardens and start to evaluate what was successful this past summer and what did not do well.

Last year I purchased a Yellow Trumpet Vine from a local Family Garden Center. I chose this particular plant because I had seen one while touring the local Garden Walk some time ago. I had erected a new garden fence and wanted to have a quick cover of flowers on the back fence wall.

Well it was planted as directed and here we are 18 months later and nothing has happened. Not a flower in sight.

The photos shown above are of a thriving Yellow Trumpet Vine. I thought that I would show the photos to remind me what it was that I was expecting to see.

After some research I discovered that this is a common problem with this plant.

On a conversational website I read complaints from several readers who stated that the vine sometimes takes 3 years to flower. Some even stated that they had their plant for 10 years with no flowering. So, I am declaring this vine as not doing well this year and I guess that I will wait another year (or two, or three) to see if it blooms.

I also read that the vine is so invasive that it can actually destroy the foundations of houses or garages. I am safe at the moment as the vine that I planted is about 80 feet from the house. another hint I received was to purchase a product called Vine-X that will actually kill a Trumpet Vine. (www.vine-x.com)

No, I am not planning to murder it at this time - I am in a 'wait and see' mode with the vine but thought that this information might be useful to those who have just given up on it. :-)

The redeeming hope for me is the actual beauty of the Yellow Trumpet Vine. As you can see in the photos above it is a plant to admire even though it seems to have some hidden problems not apparent to the eye.

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If you have any suggestions for me please comment - it will be appreciated.

The Cycle of the Blue False Indigo Plant

The Blue False Indigo Plant

This is to document the growth of this plant. The photo above shows how it appears early in June.

The blue false indigo, Baptisia australis, has been one of the most reliable and beautiful herbaceous perennials of them all. The leaves are unique and handsome, the flowers are purplish blue with a touch of gray.

This photo shows the early blooms starting on the branches. This flower is one of my favorites in the garden.

I first saw it in the garden of a woman in a village in Massachusetts. She was showing us around her English style cottage garden when I spied the Blue Indigo plant. She was offering some of her plants for sale and I asked her if I could have this one. She refused, saying that she loved it so.

The woman finally agreed to let me have the plant. This was at least 15 years ago and I have been taking it with me whenever I move. So it is now in the center of my front garden in Western New York and has weathered the harsh winter very well.

Here it is in full bloom

The plants attract bumblebees. The Baptisia is deep rooted, long lived, slow growing, and will never invade the garden. The foliage is remarkably pest free and disease resistant.

Now we are blooming in the month of July and the plant is still doing very well.

Plant it all by itself in the garden so its special appeal can best be appreciated. Isn't it beautiful?

I have this one planted in the center of the lawn in the front garden. Passersby often stop to admire it and ask me what is it's name.

In early August the seed pods are starting to turn into these wonderful light green velvety pods.

A native of the south central and eastern United States, this plant will grow in zones 3 – 9 However, it prefers full sun and moist, rich soil.

The blue false indigo plant features indigo colored flowers that in form resemble the lupine and annual sweet pea, but are not fragrant.

At maturity the seed pods become jet black and can be used in flower arrangements.

The seeds will feed the birds in winter and the seeds can also be planted for new blooms.

So there you have the cycle of life of the Blue Indigo. They are beautiful at each cycle of growth.

Now it is the month of September and the season's cycle is coming to an end.

How wonderful it has been to watch Nature's gift to us.