Rewilding My Lot

Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) is well established in the back garden and is very popular with hummingbirds.

This year I am pleased to see Standing Cypress plants growing in the wildflower meadow in front of the house. A few of those originate from young plants that I transplanted early this year, and others presumably grew from seed carried over in shredded plants that I used as mulch.

I think I see at least ten Standing Cypress in the meadow. This is a biennial plant — in the first year they grow small ferny rosettes and in the second year they produce tall bloom spikes.

When I seeded Standing Cypress in the back garden, a small proportion (maybe 10%) bloomed in their first year. So I wasn’t too surprised to see one of the meadow plants blooming in the first year. The rest of them should bloom next year.

If I want an established population of Standing Cypress in the wildflower meadow, because this is a biennial plant, then I will need to introduce some new first-year plants next year as well. The easiest way to do that will be to put more shredded plants (containing seed) on the ground later this year.