[MrsPea]

Does any one have the white Rosebay willow herb growing as I've been trying to get some, I've tried with some seeds but to no avail, it didn't germinate from seed, many thanks if anyone can help.

[mumofstig]

You are growing weeds  ............................

 

[MrsPea]

Yes Lesley I know it's a weed but it makes a lovely back drop in a boarder, from Lesley

[mumofstig]

Each to their own, but I'm glad I'm not a neighbour - I've enough trouble with the pink one from next door 

[JayG]

I remember seeing great swathes of the pink variety growing wild near the coast somewhere in the SW of England and thinking how impressive they looked.

Having got many of its smaller relatives as seemingly permanent company in my garden I think their location was just about the perfect distance away from where I am. 

[diospyros]

I think the main point of this plant is that it doesn't come from seed.  I have vague memories of it from when I worked in the Savill.  It used to "seed" all over the place but there was no sense of urgency in stopping it, certainly.  Just the inconvenience of fluffy seeds blowing around, especially when one's sadistic manager had set one to cut back sticky euphorbia first...

[spottymint]

Mum, you can buy these plants.......... £5.00 each for a so called "Weed" 

http://www.cgf.net/plantdetails.aspx?id=762

[MrsPea]

Thank you for that Spottymint they wonted £8-00 postage needless to say I haven't ordered it, £13 for a weed is a lot I think I shall forget about it 

[RubyR3d]

A weed is a wild flower and what does it matter. Its still a pretty flower and looks good. We leave rosebay willowherb in our garden as they are the main food for elephant hawkmoth which is a huge caterpiller. We almost trip over them 

[MrsPea]

Thank you for that Spottymint they wonted £8-00 postage needless to say I haven't ordered it, £13 for a weed is a lot I think I shall forget about it 

Thank you Spottymint for web address and yes my husband did order me 2 as it was the same price for 1 or 2 postage wise, well they came yesterday and there lovely plants well worth the money.

[Bernard]

We leave rosebay illowherb in our garden as they are the main food for elephant hawkmoth

There is no shortage of rosebay willowherb around here and I have been inspecting it for 50 years trying to find one of those caterpillars, but no luck yet.

On the other hand, Cinnabar moths arrived here a few yrs ago, so did Peacock butterflies,Commas, Painted Ladies, none of which were seen here in my youth. And this year I have an outbreak of Mullein moth caterpillars on the verbascum which has been growing in my garden for 15 years.