I am considering purchasing a Martagon lily. What do you think the likelihood is that it will survive for more than just the first year?

Lilium martagon hybrid 'Manitoba Morning' - Martagon Lily - Liliaceae (The Lily Family)

http://mailorder.phoenixperenn...

Hi Connie,
I grow quite a few Martagons here in zone 2b/3 Manitoba so I'm sure you will have good success. Martagons are very hardy. Sometimes they "sulk" the first year after planting but just get better and better over time. Manitoba Morning is one I have admired but resisted as I have enough varieties already.

Thanks, Debbie! Now I have to decide how many to order.

So like "Moody Manitoba Morning" by the Bells

Just ordered 2 Manitoba Morning Martagon Lilies, 1 Monarda Bee-You 'Bee-Lieve' - Beebalm, and 1 Digiplexis Illumination 'Apricot' - Hybrid Foxglove!

crawgarden said:So like "Moody Manitoba Morning" by the Bells

Yep, "nothing's really happening, it never does..." 😃

conniepr27 said:Just ordered 2 Manitoba Morning Martagon Lilies, 1 Monarda Bee-You 'Bee-Lieve' - Beebalm, and 1 Digiplexis Illumination 'Apricot' - Hybrid Foxglove!

All great looking ! Are you going to try to overwinter the digiplexis or just grow as an annual?

I haven't had much luck with Foxgloves, so any tips would be appreciated! I Iove them, but they do nothing for me. If this one actually flowers​, I will definitely be hoping they will self-seed and come back!

We are having a big 80th birthday party/family reunion in our backyard this summer so I want the backyard to look it's best. I'm really hoping this Foxglove will help in a bare spot next to the garage. The other two plants will go on the other side of the backyard, the Martagon in under the Mountain Ash, and the bee balm in full sun.

I have had one bee balm and found it to be VERY invasive, like mint, a tiny piece comes up everywhere! Are all of them that way or only certain varieties? Also I didn't realize that martagons would bloom in the shade?

I have one other beebalm, have had it for about three years. My understanding is that it doesn't spread out of control here because it is too cold. It's only kind of doubled in size in three years, and no out of control runners like mint. I split mine last year and put a clump in another flowerbed. I need more color for later in the summer, after all the earlier bloomers are finished. The beebalm blooms just as the others are starting to fade. Perfect for me!

conniepr27 said:I haven't had much luck with Foxgloves, so any tips would be appreciated! I Iove them, but they do nothing for me. If this one actually flowers​, I will definitely be hoping they will self-seed and come back!

We are having a big 80th birthday party/family reunion in our backyard this summer so I want the backyard to look it's best. I'm really hoping this Foxglove will help in a bare spot next to the garage. The other two plants will go on the other side of the backyard, the Martagon in under the Mountain Ash, and the bee balm in full sun.

I've never had any luck with Digitalis purpurea, they just don't like our climate but I grow Digitalis grandiflora (ambigua) and they are very reliable perennials here. They are not as showy but still have a pretty yellow foxglove flower. If you cut them back after the initial flowering they will rebloom again later in the season. I know a lot of people as well that start "Foxy" by seed early and they will bloom the first year as an annual.
Good luck with your Digiplexis! If they are a hybrid they may not set seed. They will be beautiful for your party for sure.

Frillylily said:I have had one bee balm and found it to be VERY invasive, like mint, a tiny piece comes up everywhere! Are all of them that way or only certain varieties? Also I didn't realize that martagons would bloom in the shade?

Beebalm is quite well behaved in our colder climate but I can see it being on the invasive side in the warmer zones. It is a member of the mint family I believe.
Martagons definately will bloom in the shade. Mine only get a bit of morning light in a north exposure and do very well.

thanks for the replies on that. I will have to add some martagons to my shaded areas and see how they do, I had no idea! I am still digging out my bee balm! Only had it for 2 years and it was just a small start when I planted it. It bloomed nice and the bees and hummers loved it though.

I did some more research on the Digiplexis Illumination 'Apricot' - Hybrid Foxglove. It is sterile, no seeds to use for next year. However, one of the sites did talk about overwintering and also suggested that this plant does really well in pots. I'm thinking maybe I should plant this up in a bigger pot when I get it and bury the whole pot in the ground, then bring it into the garage for the winter. I've been doing that with Calla Lilly bulbs and Japanese Hakone grass successfully for about three years. Might as well add another one; if I doesn't reflower next year, well at least I gave it a try!

Hope it works for you, I had flame last year and it did very well. I do not have a garage and did not want to keep it in the house. I would think your garage would have to stay somewhat warm since it is a zone 8 -9 plant.

Yes, we have a furnace in the garage and keep it at a temperature just above freezing all winter long.

DebbieC said:

Yep, "nothing's really happening, it never does..." 😃

https://youtu.be/aPygR80OOmM

Hey Rj,
Thanks for the video and music. Brings back a lot of memories; lots of familiar images and the old CBC test pattern! Saw that test pattern a lot when tv only had programming for a few hours a day.

Saw the "Bells" during spring break probably in 68 or 69, really enjoyed the sound! My pleasure