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Tuesday 26 February 2008

Black Eye Susan ? .. Thunbergia !


An annual vine I discovered that I loved is Thunbergia (Black Eye Susan) in the "Alta" mix. The first year I had it WOW ! what a climber and what nice foliage .. I wasn't even thinking of how cute the flowers are .. I loved the leaves shooting up the frame like crazy .. and they weren't lazy ! .. OK .. it is snowing out there AGAIN .. brain is waffling ..

In any case .. I stacked tomato cages in hour glass formations and it held them in such a nice structure .. how good can that get ? .. great green foliage .. super twinning, so no floppy problem .. then .. GREAT flowers that really popped from all the greenery. It was a wonderful discovery and I want these guys every year ! .. but even as I type .. new varieties are coming on the market like crazy .. you have to love the wonderful flower colours !

I really like this site for seed information http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/vines/black_eyed_susan.html

9 comments:

Kylee Baumle said...

I grew these two summers ago, in the salmon colors. They were really pretty! I must get more for this summer.
I've purchased from Swallowtail Seeds and love doing business with them.

Melanie Chopay said...

Joy, I've paid through the nose to buy a started one of these but never gave a thought to growing one by seed. You people are going to drive my husband nuts, yes you are.

He's going to grouch about all the seedlings growing all over the house and I'm just going to blame you and everybody else on blotanical, just watch me :-)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi kylee
I saw those on the net .. the other colours and WOW ! they are gorgeous .. I'l try for them next year for sure !.. I really like the way that company presents its products. Good to hear people have used them and they live up to their products !
MELANIE ........... hahahahahaha !
I'm WAY over here and "el groucho" can't get me ! hehehehe
I'm still laughing about the underwear picture by the way !
You might have bought Chocolate Cosmos ? maybe ? .. I have seen them as "plants" .. the scent is suppposed to be wonderful .. yet another form of chocolate for me to inhale ?? JEEZ!
Joy

Anonymous said...

OH my word girl--I grew this vine and it took over my front beds. It was beautiful though. It was a real mess to clean up after the first frost!! We call it Black Eyed Susan Vine.

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

I grew these for the first time this year. I used hanging baskets and they were cool.

Tina said...

Oh! Aren't these fab? I actually have some outside in a milk jug in a snowbank right now. I WinterSow almost everything, except a few veg. The cosmos work wonderfully for that technique.
Ok, ok...so my light stand is still full of seedlings. I have to have something green to baby!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

HI Anna ..I know it might get a little tricky once it takes hold, but I'm really looking forward to it !

Hi Debbie
I would love to be patient enough to have them in a hanging basket .. funny enough I have never seen one around here in a hanging basket .. I wonder why ?

Hi tina
My god ! something green ? You don't know how lucky your are contrasted with my SNOWBANKS here woman !!! haha .. Big sigh !

Anonymous said...

I love black-eyed Susan vine too. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether it can handle Austin's heat and summer droughts. I may just have to give it a whirl, though, because it's too pretty not to try.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Pam !
It is a constant consideration for picking plants .. heat .. humidity .. we don't have it as long as you guys do but when it hits .. it hits and a lot of plants just can't take it .. I miss long Springs .. they seem to be cut short with such intense summers.