A Tree Garden

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 ‘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.

Compact Giant Papyrus

Cyperus Percamenthus

Reason: Killed by a weed-wacker during fall cleanup.

Dahlia

Dinner Plate Dahlia

Dahlia hybrid

Reason: --

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 Japanese Maple

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.

Impatiens omeiana silver and pink

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.

Improved Meyer Lemon

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!

Loganberry

Rubus × loganobaccus

Reason: I most likely accidentally pulled this guy thinking it was a bramble. Whoops!

Lupine Hybrid

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.

Mountain Pepper

Mountain Pepper

Drimys lanceolata

Reason: Both specimens did terribly – eaten by root weevils and then lost most leaves over winter. If I try this one again I’ll likely put it in a pot on the deck, possibly sheltering it in the sunroom over winter.

Pineapple Lily ‘Tiki’

Eucomis 'Aloha Lily Tiki'

Reason: It just never came back after the first year.

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.

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!

Shredded Umbrella Plant

Syneilesis palmata

Reason: Never emerged from planted roots.

Speedwell “Georgia Blue”

Veronica p. 'Georgia Blue'

Reason: If I remember correctly, slugs decimated this plant.