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Fameflower - seldom seen but making a comeback
(by Gina M. Mahon - July 16, 2008)
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Photo by Gina M. Mahon
The fameflower ‘Limon’ is great for attracting butterflies and blooms for many weeks, starting in the early summer and lasting well into the last days of summer.
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As I usually do this time of year, I found myself once again wandering through the local nursery/garden centers in
Bergen
County . Even though most centers only have the leftover annuals and perennials at this time of the season, (which, by the way, are all on sale), I always like to see what might still be available as I wait impatiently for the new shipments of fall plants to arrive.
Now during the early springtime when plants first come into the nursery/garden centers because they are filled to overflowing, it is quite possible that you might have missed something different as I did. While at JOYS nursery/garden center in
Paramus , I came upon a plant that is seldom seen now a day, Talinum paniculatum, which is also known as Fameflower. It is also available to start from seed from ‘Parks Seed’ Catalogue.
I purchased the variety, “Limon.” This is a new variety of fameflower which has chartreuse (light green) oval shaped leaves. The base of this plant has a spreading form of between 16 and 18 inches wide. It sends up long dark stems 30 inches high that fan outward. On the tips of these branches are tiny deep pink flowers, light and airy reminding you of ‘Baby’s Breath’ or Heuchera. It is great for attracting butterflies and blooms for many weeks, starting in the early summer and lasting well into the last days of summer.
But wait, in the autumn after flowering, garnet-red fruit (seeds) appear, which are happily eaten by birds! Limon is considered to be a frost tender perennial, so in our area it is used as an annual which will readily self seed so new plants will emerge next spring. Plant it along a walkway, in front of a wooden fence, walls or in rock gardens. This light and airy plant also looks great in the garden bed when planted in front of other plants with dark green or maroon leaves. It can also be used in containers and as filler in cut arrangements.
This is such a care-free plant, no muss no fuss. Limon doesn’t care what type of soil you have, whether it is clay, sand or loamy. As a matter of fact, it is said that Limon does its best in poor quality soil. And the other things that are great about Limon are that it is drought and heat tolerant with no known pest! So, whether you have a dry or moist but not a continually wet area in your garden as long as you plant it in full sun, this plant is for everyone!
Remember – there can never be enough flowers, so enjoy!
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