Lewisia rediviva flowering?

[Lawrence]

Having never grown L. rediviva before, I wonder if anyone can offer advice. As you can see from the photograph the buds are swelling, but showing no signs of colour, and showing no signs of opening soon? I am concerned the flowers will not come to fruition, as I believe these deciduous species go dormant during the summer months. Is there anything I can do to force flowering before the plant goes dormant?

[Maggi Young]

Lawrence, are you quite sure that these did not flower while you were away? The flower heads look a little spent to me.

[johnw]

My redivivas ('Jolon's strain) flower in early July after the foliage has disappeared. Am pretty sure they never flower with foliage but could be mistaken.

john

[Robert]

Lawrence,

In the wild Lewisia rediviva can bloom and set ripe seed in as little as two weeks if the weather is warm/hot and dry. This is true of many of our other local Lewisia species. I saw Lewisia triphylla blooming in the wild just the other day. If I want to gather seed I will need to get back to the plants in two weeks. Cool, cloudy weather does slow them down considerably.

Good luck with your plants. They are certainly worth growing.

[Tony Willis]

Mine are in flower now and all the leaves have already died down. There are just the flowers showing no leaves and so I think those are flower buds in the picture. It is time to withhold water.

[Martinr]

I agree with Maggi that the one nearest the camera looks as if it's gone over but the one on the left is still to come. As Tony says no water from now on and patience. Some flower after the leaves are completely shrivelled but others seem to do it just before the leaves go.  I do wish plants would read the books occasionally

[Ed Alverson]

I don't have anything to offer regarding Lewisia redivida cultivation, but I thought I would share this photo that my daughter took last week. The photo was taken in eastern Idaho in the shadow of the Bitterroot Mountains, actually. You can see that the plants are flowering sans foliage. She called the photo "Bitterroot Road". Sort of reminds me of Maggi and Ian's driveway!

Ed

[Maggi Young]

Loving "Bitterroot Road" !
If we could get Lewisia rediviva established in the drive we'd be ecstatic, for sure.

Colin Crosbie, Curator at RHS garden Wisley asked today for photos of the drive to be posted on Twitter to show  what could be done to "Green Grey Britain" ( an RHS  project  of the moment) - here are a couple of  the pix to show  the drive Ed refers too, and how  you can have extra planting and not add to urban drainage problems by  concreting everything over.

[Lawrence]

Well I know I'm not going to win any prizes but the Lewisia rediviva did eventually flower

[Martinr]

That's a cracker Lawrence, look after it

[johnw]

Well I know I'm not going to win any prizes ..........

Don't count on that.