I should think the Lycoris would be hardy if protected. There are
several species; some hardier than others. I think L. radiata is
rated to z. 7 - it's the one generally grown in the south. A post I
saved about this genus from Jim Waddick in Kansas City listed several
species hardy for him - z 5/6:
Lycoris squamigera - pink flowers
L. chinensis - yellow flowers
L. longituba - white flowers
L. sprengeri - small species with pink flowers
L. haywardii - deep rosy magenta - small flowers; good for rock
garden
As for the Caryopteris. Well, I have one, but this incarnation is
only a couple of years old and the deer didn't go for it before I
shut them out, so I don't know what they would have done, now that
it's big enough to actually notice.
They will eat anything, really, if hungry enough. Of course, don't
think they will eat Digitalis (foxglove) nor Euphorbia spp. even then
as they are either very poisonous or have a bad tasting and caustic
sap. Euphorbs will be iffy for you - some will survive and a lot
won't, I fear.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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> From: swaine
> Just catching up on reading all this; re the Lycoris, thanks for
the
> suggestion, Marge. A couple of years ago I saw it for the first
time when
> the flower appeared in the fall; what a surprise! It was growing in
> Manhattan, & was spider lily (L.radiator?) so I am assuming that
both
> species are hardy here -- especially if "sheltered" somewhat.
> On the NJ Garden Forum I asked the same question (re Camassia) &
someone
> sent me a good url (lots of deer info) - the page with deer
resistant plants
> starts here:
> http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gardening/fctsheet/mohonk.html
> I noticed that Lycoris was among the plants that are "generally"
deer
> resistant. So my latest plan for this garden is lots of Alliums,
Camassia,
> and Lycoris. I'll plant some Baby Moon narcissus because they are
the latest
> in the jonquilla division - and the garden I'm doing is seen more
during
> summer months that other times of the year.
> One plant that was NOT on the list in above url was Caryopteris.
(Blue Mist
> Shrub) and my experience has been that deer do NOT touch this. Is
anyone
When I looked it up after seeing it in bloom in the autumn of 1999 in NYC, a
zone 6 garden, I was quite surprised to find out that Lycoris radiata was
listed as zone 7. It was in a sheltered area with lots of shrubs, trees,
etc.. I guess it was happy.
The garden in which I'm now contemplating putting Lycoris is somewhat
sheltered: it has a stone retaining wall, so the bed faces south, & has
heavy clay soil which I will amend with lots of humus and some grit.
I like L.radiata bests because, well the color!! I've never seen the others
but I would think that anything hardy in KS, land of extreme temps, would be
hardy here. Will look online. Yello and white would do fine.
Some Euphorbias are hardy here, but most of the really nicest ones aren't.
I have just planted afew E. dulcis 'Chameleon' (sp?) and hope that will be
ok here.
I never thought of using Digitalis -- and it is on the Deer resisant lists.
This client wants a lush English-type border. The more showy stuff I can
give her, the better. It's only a 34X4 foot border, then some steps, then a
9x4 continuation. There's a lovely white rose (deer nibble at this) and I'd
like to plant some deer proof plants around it to discourage them. This
would be a good place for fowl smelling and/or poisonous plants. Cleome and
Digitalis, Nepeta at the front? perhaps.
Damn deer.
Thus far it's down to: Buddleia, Caryopteris, Echinacea, Stachys, Nepeta,
Peony, Allium, Camassia, Lycoris, and Liriope. I will add Digitalis and
maybe Euphorbs (that chrome yellow one...)
thanks for the additional info.
karen, nj
saw it for the first time when the flower appeared in the fall; what a
surprise! It was growing in
> Manhattan, & was spider lily (L.radiator?) so I am assuming that
> both species are hardy here -- especially if "sheltered" somewhat.
> SNIP
a good url (lots of deer info) - the page with deer resistant plants starts
here:
Is
Is this Lycoris the one with the bare bulb you're supposed to lay on top of
the soil and it will "plant" itself? If so, be sure it's on very soft rich
soil. I laid mine on top of my hard, caleche-clay laden soil, and the
bulbs just vanished. I tried it twice, the second time after adding a lot
of organic matter to the soil. It still wasn't very soft. Not one of
those soils you can plunge your hand in to the elbow.
If you plant digitalis for your deer, won't they die if they eat it? Got a
burying spot? Margaret L
Now deer may be dumb, but if they're that dumb, tough luck. I thought
animals instinctively know what to avoid With that in mind, afew people I
know have had to call animal control in Princeton to come get dead deer off
their property. Death by what, we don't know.
I didn't plant the Lycoris radiata bulbs, so don't know how it was done.
I've certainly never heard of leaving a bulb on top of soil where it will
"plant" itself -- I will do anything I can to avoid work... and if only I
had very soft rich soil.....ahhhh. But ofcourse here in central NJ, the red
clay with shale below make that goal a lifetime project.
I ache just thinking about double digging.
karen, nj
---- Original Message -----
From: "Margaret Lauterbach"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2002 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: Lycoris + Caryopteris, deer resistant plants, was Camassia
> Is this Lycoris the one with the bare bulb you're supposed to lay on top
of
> the soil and it will "plant" itself? If so, be sure it's on very soft
rich
a
> burying spot? Margaret L
> When I looked it up after seeing it in bloom in the autumn of 1999 in
NYC, a
No, Margaret, not so far as I know...they need to be planted. Not
deeply; they will work their way up if you put them in too deeply,
but you have to plant them. Now, OTOH, Crinum seeds (which look like
bulbs)- at least of the species I was given - have to be laid on top
of the soil so they can work their way in..if you "plant" them, they
will die.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
-----------------------------------------------
Current Article: Online Nurseries 2002 - WorldPlants.com
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening
------------------------------------------------
Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date
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------------------------------------------------
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----------
> From: Margaret Lauterbach
> Is this Lycoris the one with the bare bulb you're supposed to lay
on top of
> the soil and it will "plant" itself? If so, be sure it's on very
soft rich
> soil. I laid mine on top of my hard, caleche-clay laden soil, and
the
> bulbs just vanished. I tried it twice, the second time after
adding a lot
> of organic matter to the soil. It still wasn't very soft. Not one
of
Thanks, Marge. My error. Margaret L
