We all make gardening mistakes, but there is nothing more vexing than creating self- inflicted problems by choosing a plant for some special effect – beautiful flowers or lush foliage - only to discover that it refuses to stay in its allotted space, and takes off across the garden dominating everything in its path. I mention the following selection from my own experiences – perhaps it will help you to avoid the same mistakes!

Maypop. Passiflora incarnata. Lured by the exotic, tropical-looking flowers and edible fruit I purchased this to cover a rather dull wooden fence. I erected some lattice for it to scramble over and carefully planted the contents of a 2” pot at the base. It cheerfully romped away and flowered as promised, but then I found suckers coming up at regular intervals along the irrigation line bursting through the surface wherever there was an emitter - from under a host of herbaceous treasures and even appearing in the rockery. The latest sucker to emerge is 15 feet away from the parent plant and I will only get fruit if I plant a second one for cross pollination!

 

 

Goji Berry.   Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense. According to gardening catalogs the fruits of this plant are close to being a miracle food and because it is hardy and thrives in alkaline soil I thought that it might do well in Bishop. Planted in a choice spot it grew into an untidy, slightly spiny shrub about 8' tall with many weak stems which sprawled over surrounding plants. Then suckering roots gave rise to new versions up to 6' away. I was not expecting this! I could forgive it were not for the fact that fruit production has been low, the fruits are small, and while not unpleasant it is hard to know what to do with them. Goldfinches are particularly attracted to the plant and gleefully shred the leaves which does nothing to improve the overall appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Violets. Viola hederacea. We moved into our house in early spring and I was overjoyed to be greeted by carpets of violets blooming under the trees and in the borders. Five years later my joy has turned to despair as I try to gain some control. They seed prodigiously and also spread by runners. I hack, dig and hoe but, even after I have removed all of the mature plants, seedlings appear everywhere and take hold in cracks between pavings, in the middle of the lawn, as well as in the borders and vegetable plot. Unfortunately this particular variety has no perfume, so I cannot even use them for candying or making pot pourri. In spring they are affected by the violet gall midge which distorts the leaves and just adds insult to injury! However, they are pretty when they flower.

 

 

Mexican Evening Primrose. Oenothera speciosa. This is has pretty flowers and a long blooming season, but it is also an aggressive spreader. It needs little water and is happy in poor soils. It spreads rapidly by rhizomes and also by seeds, and quickly forms an attractive carpet of spring-flowering pink blooms. Although good for quickly covering banks and places where other plants might not do well, when given water and more fertile soil it is very difficult to control. Even little pieces of root take hold. Make sure if you plant this that you will be able to contain it.

Mint. Mentha spp. There is nothing like the first potatoes of the season cooked with a little mint. Aware of mint's invasiveness I followed the universal planting advice of putting it in a pot which had its bottom cut away, and then plunging it into the ground. That failed to contain it after the first season. Perhaps I should have used a larger pot or not planted the pot so deeply. The roots, not unlike Bermuda grass, rampaged in all directions. I pulled huge mats of them out, but even tiny pieces left behind were soon growing vigorously, and new plants appeared a long way from the original planting. I did finally get the better of it by planting it in a hanging pot over a concrete patio. Surely it would not be able to spread from there. It didn't - it died!

For some other rapidly growing or spreading plants which should be planted with caution visit:  http://ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_Gardeners/files/154805.pdf