[totalnovice]

Hiya,

I have had a really spectacular display from my perpetual wall flowers this year, really colourful and lush growth. What do i do now that it is coming to winter. They are still flowering and i know that they are evergreen, but will they tollerate being trimmed back into neat little mounds ready to explode again next year, or should i wait until spring and there is signs of new growth? They are looking somewhat leggy and a bit untidy.

Thanks in advance in for your help - flowers still bamboozle me!

[sunshineband]

If you trim them back as soon as they have finished flowering, they will not waste energy on seed production, and this will help prolong their life, (Short lived perennials) as well as keeping them bushier

[sarajane]

... and use the trimmings as cuttings.  They root really well just put into compost and kept damp.  Even more for next year

[sunshineband]

... and use the trimmings as cuttings.  They root really well just put into compost and kept damp.  Even more for next year

Good tip 

[totalnovice]

Oooh thanks - top tip!

Thanks for the advise, looks like i will have plenty to make the allotment look pretty, as well as the garden at home.

Thanks again for the advice - as always i knew i could count on you guys 

[tallulah]

i have got 2 perennial wallflowers which I think is what you are referring to - they have purple flowers.  I planted them in April 2010, and they have been if flowers since, and are still going strong!  So that's 2 springs, 2 summers and 1 winter so far.  I'm really perplexed actually.  I have never trimmed or pruned them, and they just keep going, regardless of the season or the weather!

[sarajane]

They usually flower their pretty little heads off but like sunshineband says, they are shortlived perenials.  I have never been able to keep one for more than 4 years and they can look straggley as they get older  -  hence the trimming and taking cuttings.

They come in other colours.  I have a lemone one and did have a multi coloured one(brownish/reddish/orange coloured)  Unfortunately last winter finished this off before I took cuttings.

[sunshineband]

My daughter has one that is mauve with a yellow splash in the middle 

[sarajane]

ooooooh. sounds pretty.  I shall have to investigate that one

[totalnovice]

I've got a few purple ones and then one bright yellow with dark orange spashes. I thought i was buying all purple but the yellow one was a wrongly lables very pleaseant suprise.  I have never subscribed to the whole colour scheme in flower beds - i am just too susceptible to the impluss buy at the garden centre to have kind of plan!

[tallulah]

Ooh!  I'd love the lemon one, as well as the bronze/brown/orangey colours.  Never seen them for sale tho.

[sion01]

I had one with purple flowers and variegated leaves it was fantastic.I tkink it was called 'cottswold gem' it was a gem but can't find it anywhere now.I wish i'd thought of taking cuttings

[sunshineband]

You can usually find the non purple ones for sale on line

[sarajane]

Popped into Morrisons today and bought one with bright pink/purple flowers and variagated leaves for the princely sum of £1.50.  Not a named variety but will be going into my border tomorrow and cuttings taken in the spring.  bargain

[carlrmj]

I bought some today from our local greengrocers,don't know what type they are,but were 99p for 12 bargain I thought?