Hi Vivian: Beautiful photos of your Euchera. You have some outstanding ones there. What zone are you in? I bought Fire Alarm last year. It was beautiful all season but really seemed to take a hit with the cold weather in the fall. This spring the plant is still there but nothing appears to be alive. I am so disappointed and am wondering if I should replace it or wether it just isn't hardy enough for 6b.

Hi Barb, I am in Zone 5a, north of Chicago. Winter gets really cold and long. Fire Alarm is the slowest growing one for me. It also emerges at least 2-3 weeks later than other ones. I had similar experience with you after the first winter a few years ago. I thought Fire Alarm was gone. But it did emerge. It has been doing the same thing every year. Good luck and yours will likely come back.

Vivian

Thanks for the encouragement Vivian, I soooo hope you are right. Oddly enough I have read before how slow growing Fire Alarm is but that wasn't my experience. The leaves that were present when I first brought it home died back but even larger and more beautiful red ones replaced those and the whole plant was quite full and this was the first year. Here she is in the fall of last year.

Barb, Your Fire Alarm is beautiful. Hopefully it will come back for you soon. After seeing yours, I am considering to move it to another more friendly location. Currently it is right next to the big locust tree trunk and I don't feed or water it afraid it will make the tree roots grow even more vigorous.

Vivian

I'm from the lower Midwest, and I have to say that "Caramel" and "Obsidian" perform wonderfully for me. I have others too, but these two have been standouts. I would recommend them highly.

Jmcdmd: I am still looking to ad to my collection so I will have to see if I can find those two. Thanks.

Vivian: My Fire Alarm did get quite large in just one season but still no sign of life. Don't know whether I will try another or not. Take good care of yours!

Barb, Keep fingers crossed for your Fire Alarm.....

Jmcdmd: I agree with you that Obsidian and Caramel are very reliable for me as well. They both grow fast and do not mind of being in full sun and not getting much of water. Fortunately for us, both varieties are regular stock items at our local Home Depot. Today I bought 3 more Obsidian from there , mature size, to replace 2 perennial mums that are too tall for the location.

Barb, I don't know if you have Georgia Peach. If you don't have and your fire alarm refuses to come back, I highly recommend it. It has vibrant color (similarly red as Fire Alarm), large, fast growing. I find it tolerate much more sun than Berry Smoothie (which I have 3 and love them dearly). I planted it at the worst place next to a big tree trunk with lots of root competition. But it did not mind at all for the last 3 years. Spring time new leaves emerge pretty early so that is a plus as well.

So pretty! How would you describe your soil in the middle of summer? Well drained? Dry? Moist? Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! We have heavy clay so I amended the soil with store-bought garden soil when I started this area a few years ago. I would say the soil is well drained and mostly dry in the middle of summer as I don't water very often. It gets rain water, and I water ~ once per week during the hot and dry summer weeks. Surprisingly the hostas and heucheras in this bed are doing great this way.

Vivian: I came across Georgia Peach at the nursery today and was going to buy it on your recommendation until I saw the price $21.99. I think that is the most expensive Euchera I have ever seen. I have a Hort society bus tour coming up in June and I think I will wait until then and see if I can find it a little cheaper. Yours is lovely but yikes that price seemed steep.

Great pictures Vivian!

Sherry

Beautiful colors! I tried the Georgia Peach last year and the color this spring has been stunning. Worth every penny.

Barb, look also in your local Zehr's nursery section. They are seldom, if ever, over $7.99. They usually have about 4 varieties or so.

Barb, Did your Fire Alarm come back?

Jo & Vivian, they are more expensive in my Zehrs this year :( But I found Georgia Peach at Canadale in St Thomas on sale for about $13.00 so I was quite happy.

Vivian, sadly Fire Alarm did not come back. Thanks for asking. I wish I knew what happened. Not sure whether I should try again or not.

Barb, Sorry to hear about the loss. Fire Alarm is the worst grower in my garden as well. It came back every year but never gets big. I remember you have Berry Smoothie and she is certainly a robust one and color is beautiful. Glad that you found Georgia Peach, which by far the best in my garden, big and bright. Enjoy!

Ordered georgia peach from gilberthwild for $6 for a large 4" pot. Worth every cent.