Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

The question of the Dubious Hellebore and the Sulking Phlox

FireFire Posts: 19,096
edited August 2020 in Problem solving
A la Holmes: the first was given to me about three years ago as a hellebore. It hasn't grown or flowered at all. It seems quite happy and thriving in its place among Rozanne. Is it a hellebore? Does it need something to bloom - perhaps it never blooms. Thoughts please.




The second is the incident of the phlox in the nightime. But it isn't blooming, you cry. Yes, that is the incident. I put them in as grown plants in May and had two good weeks of flowers and then nothing. Again the plants seem very healthy and thriving. They have been constantly and generously fed and watered. The nemesia, planted at the same time, have flowered their socks off since arriving. The write up for night blooming phlox says they should flower throughout the summer. The write up says it is also tender so should be treated as bedding annual (Idon't have a green house). Should I just whip it out?

Does Watson have any insights?



Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    The Hellebore is possibly H. argutifolius which has pale green flowers in early Spring.
    The Phlox is no Phlox, the leaves are totally wrong for any of that family.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096

    Zaluzianskya ovata Night blooming phlox


  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    My Zaluzianskaya does flower, and did - unexpectedly - come through the winter. It needs water (but I am mean with watering, so perhaps that's why I know) but other than that is in full sun and not fussed over.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Another problem with 'common' plant names. Zaluzianskaya is not even remotely related to Phlox.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    Looks like a flower shoot on the bottom picture of Hellebore.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    I would second Helleborus argutifolius - I have one, only recently cut the flowers off but they'd been over for ages.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It's beautiful!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's been in for a few years without flowering, and yes, it is surprisingly lovely. Very white and healthy, upright looking plants. I can't claim any credit. They were gifted to me by a neighbour clearing out their garden, so  had little idea what I was getting.

    - - - -
    The Zaluzianskya ovata was disappointing but might not have had enough sun. Or something. It flowered for about a week.

  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    They do take a while to become large enough to flower. It should be all right from now on.

    I've never had much joy getting Zaluzianskya ovata to flower either--it grew from seed OK but the flowers were measly and very short-lived. I haven't tried it since because there are so many more deserving objects of my attention :)
Sign In or Register to comment.