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Cephalaria gigantia in a narrow bed
I bought this plant a while ago thinking "Ooh, big scabious - what's not to like?" But since then, of course, I've read a bit more about it and got a bit scared! Which is why it's still in the pot I bought it in.
I'm considering putting it in a 2' wide bed I've got running between my patio and path. My thinking is - I need a bit of height there, and if it's got concrete both sides there's only so far it can go... But is this stupid? Will it just take over half the path? I can't think where else to put it, tbh.
Help me make a decision?
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
- Cicero
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It will overhang the path. It needs a 3 ft spread at least
I've got an established one in a narrow bed - probably a bit more than 2 feet wide though. It's between a wall and a path, so a bit like yours. That bed is a bit rammed with stuff, I have to say.... but the cephalaria is fairly upright and doesn't encroach onto the path... unlike some of the other ones!
I can post a pic if you like? I think my bed is more like 3 feet wide.
Last edited: 13 May 2016 13:35:22
That would be good, geum. I don't mind if it overhangs the patio but the path isn't wide enough for much encroachment.
mine's 3' wide now and hasn't started going up yet. Fairly upright isn't the same as upright.
It's a big plant. needs a good 4 foot spread, maybe more.
If it was mine I'd probably plant it.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I agree, it doesn't spread very much so 2ft will be adequate.
Here we go - it's about four feet tall as at today.
I have one of these and while the upper growth carrying the flower stems is light and airy and transparent, the base florette of foliage gets bigger every year and wider than 2' in my experience. I suspect that next to a very narrow path it might be a pain to brush past on wet days but it's otherwise a sturdy and attractive plant so should stand up to it.
Mine is rather larger than the one in the photo above.
Last edited: 13 May 2016 14:42:07
I have some growing nicely from seed at the moment ......hard to believe thats how big they're going to get
.....still, I suppose from little acorns mighty oak trees grow
Hmmm. I have another, bigger, spot which I had rejected because there are plum branches hanging low enough to get in the way of a plant this tall... but I think I may have to remove the plum branches instead!
How wonderful, I've never heard of those before but then sadly I can't grow any kind of scabious in my garden, they don't like heavy clay.