Cimifuga racemosa

I cannot grow this plant. I've been trying for four years. This is a Georgia native and so I can't understand why it just won't work in my garden. It struggles up to about 5 inches in height and then stops. This year I finally gave up and planted more ferns instead.

Oh dear - that's a real mini-Cimifuga! It also seems very odd when it 'should' thrive with you. Mine is about 3' tall, I suppose.

It dies off after it reaches that height. It's a shame because I love it....I've tried everything.

Barbara, venturing out after dark with your camera, just to keep us fellow GOY'ers happy, is above and beyond the call of duty. But appreciated ! :-)

LOL. No - not really. The light was fading, and the flash went off. Of course, I would do it - haha. (!!!)

Lauram, I would start digging where it's been dying off--that behavior usually means something like construction debris or an old tree stump underground. Of course, that would also affect anything else grown there.

Problem is, I've moved it twice with exactly the same result. I haven't had any difficulty with any other plants grown in that general area. I can't seem to grow Virginia bluebells, either, no matter where I site them.

I don't know what they are, I'm afraid, so I can't help. :-(

I know that Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) need a fair amount of water--they are streamside plants in much of their range--but other than that, they are fairly tolerant. Hmmm...

When I worked for a summer as an assistant gardener on an estate (talk about garden envy, the budget was unlimited) they grew very well - and spread well - in a shady area near the house. They popped up all over the place; we had to remove many of them. There was no water anywhere near there. When I finally got my own garden, I thought, Let's plant Virginia bluebells! They were the first plants I purchased, right after I bought the house. Had only a few blooms the first year, but they were young plants. The next year, nothing...the year after that, nothing. I gave up and planted ferns over those, too.

Ah! Mertensia - Karensusan sent me a plant this year. It was lovely, so I hope it reappears next year.

If ferns are all that does well,I would be wondering just how deep the shade is, and/or how acid the soil is!

well, other plants do well, I just happen to love ferns & that whole woodland look!! The oakleaf hydrangeas and buckeyes look great, the acanthus is growing big, the catchfly blooms beautifully every year. I've attempted to relocate both the Mertensia and the cohosh with no success whatsoever, I've dug out tons of Georgia clay, tested the soil, tried to fix it.....and still no luck.

Lawsy! Well, I'm stumped!

That's not like you, Tug! :-(

Even us crazy plant freaks are only human(oid)!
: D

I 'might' let you off (this time!) Tug. LOL.