Episode 42: Plants We Wish We’d Never Planted

A topic that really needs no further explanation

In a perfect world , every plant we purchase would be well - behave , pest - detached , and a show - showstopper 12 month a year . This is not a thoroughgoing world . Despite our good intentions , sometimes we buy or inherit plants that are mistakes … big mistakes . ( We ’re talking to you , miscanthus . ) In this cathartic installment , Steve and Danielle lament and air out about all the plants that brought them nothing but headaches . Some may front passably but are n’t worth the troubles they land with them . All we can say after mind is “ You ’ve been warned . ”

Expert testimony : Jeff Epping , film director of gardening at the Olbrich Botanical Garden in Madison , Wisconsin .

Yes , it attract butterflies , but it also ego - sow on an heroic stratum . There ’s a reasonableness that butterfly bush like‘Black Knight’(Buddlelia davidii‘Black Knight ’ , Zones 5–9 ) are considered invasive strong-armer throughout a big belt of the land .

‘ Hidcote ’ lavender(Lavandula angustifolia‘Hidcote ’ , Zones 4–9 ) looks outstanding the first year , wonky the 2d , and like a gnarly walking control stick by the third . Despite a persevering pruning government , this woody perennial never seems to look proficient as it eld .

We do n’t have anything againstmostornamental supergrass , but‘Morning Light miscanthus(Miscanthus sinensis‘Morning Light ’ , Zones 5–9 ) is a beast . Not only does it ego - sow obnoxiously , but it also gets big and unruly rapidly — which require frequent , backbreaking division .

Bigleaf hydrangeas just are n’t suit for cool geographical zone . Although‘Nigra ’ bigleaf hydrangea(Hydrangea macrophylla‘Nigra ’ , Zones 6–9 ) has lovely disastrous stems , its failure to bloom year after year due to cold snaps in springiness made it a disappointing choice for Danielle ’s garden .

PLANT LIST

STEVE

‘ Morning Light ’ miscanthus ( Miscanthus ‘ Morning Light ’ , Zones 5–9 )

Redtwig dogwood tree ( Cornus sericeaand cvs . , Zones 3–8 )

Butterfly bush ( Buddleiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–8 )

Oregano ( Origanum vulgare , Zones 4–9 )

DANIELLE

‘ Nigra ’ bigleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla‘Nigra ’ , Zones 6–9 )

‘ Hidcote ’ lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia‘Hidcote ’ , Zones 5–8 )

‘ Lime Rickey ’ genus Heuchera ( Heuchera‘Lime Rickey ’ , Zones 4–9 )

‘ Banana Cream ’ shasta daisy ( Leucanthemum‘Banana Cream ’ , Zones 5–9 )

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