From High Country Gardens in spring 2019, more from Payne's in summer 2019 and again in spring 2020. When irrigation went in most were destroyed. Got four more from Payne's in spring 2022.
Expectations:
They are ground hugger rock garden plants with firecracker red flowers.
'Marian Sampson' is supposed to be superior for form and color.
A blogger at the Denver Botanical Garden has raved about these. He says a lot of people have trouble growing them, maybe because like me they assume they are hot sun dry gravel lovers and they are not.
They are supposed to do well in containers.
Experiences:
I really, really want these pretty plants with their intense red flowers. But I keep trying and failing. I've moved several, lost a lot and bought new. In 2021 I finally had several planted in a tiny mounded crevice garden behind the patio table in some partial shade. When the irrigation lines were put in late in 2021, though, all but one or two were dug up or trampled.
 |
| July 14, 2021 |
Two that I had moved about and despaired over and finally put in a spot by the front walk where they got snowbound all winter, survived and bloomed in 2020.
They were barely noticeable in the red volcanic rocks. I moved these (and got more) to create the crevice garden by the patio table in summer 2020.
They were barely noticeable in the red volcanic rocks. I moved these (and got more) to create the crevice garden by the patio table in summer 2020.
I also got a monardella from Payne's in spring 2020 and put it in a pot in the shade. It wasn't marked, so I don't know if this is also 'Marian Sampson' or the species.
I failed over and over with these because I thought, as rock garden plants, they wanted dry sandy soil, harsh conditions, and full sun. They don't.
They've been in so many locations, I've lost track. As of 2023 I have some in a pot, some under the pine trees in front and few stragglers near the flagstone area under the privet.