Plant Graveyard
Sometimes things don’t work out. This will be helpful for the future for myself, and maybe it will help you too. This page is in progress – there are many more dead plants on the way (yay?).
Bihou Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Bihou'
Reason: Early in spring a black blotch appeared on the lower trunk which slowly spread, circling the trunk and creeping up toward the crown. Finally the leaves began to wilt, and I pulled it. I’m wondering if moving it in Feb/March allowed some sort of disease to take over? In any case I probably won’t plant another japanese maple in that spot.
Bishop’s Weed
Aegopodium p. 'Variegatum'
Reason: I figured it was only a matter of time before this aggressive plant escaped its confines, and I’d be really sorry when it did. I removed it and planted hardy geranium in its place.
Ceanothus ‘Diamond Heights’
Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Diamond Heights'
Reason: The first one I tried one died one winter after surviving for a couple or more years, likely due to freezing temps. Second attempt looked like hell after its first winter (which was particularly harsh). Two strikes and it’s out! I may use this as an annual in the future for planters but as a perennial, it’s a no go in our garden.
Dwarf Fetterbush
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Nana'
Reason: One of my first plants. Being a beginning gardener I think I failed to properly open and water the compacted rootball.
Emperor I Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Emperor I'
Reason: This beautiful tree up and died back to within 3 inches of the soil line. I don’t know why, but just in case I replaced it with a completely different tree, a Tricolor birch.
Fuchsia ‘Tom West’
Fuchsia 'Tom West'
Reason: I guess this one was not meant to be, it has disappeared completely from the spot I planted it in.
Goatsbeard ‘Misty Lace’
Aruncus hybrid 'Misty Lace'
Reason: I was never really impressed with this plant so I let it be bulldozed along with the rest of the plants that met their doom in the great vacant lot clearing of 2019.
Golf Ball Pittosporum
Pittosporum Tenuifolium 'Golf Ball'
Reason: The north facing side of the shrub died due to frost. What a bummer, I love this shrub! Sadly I removed it, and will think twice about planting shrubs that are only hardy into zone 8.
Hardy Impatiens ‘Silver and Pink’
Impatiens omeiana 'silver and pink'
Reason: The combo of aggressiveness and lackluster appearance prompted me to pull this plant completely. Well almost completely – I’m still pulling volunteers but it’s on its way out.
Honeysuckle ‘Scarlet Dropmore’
Lonicera x brownii. 'Dropmore Scarlet'
Reason: This grew well but got terrible powdery mildew every year starting around June. I dug it up and planted it different spot to see if it would improve, but it never came back the next season.
Improved Meyer Lemon
Citrus × meyeri
Reason: I’ve finally given up on citrus – poor performance for us indoors and out. Maybe someday!
Kieffer Lime
Citrus Hystix
Reason: Limped along until I gave it away after which I think it died. Probably a common fate for citrus in the Northwest!
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis
Reason: I purposely smothered these with cardboard in late 2021/early 2022. They were spreading too far and only looked good in spring, after which they would wither and turned brown.
Loganberry
Rubus × loganobaccus
Reason: I most likely accidentally pulled this guy thinking it was a bramble. Whoops!
Lupine Hybrid
Lupinus hybrid
Reason: These were always beset by aphids and leafminers by mid summer, I think because their home beneath the Douglas fir was too dry – so I pulled them out.
Micro-miniature Cattail
Typha minima 'Europa'
Reason: Sadly this plant just sort of disappeared. And I never actually saw cattail ‘sausage’ form before it died.
Potato Vine
Solanum jasminoides
Reason: Sadly this died over winter, I think our late cold snap did it in! When I dug it out, the roots still seemed alive so I planted it in a pot to see if it actually comes back very late.
Profuse Flowering Clematis ‘Serious Black’
Clematis recta purpurea 'Lime Close'
Reason: Grew too leggy so I pulled it. At the time I planted it, our garden was much more shaded – perhaps I will try it again someday!
Red Baron Blood Grass
Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'
Reason: There may be a few blades of this left but it might as well be dead – I think I planted it in a too-shady spot.
Salvia ‘Mirage Deep Purple’
Salvia greggii 'Balmirdepur'
Reason: Died back the winter of 2021/2022 and never came up spring 2022
Shaina Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Shaina'
Reason: The north half of this maple died in winter 2021/2022 – I think being half covered by ivy didn’t help. Anyhow I pulled it in spring of 2022. Sad!
Speedwell “Georgia Blue”
Veronica p. 'Georgia Blue'
Reason: If I remember correctly, slugs decimated this plant.