I planted about 3 V.bon plants about 10 years ago and just have a couple of self seeded stems left in the garden. They are very floppy though and dont give the desired effect. I planted a V.bon ‘lollipop’ plant last year...nowhere to be seen this year ☹️
They are a fantastic plant. I have known them to flower in 9 months of the year, they go on and on if there is no frost in autumn up til whenever the first frost is. They don't need staking. They give height but you can still see through them and has been said, great for bees and butterflies.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
There is an exception to every rule. I grow them from seed every year, but this year they self seeded in a fertile damp South facing border. I have pots of them that I never needed to plant and hope they overwinter.
Due to the unusually hot Summer we had in Scotland, I think it is the sun they like rather than the soil conditions.
I lost most of mine to The Beast this winter. Still have enough left to restart the 'colony' though. Only one 'lollipop' type made it. They do all self seed, mostly into cracks in the paving. @gardeninglily1 I've never found them to be floppy - in fact they stay standing through the gales here. I wonder if your soil is too rich for them, or not enough sun, maybe?
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Hi @raisingirl - it is the 2 self seeded v.bon that are just floppy and never stand . I’ve had the same ones for about 2-3 years so is not like they are very young plants. I end up trying to prop them up by other plants that surround them. They get sun most of the day. I have sandy free draining soil. I think the v.bon lollipop must have been planted in the wrong place - shady - but I thought I’d give it a go and hope that it would thrive - and then the beast from the east arrived . So I never even got chance to move it to a sunnier spot 🙁
Posts
Due to the unusually hot Summer we had in Scotland, I think it is the sun they like rather than the soil conditions.
@gardeninglily1 I've never found them to be floppy - in fact they stay standing through the gales here. I wonder if your soil is too rich for them, or not enough sun, maybe?
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I think the v.bon lollipop must have been planted in the wrong place - shady - but I thought I’d give it a go and hope that it would thrive - and then the beast from the east arrived . So I never even got chance to move it to a sunnier spot 🙁