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Should I persist with?

NoviceupNorthNoviceupNorth Posts: 3
in Plants
Hi. Had this plant in a shady border for just over a year. The rest of the border is starting to do well but this isn’t. Tried weekly fertiliser but it looks a bit sad. Should I try to revive it? Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Phormiums need bright, sunny locations to do well. Also, a free draining lighter soil, so it doesn't look very happy in that site. 
    They do get weather damaged over winter too, and some leaves need removed right back at the base in early spring. 
    They really don't need feeding, other than the odd seaweed feed or something similar. Not a feed for flowering plants though.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NoviceupNorthNoviceupNorth Posts: 3
    Thank you very much. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited June 2021
    It looks like a Cordyline. They like sun, so the shady position is probably why it's not doing well. The fern next to it is a much better choice for shade, as is the spotted laurel (but that will want to grow huge :/ ). Any chance of you moving the Cordyline to a sunny spot?
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NoviceupNorthNoviceupNorth Posts: 3
    JennyJ said:
    It looks like a Cordyline. They like sun, so the shady position is probably why it's not doing well. The fern next to it is a much better choice for shade, as is the spotted laurel (but that will want to grow huge :/ ). Any chance of you moving the Cordyline to a sunny spot?
    The spotted Laurel is doing well, yes.  The Cordyline (if that’s what it is) was sold as part of a ‘shady border’ package. It’s never looked overly happy. I might reposition to the south-facing garden. I do like its reddish colour so will look for a similar plant that can do well in a shady border. Thanks for engaging. 👍
  • Lena_vs_DeerLena_vs_Deer Posts: 203
    edited June 2021
     I do like its reddish colour so will look for a similar plant that can do well in a shady border. Thanks for engaging. 👍
    @NoviceupNorth it may be a bit hard to find a grassy plant in red color. Some purple ones turn red though ! 

    But if it’s redish leaves you want, coral bells have great matches!

    Flores sea  


    or Bronse Wave

    Or any other variety available, there’s so many shades of them available!


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - Heucheras will be ideal there. 
    There are some red grasses, like Uncinia for example, but again  - they prefer some sun.
    Phormiums will certainly grow in a bit of shade, but they're not at their best in it. I think the general conditions you have there aren't suitable for it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    Looks like a Phormium sundowner to me, in which case clue is in the name. They can get pretty big so even if it was doing well you still would have had to move it. Even a huechera would soon outgrow that spot (they do grow fast under the right conditions) so might want to rearrange that border.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I have Persicaria Red Dragon in a spot that only gets sun early in the morning and late in the evening (shaded by the house and a tree for most of the day) so that might be worth a go.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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