Frog fruit became too invasive in my yard. It quickly started shooting runners and seeds everywhere. My garden is full of invasives but this one was not worth the trouble.

Omar

Thanks Omar. I was planning on planting it in a bed with my banana plants as a groundcover. I wouldn't mind the invasive qualities in that bed but there's a neighboring bed that contains various wildflowers and I'd be afraid of it creeping into that bed. I may plant everything in Fall when it's cooler. I read it's good for attracting pollinators which is the reason why I got it, now I'm thinking it may have made a mistake?

Yesterday when I had the dogs out to run in the green belt near our house, which the city mows very short very regularly, I looked down and saw that the ground was almost covered solid with blooming frog fruit. There were also grasses and wildflowers such as Mex. hats and silverleaf nightshade trying desperately to bloom on short stems, but I was surprised to see so much frog fruit. The rain has helped it flourish I'm sure. It makes a good ground cover if it gets a little moisture from time to time. I think I'll transplant some to an isolated spot in my yard where a ground cover is needed and I don't want to have to water much.

I bet that was a stunning sight roselee? The area where my bananas are gets a lot of water compared to the rest of my garden, it also has some of best soil too. I wouldn't mind it taking over that area and maybe I could just pull it up when it starts growing in the neighboring flower bed? I don't think I've ever seen it growing wild here?

It is not easy to pull out. It shoots runners that develop strong and deep roots in e-a-c-h node. When you try to pull it out, it breaks into pieces, leaving the node with a deep root. It's like planting Bermuda grass hoping to be able to pull it out if it goes to another flowerbed. Also, it doesn't look good all the time. There are times during the grow season when it looses leaves and flowers and all you can see is a lifeless mat of stems. No good.

Omar

I guess I'll just plant it in a pot and hope for the best in winter. I also have some bare spots on the side of my house where I could plant it. The only thing on that side are bearded irises and bamboo lol.

It is a wild plant and a butterfly plant too so I let it go. But my yard is not a controlled designed environment.Sckeleton leaf golden eyes will get large and is tough as nails. Grows easily from cuttings.

I may plant it and take my chances, and when it gets out of control, I'll only have myself to blame. I think I'll grow the skeleton leaf goldeneye in a mound of decomposed granite and pine bark fines to help with its hardiness here. I tried to grow some from seed last year and the year before but none of them sprouted so when I spotted it, I just had to buy it lol.

I can't get the seeds to sprout either.

I tried winter sowing and sowed some in Spring. I tried different potting mixes and I still couldn't get a single one to sprout. I'm glad I got a plant instead.

I have grown blue flax (linum) off and on for several years. I sow the seeds in the fall and they bloom late winter/early spring and are a beautiful addition to any garden. I have tried a perennial variety but I have not been successful in keeping it alive. Not sure what flax you have, but I suggest that you collect the seeds and sow them for next spring.

The chili pequin can be grown in a container, or in your garden bed. They actually are tender perennials and if the roots are protected, they often sprout back in the spring after the temps warm a little bit. In my garden, they seem to prefer a little bit of afternoon shade.

Molly

Thanks Molly for the advice and information. I think the flax that I have is linum lewisii? It's the perennial variety that's native. I think I'm going to plant it in one of my wildflower gardens that has very well drained soil with decomposed granite mixed in. I think it would look great with the Mexican Hats and zexmenia?

I think I'll plant the chili pequin in a flower bed that gets sun for a few hours and then shade from mid afternoon onward. I'll be sure to get lots of mulch so I can keep the roots protected. The area is sheltered by cedars and there's a stone patio nearby for reflected heat.