Lithodora Diffusa

Discussion in 'Alpine Gardening' started by Paul Benson, Aug 25, 2015.

  1. Paul Benson

    Paul Benson Gardener

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    I have a couple of these plants in 2 separate areas. Overall they seem to be doing fine and growing well. But I've noticed that when they start to put on new foliage in early spring and now sometimes that new foliage is a yellow colour, although it tends to green up later. Is this a normal thing? (See bottom of attached photo)

    LithoYellow.JPG
     
  2. BeeHappy

    BeeHappy Total Gardener

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    @Paul Benson sorry i can't advise you :smile: but would love to know the answer too :scratch: as i had one of these plants i bought it from Homebase it was a variety called "Heavenly Blue" i planted it in a large blue pot and topped it with pea shingle it flowered lovely last year and it was a very attractive plant with stunning blue blooms and glossy green foliage ... but seems to have keeled over this year :frown: in spite of me giving it extra care by bringing it into my log store for this very wet autumn winter iv'e now trimmed it right back in the hope it will recover :fingers crossed:
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Is it not a plant that likes slightly acid soil?:smile:
    Never grown it myself.
     
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    • BeeHappy

      BeeHappy Total Gardener

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      @pete LOL i just thought you were the poster who had asked the question then replying that you'd never grown it DUH!!!:doh: got me "Petes" n "Peters" all mixed up there :loll:
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    • BeeHappy

      BeeHappy Total Gardener

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      Awww gawd :help: me iv'e well n truly lost the plot :dunno:
      LOL i could ave sworn i saw the name Peter :roflol: Time for a stiff drink eh!!! Cheers Pete.Peter Paul :ccheers:
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        We'll if you insist, :biggrin: hic
         
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        • Rustler

          Rustler Super Gardener

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          BeeHappy. Put the glass down and walk slowly away now! Hands on head. Don't touch bottle or glass. Ha ha.
           
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          • BeeHappy

            BeeHappy Total Gardener

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            @Rustler :lunapic 130165696578242 5:its tooooo late LOL you should have got here sooner my friend :heehee: Now all i can say to you is the same i said to :rolleyespink: hic... Pete hic.... Peter n hic ....Paul :loll: is cheers[​IMG]
             

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          • Paul Benson

            Paul Benson Gardener

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            I tried growing my first 2 LDs in pots, and they both failed within a few weeks with leaves and stems turning black. I was going to give up on the plant until the following year there was one in a 2L pot on sale in my garden centre for £1, which looked in a sorry state but was still alive. I bought it as a last ditch effort and put it into the ground. It recovered and really seemed to thrive there and is still going strong today except it produces the odd yellow leaves as shown. I've also managed to get 2 cuttings from the same plant which again were grown in the ground. Previous attempts at cuttings in a pot also had failed. So I've come to the conclusion that Lithodora Diffusa doesn't like being grown in a container for too long.It prefers a free draining soil in a free, sunny open spot. Apparently it also likes to be fed once a year which I am going to do this week, having not bothered before.
             
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              Last edited: Mar 21, 2016
            • Anthony Rogers

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              Hi @BeeHappy ,
              Are you sure you've spelled your name right? Could it be BeerHappy ? :roflol:
               
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              • Anthony Rogers

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                Hi Paul,

                I know this as Lithospermum. Petes right, it likes an acid soil. You could grow it in a container but it needs an ericaceous compost, the same as you would grow Rhododendrons/Azaleas/Camellias and Pieris in. I would also use an Ericaceous feed on them as well.

                PS, I think it's a little early ( my personal opinion ) to be feeding any outdoor plant like this as it's not really growing yet. I only ever feed during active growth.
                 
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                • BeeHappy

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                  Why I don't DRINK beer medear I'm a lady :heehee:
                  :redx:@Anthony Rogers ya
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                  :loll:
                   
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                    Last edited: Mar 21, 2016
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