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Last Updated: Nov 14, 2008 - 12:49:26 PM |
I can’t say for others, but summer barely comes to an end when I start feeling antsy as to what the garden will be like once the colorful annuals are gone; so, to keep my spirits as well as the garden alive, I am forever on the lookout for interesting fall plants, especially the ones that bloom, as the choices aside from the trusted pansies and chrysanthemums seem rather limited.
Late last summer therefore, shopping at a local farmers market where I get most of our seasonal produce from, when a particular plant caught my eye, it didn’t take much to decide to bring one home. Though nothing fancy, it is really the foliage that at first drew my attention which I almost mistook to be that of a sedum, as the plant had not set any flower buds; but luck was surely with me because this accidental “find” indeed turned out to be a fall-bloomer.
Despite the long mouthful of a name, Nipponanthemum nipponicum, or Montauk Daisy, as commonly called, the plant that has gotten me all excited is a member of the chrysanthemum family, the family Asteraceae; a semi-shrubby perennial, this one has spreading almost leafless branches with the toothed, somewhat fleshy leaves all packed at the top, giving the plants a vague resemblance to a sedum. In fall, the plants bear white daisy-like flowers that look very similar to those of the summer-blooming Shasta daisy, their simplicity enhanced by green centers that give them a delicate look when used as cut flowers.
The plants, like other members of the mum family, need full sun, good drainage, and plenty of moisture; while ours did get the first two elements – that is sunshine and good drainage – I was not able to keep it moist enough, even at the peak of summer due to lack of sufficient rain; admirably, the plant has not only survived the neglect, but looks fairly healthy, with quite a few flower buds appearing amongst the cluster of leaves. By the way, like the mums, the plants need to be cut back in spring to prevent them from becoming leggy.
For a first-timer in our garden, I am totally impressed by the performance of the Montauk Daisy: drought-tolerant, bears pretty foliage, and a fall-bloomer too!
Gita’s Tip of the Month: With water being a short commodity these days, instead of the hose, try using a watering can, particularly for container-grown plants, as water can gently be aimed at the roots and not wasted as much.
gitaagrawal@juno.com
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