Don't forget that cosmos (sensation strain) usually reaches 5-6 feet by
summer's end - depending on soil, rainfall, etc. It's another self-sower. I
had a friend who bought quite a few in flats one year. Gardeners came out of
the woodwork to tell her she was crazy - (one pack of seeds will sow a
garden full often). 15 years later she still has cosmos everywhere - and
this year she sprinkled preen down in early spring to deter weeds - but
cosmos sprang up unimpeded.
"LavenderBee" wrote in message
...

Mark Anderson Wrote:
I have a two basic requirements when it comes to what gets planted in
the
very limited space that makes up my garden. The number one
requirement
is size. The plant has to be able to grow 3 feet or higher. My
second
requirement is toughness. The plant has to be able to negotiate the
jungle and survive on its own. No pansies, petunias, or any of those
kind of plants ever gets planted in my garden because they're too
boring.
IMHO, they're like the little yap yap dog that looks cute but can't do
anything useful but eat and poop. I want plants that get big so all
summer I can sit back and referee the war that ensues as they all vie
for
territory.

Anyway, this spring I went for the first time to this one nursery here
in
Chicago around Rogers Park and they had a huge selection of different
plants. I stumbled upon Cleome and the tag said it grew to 4' so I
bought a six pack of seedlings and in the pots they went. So far
these
plants have gotten huge and each one has 3 or 4 different flower
clusters
and they keep getting bigger and bigger and there are plenty of
growing
months left this year. So, for me, I award my plant of the year to
Cleome. It has practically taken over my garden although no plant can
beat the towering sunflowers. Here's a pic of my Cleome:

http://tinyurl.com/9g29o

BTW: The leaves on this plant actually look like cannabis leaves so I
wonder if the two plant are related.


Does anyone know of other annual or perennial flowers that get this
big?

Last years' Cleome got to be almost 5 1/2 feet tall including their
flower heads. Their a keeper (whether you want them or not!) Photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dxpqs

Mark Anderson Wrote:

Mark Anderson wrote:
Does anyone know of other annual or perennial flowers that get this
big?


Another one you might try is a flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris)
- Annual - Zone 8-11. It grows to 5 feet tall with large leaves at the
base and white pedulous flowers each up to 9 inches - smells great in
the evening and self seeds (every where!) Photo:
http://tinyurl.com/8jtdn
(Top-center, pale green leaves/white flowers - holding it's own beside
the cleome.)

If your friends have one - get some seeds for next year.

Enjoy.


--
LavenderBee