I planted "star fruit" (Penthorum seloides) at the edge of our pond in 2000. By the summer of 2011, it had grown out of all proportion for its space. When it didn't show up last summer I was mad at myself for being too enthusiastic in ripping it out in big handfuls the year before.
Lo and behold, one stem appeared this spring and I've been waiting all summer for this moment when it finally bloomed! Star fruit is described as "having bouquets of upside down turkey's feet embossed with small rows of starry flowers." They'll turn into pinkish fruits later in the season.
It's great for wet spots as it will grow in up to 4 inches of standing water. Its strong profile makes it nice for winter interest as well.
How about your garden this summer: any sudden deaths or reappearances?
How nice about the reappearance, but these days anything that looks a little like ragweed, however faint the resemblance, does not please me. I've had sudden deaths with roses: a big beautiful shrub will suddenly up and die back completely. It happened last year with an old double red rugosa I'd dug up from the field and this year with a pretty white one with a pink blush I got from a nursery, both with delicious fragrance. Luckily they do come back.
Posted by: Altoon | Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 05:23 AM
It is always a bonus when a plant you thought you had lost reappears. My native clematis suddenly died. It has a very spindly stem and I was sure it must have been damaged underground. Eventually I cut it off. I though all was lost and then I saw a new shoot emerging from the ground. So glad I planted it deeply as was suggested.
Posted by: Jenny | Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 06:53 PM
I do love your blog, which I have just found, quite at random. I'm located in the north of France, i.e. we don't have the same climate. Yet your approach to gardening is inspiring. I'll come back to your posts as regularly as possible and start reading the previous ones with great interest.
Posted by: Martine Dakar-Raoult | Monday, August 26, 2013 at 09:26 AM