Thursday, March 28, 2013

Blooms at last!

In January, I featured Eupatorium sordidum in my foliage follow-up post.  At that time you could see flower buds just beginning to form.

Miniature buds in January

In February, the buds were well-formed but still far from opening.


I thought it a certainty that the plant would be in bloom by Bloom Day in March.  But nooo...


Well, the plant is finally in bloom now!

Eupatorium sordidum in bloom

Close-up of Eupatorium sordidum bloom

In flower, the plant looks like an ageratum on steroids.  In fact, when I purchased it from Annie's Annuals & Perennials, an on-line nursery based in Northern California, it was sold as Ageratum corymbosa.  Annie's site reports that it blooms nearly year-round there but that hasn't been the case here, although I recall that the bloom period extended a few months last year.  Our relatively hot summers may be an issue.  It grows about 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide.  Mine receives about 2 hours of early morning sun but it's in shade the rest of the day.  I tried one plant in an area with afternoon sun and it's struggling there.  The leaves appear greenish to start and become purple-tinged as they age.  It needs just a little grooming in the summer here to keep it looking neat.  It's a very satisfying plant - even if it did take its time coming into bloom.

4 comments:

  1. Love it!! I love the purplish tinge to the leaves. I have perennial eupatorium 'Chocolate' but I like the coloration in your annual even more. I really like the 2nd pix. It looks great with whatever is growing next to it. :o)

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    1. This is the only Eupatorium I know of that grows in this area - the genus isn't even listed in my Sunset Western Garden Guide. This one's actually a perennial (even though I got it from Annie's Annuals). It's growing next to a Calliandra haematocephala (aka 'Pink Powder Puff). I love the combo too.

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  2. I love the purple leaves - and those blooms were worth waiting for! Perhaps when it matures more, it will bloom for a longer period of time. It would be wonderful to have it blooming almost year round!

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    1. An ever-blooming plant would be a great joy but I'd settle for a few months of bloom. Thanks for visiting, HolleyGarden!

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