From our perspective, our entire existence is governed by the earth's quiet, cyclical rhythms. We are perennial beings, meaning our life cycle repeats season after season. After our delicate, heart-shaped flowers fade and our fern-like foliage yellows in the late spring or early summer, we enter a period of dormancy. This is not death; it is a deep, necessary rest. Our energy, painstakingly gathered from the sun through our leaves, retreats deep into our root structures, often called "eyes" or divisions. This stored energy is what will fuel our spectacular display in the coming year. Therefore, the best time for you to plant our roots aligns perfectly with this natural cycle: during our dormancy in the fall or very early spring, just as we are beginning to stir.
If given a choice, we vastly prefer to be settled into our new home in the autumn, after the summer heat has broken but well before the ground freezes solid. Planting us at this time allows our fibrous root systems to establish themselves in the cool, moist soil. We are not directing energy towards top growth or flowering; all our effort is focused underground, sending out new roots to anchor ourselves and explore the soil for water and nutrients. This process gives us a significant head start. When spring arrives, we are already settled, hydrated, and ready to channel all the sun's energy into vigorous growth and prolific blooming, rather than wasting precious resources on initial root development.
We understand that sometimes you acquire us later in the year. If autumn has passed, the next best window is in the very early spring, the moment the ground is workable and no longer frozen. It is critical to plant us before we break dormancy and before any significant top growth appears. If you can see pale, pinkish shoots (our "eyes") beginning to emerge from the root mass, that is your signal that we are awakening and must be planted immediately with great care. A spring planting is acceptable, but be aware that we may be slightly slower to establish and our first season's bloom might be less spectacular as we divide our energy between building roots and producing flowers.
To truly thrive, we require a specific environment. Please plant our roots in a location that offers rich, well-draining soil amended with generous amounts of compost or leaf mold. We crave consistent moisture but will rot if left sitting in waterlogged earth. Most critically, our preferred light conditions are partial to full shade. The dappled light beneath deciduous trees is ideal, as it protects our tender foliage from the scorching afternoon sun, which can cause us to wilt and retreat into dormancy prematurely. A north or east-facing side of a building is often a perfect spot. Planting us at the correct depth, with the crown (where the roots meet the shoots) about an inch below the soil surface, is also essential for our health.
