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Author Topic: dry trough ideas  (Read 4451 times)

mark smyth

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dry trough ideas
« on: June 04, 2011, 07:05:30 PM »
I have a 'trough' that badly needs an update. The down side is it faces south and is sheltered from the rain by the sun room. Our rain mostly comes from the west so this only gets rain when it comes from the south or straight down. There is enough moisture that keeps Androsaces and bulbs happy.

What, if any, small plants would be happy here?
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

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Lesley Cox

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2011, 12:02:19 AM »
Some of the tiny Dianthus? sempervivums? Heaps of other stuff if you were willing to give it the occasional can of water. Maybe the very tiniest bearded irises?
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

mark smyth

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2011, 12:21:32 AM »
oooh never thought of Iris and Cayeux has a new range of miniature bearded Iris ::)
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Rick R.

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2011, 04:08:18 AM »
The small penstemons, like Penstemon caespitosus, should do nicely.

The small bearded iris are excelent.  The more austere the conditions, the better the arcing of the foliage.  And there is always cactus for troughs, too.
Shown here:
Iris suaveolens (yellow form)
I. suaveolens var. rubromarginata
Coryphantha vivipara

               298029-0

Suaveolens is evergreen.
Iris suaveolens var. rubromarginata

               298031-1

This was sold to me as Iris attica.  I'm not sure it is, as it does not go dormant in summer, but I am in zone 4.  The flower height doesn't concern me, as this is its maiden flower and it grows in dry but rich soil.  It will be shorter next season.  Whatever the identity, it has very nice foliage.

               298033-2
Rick Rodich
just west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
USDA zone 4, annual precipitation ~24in/61cm

John85

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2011, 06:50:23 PM »
If you are not afraid of prickly things why not try some acantholimon
Dwarf dianthus was my first choice too
And a last one:Teucrium ackermanii

mark smyth

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2011, 07:19:06 PM »
If you are not afraid of prickly things why not try some acantholimon
Dwarf dianthus was my first choice too
And a last one:Teucrium ackermanii

Thanks John
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Lesley Cox

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2011, 11:18:17 PM »
Also Teucrium polium, a nice combo of woolly grey scented foliage and yellow/limegreen flowers. In T. ackermannii, the foliage is deliciously scented but the flowers smell of sewage.

You could try Erinacea anthyllis.

You need more troughs. ;D
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

mark smyth

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2011, 11:48:32 PM »
I have about 12 polystryrence fish boxes in the shed  and the urge is building to do something with them
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

iann

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2011, 07:28:41 PM »
Do you like succulents?
near Manchester,  NW England, UK

mark smyth

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2011, 07:45:18 PM »
THanks but no thanks. They dont excite me.

What were you going to suggest?
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

iann

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #10 on: July 09, 2011, 10:00:01 PM »
THanks but no thanks. They dont excite me.

What were you going to suggest?
Lots of possibilities for dry areas, depending on your preferences.  Cacti if it is really dry and warm.  More traditional hardy succulents like Semperviviums, Sedums, or Delospermas.  Or plants that would hardly be considered succulent certainly love dry conditions, like Lewisias
near Manchester,  NW England, UK

Lesley Cox

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2011, 03:25:44 AM »
How could you not be excited by the Jovibarba pictured in the Wisley Crevice Garden thread?
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

astragalus

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2011, 12:16:49 PM »
Eriogonums, including E.ovalifolium and E. kennedyi love the combination of sun and dry (and some heat).
Steep, rocky and cold in the
Hudson River Valley in New York State

mark smyth

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2011, 12:49:35 PM »
Eriogonums, including E.ovalifolium and E. kennedyi love the combination of sun and dry (and some heat).

I've never seen Eriogonums for sale. I must email Tim Aberconwy
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

astragalus

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Re: dry trough ideas
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2011, 04:48:10 PM »
They're actually quite easy from seed.  Try Alplains.
Steep, rocky and cold in the
Hudson River Valley in New York State

 


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