In October of that year I purchased salvia nemorosa Ostfriesland, a fabulous violet blue variety. It was a decent sized plant and hardy so I had high hopes of it surviving winter but my hopes were dashed. I don't know what it is with salvias, I can never seem to keep them.
I was going to buy a plant to replace it this month, however, the sedum which I bought in November 2013, and which has subsequently done really well, has been in bloom during October so I'm going to class this plant as my October bloom.
This is sedum spectabile Brilliant, it's increased in size in the two years I've had it and has put on such a wonderful display.
Sedums are like a magnet to bees and butterflies and as they go on flowering late in the year, they're a good source of nectar for them when many other plants have finished blooming.
I've seen lots of butterflies, and indeed bees, this year, more than I've seen in recent years. I'm sure that having this plant in the garden has something to do with that, there's been bees and butterflies on it every time I've looked.
As you can see, it's attracted all different types of butterfly.
The plant is now coming to the end of its flowering period so I'll cut back any parts with signs of decay but leave the dried heads in place until I see the regrowth in spring.
Making the sedum my October bloom means that there'll be a flowering gap in November so I shall be visiting a nursery or garden centre again, I wonder what plant will come home with me.
I will have to look for one of those,it is so nice to see butterflies.
ReplyDeleteIt really does attract the butterflies, and bees too. There's lots of different varieties, this is quite light coloured but I like the darker varieties very much too.
DeleteWhat a lovely sedum, I love them. We have a huge green roof on our garage/workshop which is a carpet of different sedums. Hope you find a November bloom!
ReplyDeleteYour green roof sounds fabulous, you'll have to do a post about it on your blog. I think finding a bloom for November could be quite tricky but I'll see what's on offer.
DeleteI love sedums - we have several and they are just so lovely, both in and out of bloom. I leave the faded flowers on the plants over the winter as well - I'm not sure whether they have any value in terms of food for the birds, but at least they add a bit of interest in a snowy landscape.
ReplyDeleteThey're wonderful plants. I'm not sure if the flowers are a food source for birds but I'm sure that insects will get in amongst them and as you say, they do add interest to a garden.
DeleteHey Jo,
ReplyDeleteI do like sedums. Mine got swamped by other plants this year, and I didn't realise until it was too late. I shall be doing lots of re-siting of plants this Autumn.
Leanne xx
I'm always having to move my plants around, I rarely think about how big they're going to grow and things often get overshadowed by them but they don't seem to mind being uprooted.
DeleteThe sedum is absolutely wonderful, I do so love the plants that are so attractive to bees and butterflies. And how nice to be off to find something new for November. I shall look forward to seeing what you come home with. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI do try to plant with wildlife in mind and it's so great to see something really attract them like this sedum. I'm not sure what I'll find in the garden centres in November, they're already filled with Christmas stock and plants seem to be a second thought. I think I shall have a look in the plant centre at Harlow Carr when I visit again, though nurseries seem to be a little better than garden centres for plants.
DeleteI am now looking for a flowing plant for each winter month, I have no problems in the summer but my garden is bare in winter.
ReplyDeleteIt is tougher to find winter flowering plants but it can be done. Heathers are good ones and cyclamen seem to go on flowering for ages, hellebores are a lovely addition to any garden.
DeleteNice post and lovely pictures. Sedums are wonderful plants. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThey are. The bees and butterflies love them and I do too.
DeleteI think the varieties of sedum make such a colourful Autumn bloom. Lovely too to see the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday for tomorrow ... this week has flown by!
All the best Jan
I'm quite tempted to get another sedum, I've been so pleased with this one. I'm sure the bees and butterflies would love me for it.
DeleteI love sedums, and I've found that they survive well in semi shade as well as the full sun they always say they prefer.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to be hardy plants, this one has not only survived but thrived in the two years I've had it.
DeleteSedums often get a bad press, the reason that the plants can flop. I love them, and find if I give them the Chelsea chop they stay upright.
ReplyDeleteI also like them, for the very reason you state, they attract so many insects, especially butterflies.
Beautiful images...
Look forward to seeing your November purchase :)
I've only had my plant two years but it hasn't flopped yet, I shall watch out for that though. I'm sure the insects won't mind either way though, I was thrilled to see so many butterflies and bees on my one plant, I'm thinking of getting some more now.
DeleteHow about Belladonna Lily (naked lady) Pansy's or Cyclamen?
ReplyDeleteI suppose I shall have to see what's available in the garden centre or nursery but I already have cyclamen, they were my January purchase. I shall look in the plant centre at Harlow Carr on my next visit, they'll probably have a better selection than the garden centres near me.
DeleteYou have been luckier than me with the butterflies then. I had loads of bees this year, but hardly any butterflies at all.
ReplyDeleteI've seen more butterflies this year than I have for many years, especially in the garden. I'm attributing it to the sedum, it seemed to attract not only so many different types of butterfly but loads of honey bees too, they couldn't get enough of it.
DeleteWe seem to have had a shortage of butterflies this year except of course for the cabbage whites. We have seen more in the last couple of weeks than we did all summer even with the row of buddleia on flower and covered with bees.
ReplyDeleteWas it the blue salvia Amistad because that can be a little bit tender we lost hours too. One way is to take a cutting and keep it inside over the winter.
The Cabbage Whites never seem in short supply, sadly. I'm surprised the butterflies weren't attracted by your buddleia, it seems to be a favourite for Peacocks especially. The salvia was Ostfriedland, it's supposed to be hardy but I've never been able to keep any kind of salvia. I know I should have taken cuttings really, it's my own fault.
DeleteKind of pretty although I've never been a fan of "puff ball" flowers like that (not sure what the official term is). I've always like ones like Lilies and Roses better.
ReplyDeleteI think you mean umbels. There's nothing wrong with favouring a type of flower, I think it's good to know what you like, though it's good to be open to liking other kinds of flowers too.
DeleteI love how sedum blooms fade and darken over time and they last a good while too. Between them and verbena the butterflies seem to have a really good food source at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSedum definitely have lots to offer, it leaves me wondering why I've never grown them before. I'm very tempted to add to this one now with some other varieties.
DeleteYour sedum is doing really well isn't it. I hope that you find something nice for November! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a fabulous plant, I'm very happy with it. Not sure what will come home with me in November yet.
DeleteHow lovely and good for the butterflies too.It is a great idea to buy something in flower each month.xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm always thrilled when a plant I've chosen for the garden appeals to wildlife too, I think I made a great choice here as the bees and butterflies couldn't get enough of it.
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