Flowering perennial help

laufenberga 5/8/2012, 11:14 pm

Is anybody an expert on flowering perennials? I was at Walmart tonight and came across some Columbines and a Phylox that were on clearance half off so I bought a couple. Problem is, I think they were on clearance because A. they have already bloomed, or B. got frost/freeze damage early on because the plants are half dead although they all have new growth and the Phlox has small blue flowers on it. My question is should I prune the dead stems out or just leave them.

Any help is greatly appreciated and I can post some pictures if needed.

-Adam

**walshevak** 5/9/2012, 6:48 am

Trim them up and hope they put out some new growth. I think columbines will bloom again during the summer, but I believe phlox is a one time bloomer. I got some half price columbines too, but they were still in pretty good shape. The are putting out new growth now.

Kay

**camprn** 5/9/2012, 6:58 am

Plunk them into the ground (add a few handfuls of compost into the hole), trim the dead stalks and leaves to about 6"above the ground & water. They will perk up a bit and will certainly give you a show next year. Maybe I should hit up my wally world for some deals. What a Face

Goosegirl 5/9/2012, 8:02 am

I don't know anything about columbines except that I like them. Phlox is almost impossible to kill, so I say dig a hole, plop them in, and watch!

GG

laufenberga 5/9/2012, 7:09 pm

Thanks for the input. I pulled off all the dead blooms and stems and got them looking nice again. They have plenty of green growing so I'm thinking they will be fine. For $2.88 a plant I figured I couldn't go wrong, wanted to spruce up some areas and I like using perennials > annuals.

**walshevak** 5/9/2012, 8:25 pm

One thing, columbines prefer some shade.

Kay

acara 5/10/2012, 6:37 am

Yes ... you've got two ends of the spectrum there shade/moist soil for the Columbines and full sun/well drained soil for the Phlox.

Should be okay, as long as they dont go in the same location together (phlox look best when they are in a mass-planting IMHO).

Phlox will bloom (summer typically), hold a bloom for a long time & then go to seed. It will be back next season though. Unfortunately Phlox isn't much to look at when it's not blooming, so a lot of folks yank them out once they are done blooming for the season.

You'll have to fertilize & deadhead the Columbines to keep them blooming.

GWN 5/10/2012, 10:24 am

I have columbines in my garden that I planted last year, they were almost the first to come up, and that was over a month ago, and we have had many many frosts since then.
Also I grew them in my greenhouse this year and have transplanted them and they seem to be doing well despite frost.

quiltbea 5/10/2012, 12:00 pm

I have columbines. Love that orchid-like bloom. They bloom early to mid-spring and then they are gone until next year.

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