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hesperis matronalis

adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
in The potting shed
This lovely plant arrived unannounced this summer, and now that it has gone over I find some long stems with dried seed heads at the top, which I have cut off and saved, but there are also some significantly healthy looking tufts of leaves further down the stem. If I didnt know better I would feel like treating these as 'runners' and try to layer them, but cant imagine this is right.  Am I very wide of the mark?  It does feel as though they are trying to morph into new plants. I have attached some photos - it was a day of brilliant sunshine so the contrast isnt the best, but maybe someone will see what I mean.  Thank you 




Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I've grown Hesperis m in the past but have never known it to "run".  Yours is still In growth and nothing unusual about that.
    It's a lovely plant so good luck with sowing the saved seeds for next year :)
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I think it would be worth trying those as runners. It works with many plants that are not  known for that. Also, just let the seeds drop, it self seeds well


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Ours has grown as a perennial for a fair while.
  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
    Thanks all if I have luck with the layering I'll let you know. 
  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
    Hi, further to the above discussion this is just to let you know that the layering has been completely successful. Three new plants have taken root after the long stems were pegged down, and in addition I took another stem into the greenhouse and shoved it into a pot, and it has more than survived, with new growth promising either 3 or 4 new stems or even 3 or 4 new plants altogether.  I am very pleased, but will these plants flower this year do you think? I think HM is a biennial but as leaves were produced last year I wonder if that was year 1.  Thanks for all your comments everyone and I promised an update 
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Well done on the runner experiment @adamadamant :):)
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    H.m is sometimes a perennial, although usually short lived.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I’m in NE England and first sowed seed years ago. In my semi shaded area with poor soil, they both self seed and some plants keep going for 2-3 years  ..good luck with yours. 
  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
    Thank you I'm looking forward to enjoying them again this year 
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