Has anyone on this board ever attempted to grow Stachys coccinea in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeastern U.S.? I've ordered it as few times from HCG but I haven't had real success with it - even the first growing season (let alone as a returning perennial). It should be hardy for me, zone-wise, but I suspect it may just be too wet here. I was wondering if anyone had success with it in a raised "cactus" bed or something - or as a potted plant?



Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

I tried Stachys coccinea 'Chinook' from Bluestone Perennials last year, in containers. The flowers were OK but sparse,and I did not see any hummers go to the. The foliage remained healthy.I left them out in pots, so they did not survive the winter.

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

I had one in a pot last year and I actually got some seeds which I tris year and they germinated. I just planted the seedlings out this week end. I don't think it would survive here in ground because there is just too much moisture.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Although I am not in the northeast, here in WA I have tried to grow it once. I grew fairly well the year I planted it and it did get good hummer use, especially from the Calliope Hummingbirds. However, it didn't do well over the winter (I am in zone 6) and I yanked it. I haven't tried it since because I have been leary of the same performance.

I also got the plants from HCG.

Jeff

Ron:

I live in SE MN, so it is colder but not as wet as where you are. I never had success with it surviving in my garden (although it worked okay as an annual) until I got some seed through Alplains which is from a high-elevation population in AZ. The winter before last, all twelve plants I started from seed and planted out sailed through the winter and bloomed nicely for me last year. I lost about half of them last winter, but still have quite a few left. They are really easy from seed and will bloom first year, so they do make okay annuals even if they don't survive the winter.

Donald

Zone 4 Red Wing MN

Thanks to all for the replies and confirming the trickiness of this plant in the east...

Don - thanks for the info on AlPlains - I may try some of this high-altitutde strain of Stachys, from seed, next year.

Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

I had one a couple of years ago. It was nice and bloomed early but the summer was wet and it didn't do well as the summer wore on. It came around a bit in the early fall but did not make it through the winter. Just too wet I think.