plants that elude me

[Andrew in Germany]

there are some plants that I can not keep alive. Try as I do and it costs. The most infuriating and notable for me is the subtropical tree fern group. Dicksonias ant. and some forms of Cyathea have never had a period of life past their first winter with me. My latest (casualty?) is Cyathea cooperi, which lives (d) in a pot - through its first winter in the greenhouse but still refuses to grow, is however solid and green-ish in the middle, but brown and unfurled all over. This is as far as I have ever been with a tree fern. It's now June and it looks like it did in January. I'm afraid my thumbs are not green enough. So that's that. No more tree ferns.
Are there others here who would admit to the same? I could imagine there are a few here that could get a pencil to sprout... :D

[MartinNicklin]

Andrew, three plants for me fit the bill. Firstly, Acanthus Whitewater. It's in every garden centre and ordinarily Acanthus grow very well for me but this one I just cannot get to grow. I have bought at least 5 plants, including one in bloom last year with 4 flower spikes. I've tried it in sun, in shade, in rich soil, in poor soil, in pots and in the greenhouse. It always dies. Strangely, for a plant which seems ubiquitous in the marketplace, I've never seen one in anyone's garden. It's a pity because it looks lovely on internet images. I just cannot fathom out what this plant wants.

My second plant would be Trevesia palmata. I was gifted two plants by Chad on separate occasions and this overjoyed me because it was a plant I was desparate beyond belief to grow. I looked after them with 100% conviction (more than any plant I have ever grown!), even housing them in the house because I wouldn't even risk them under glass in the greenhouse. However, they just never put out any new leaves and over a very long period of hope and prayer (in one case for two or more years) they just fizzled away.

The third one is the white form of Lapageria rosea. I've had a number of these. The latest from Charlie flowered beautifully a few years ago and I posted it on GOTE because it was the firstv white form I had managed to get to flower. Then I decided to plant it in the greenhouse border and as I took it out of the pot the compost fell from the roots and ever since (2 years) it has sat there slowly losing its leaves and sulking and punishing me for daring to disturb it. I currently have several Lapagerias romping away but, as with the otherv two plants and despite all my love bestowed upon them, the white form still evades me.

[Chad]

Tetrapanax papyrifer. I've failed to establish 4 clones and six plants in total.

I've now decided my garden is too windy for such large leaves anyway, so won't try again.

Chad

[flounder]

Tetrapanax papyrifer. I've failed to establish 4 clones and six plants in total.

I've now decided my garden is too windy for such large leaves anyway, so won't try again.

Chad

I'm on my(checks notes) twenty eighth including seedlings. If this one goes roots up I will try again!
Clianthus....slug food
Gunnera.....too dry. I've tried growing in a large tub, but I can't get it past five winters, it gets smaller each year then doesn't come back at all
Caladiums....nuff said

[Andrew in Germany]

Andrew, three plants for me fit the bill. Firstly, Acanthus Whitewater. It's in every garden centre and ordinarily Acanthus grow very well for me but this one I just cannot get to grow.

I can understand your frustration!
Here’s mine. Horrible, looks like a large block of rotten Belgian Camembert. I think these are grown with so much extra care in the greenhouses that they don’t (and shouldn’t) stand a chance in the real world. If it doesn’t turn into a least French Camembert then I’m tossing it toute suite.

Tetrapanax papyrifer.
Chad

This is what I don’t get! You have troubles with T.p but here I run the lawnmower over the runners and rip a few out from the lawn with a bit of root, stick them in pots, most will strike and I toss the weaker ones. How does this happen that I can do this and yet with lavished care can’t get a tree fern to live longer than a few desperate months.
Why are some plants for many of us undoable, yet the same plants for others are just a little better than weeds. It’s not the lack of talent or detailed care, we all have green thumbs coming out of our orifices… It’s a conundrum… :D

But I can accept that ill never have a living tree fern in my garden…

[Paul S]

Where to start? After forty years of serial herbicide there are a lot of contenders. :lol:
OK, two of the plants that I desire the most that continue to defeat me:
Cordyline indivisa and Aloe polyphylla
I am currently trying both yet again and neither of them have died yet. But I acknowledge it is just a matter of time.

Others, as I think of them:
Agave utahensis - any of ihe subspecies, even the 'easy' one. Again, last ditch attempt in my rubble slope after someone gave me a big old plant.
Anything in the protea family - must be something in my soil as even the tolerant ones turn their toes up. I am trying a leucodendron in my rubble slope as there is no soil in it. Maybe that will work.
Schefflera and tetrapanax, long term - if I don't irrigate they turn into husks in no time. I content myself with Pseudopanax - which do extremely well - plus more recently oreopanax and metapanax which seem promisingly more drought tolerant. As does Brassiopsis mitis, too, possibly - although the leaves are small it seems healthy enough.
Treeferns - if I don't water them it is game over. I did keep a Cyathea medullaris alive outside for 13 years once upon a time - back when I could be bothered with it all I wrapped it in winter, irrigated the heck out of it in summer. But, despite my best efforts, eventually it just faded. I don't bother now.
All those gorgeous choice and delicate woodland perennials. Not a chance. Most of the Crug Farm catalogue, in fact. Saves me a fortune, now I have come to terms with it.

[AndyC]

I content myself with Pseudopanax - which do extremely well - plus more recently oreopanax and metapanax which seem promisingly more drought tolerant. As does Brassiopsis mitis, too, possibly - although the leaves are small it seems healthy enough.

Which species of Oreopanax do you grow Paul?

[Paul S]

Just the one - O. xalapensis. I was was there when material was collected to it has a special memory for me :)

[AndyC]

That's good to know Paul as it is one of the plants I bought from Mark Fillan on Sunday.
I wasn't sure it would be hardy here let alone in your part of the world. Is winter wet likely to be a problem?

[Paul S]

Don't know. It hasn't been here but that is hardly the same thing! It was growing in damp soil in habitat, if that helps.