Tropaeolum 2013- 2014

[Lesley Cox]

Started a new thread because I have some very fresh seed of Tropaeolum ciliatum which I know a couple of Forumists want but I couldn't remember who. I have 20 good seeds and could get some more probably but it would mean climbing through a blackberry thicket! so I'd rather not. James in South Australia wanted some and if anyone else lets me know very soon, I'd like to get it posted away before this coming Friday which is moving day. Send me your postal address please and I'll divide it among whoever replies.

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

A new season with new seedlings which have appeared by the end of 2012.
Seed pots kept well protected from the cold.

JP

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Hi,
This mild spring weathers brings the first tropaeolum flowers.
Hope more will follow...
Tr BRACHYCERAS
Tr TRICOLOR
JP

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

2 more tropaeolum pics taken at Lyon's BG:
Tr PENTAPHYLLUM
Tr PELTOPHORUM

[Lesley Cox]

Someone has sent a request for the seed I mentioned above, of T. ciliatum and I'll happily send it - as soon as I find it! In the process of moving house/garden/nursery/ many things have become (I hope temporarily) mislaid. It will be somewhere not too far below the surface and so will, in due course, be sent. In the meantime, I apologise profusely.

[bulborum]

Just got seeds from Chile
T. polyphyllum and azureum
lets hope they grow well
T. polyphyllum seedlings from last year germinated in February
and are potted in 9 cm pots
Maybe some flowers this year ?

Roland

[johnw]

Roland  - Thanks so much for the belated offer.  I did get seeds from a fellow on the Isle of Eigg.  Some sprouted last year and I expect more to germinate the spring.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

I've twice had seed of polyphyllum from the Archibald lists and had good germination but not a single flower - ever- over 20 years so I grow it for the foliage. My mother used to have it years ago and when she went to dig it up the tubers had moved to the bottom of the half barrel in which they grew but mine have all stayed at the surface of troughs and raised beds. I've buried them deeply but still no flowers. At least two other NZ rock gardeners I know (one now died) had it coming up everywhere and flowering like crazy. Why not mine?

[Ezeiza]

Dear Leslie:

                    Do these two people you mention garden in a climate colder than yours? In the wild they grow in screes, in slopes, with the tubers very deep. They have snow in winter so they are quite dryish and dormant then and sprout and grow, etc. during spring and early summer depending on altitude. In plain summer the tubers go dormant.

[hanninkj]

Years ago I had bought T. ciliatum and I planted the bulb in the garden and now it is weed. Even Winters with -18 degrees Celsius the plants are still alive and increase extreme.

Ton

[Lesley Cox]

Dear Leslie:

                    Do these two people you mention garden in a climate colder than yours? In the wild they grow in screes, in slopes, with the tubers very deep. They have snow in winter so they are quite dryish and dormant then and sprout and grow, etc. during spring and early summer depending on altitude. In plain summer the tubers go dormant.

Thankyou Alberto, no, generally their climates are the same as mine. One in Christchurch, the other in Geraldine, a bit south and a bit inland from Chch but overall, similar to Dunedin's climate. Christchurch doesn't get much snow at all really, and Dunedin just occasional overnight falls, lasting a day or perhaps two, a couple of times in the winter. Geraldine much the same.

Hannink, years ago I bought a dormant tuber as T. azureum and it turned out to be T. ciliatum.  You're right, a terrible weed, crawling all over everything and not eradicable by digging or spraying,  because of the other plants around the area.

[hanninkj]

The first flowers in Trop. azureum.

Ton

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Some more tropaeolum pictures:
Tr BRACHYCERAS ( in full bloom )
Tr AUSTROPURPUREUM
Tr X BRACHYCERAS ( hybrid )

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

A very nice Tropaeolum hybrid
JP

[Maggi Young]

A very nice Tropaeolum hybrid
JP

  Yes, Very nice! A subtle colour and lovely marking.