Pulsatilla 2014

[Roma]

Looks good to me, Mark.

I'm not sure of the name of this one.  The flower is huge and is a clean white, not the greyish or greenish colour of a lot of white pulsatillas.  There is a pot labelled Pulsatilla grandis cream nearby but it has not flowered yet and the leaves are a bit different.  Must try to label every pot or make sure all seedlings from the same seed pot are kept together.

[ielaba2011]

my beloved Pulsatilla! Is already fading out now...

[mark smyth]

I have a white Pulsatilla georgica grown from my own seeds. Is it exciting or normal variation?

Does anyone have success with this Pulsatilla in troughs?

[mark smyth]

I suppose photos would help .... the open pollinated Pulsatilla georgica.

[ielaba2011]

I suppose photos would help ....

exquisitely beautiful, never seen a such a white form of Pulsatilla

[ChrisB]

 Whatever it is, Mark, it's a super plant!

[mark smyth]

In his book C. Grey-Wilson says Pulsatilla georgica isn't in cultivation. His photos show plants with nodding flowers. My plants have flowers that look up. Does anyone else grow this plant?

[ruweiss]

This is my seed raised Pulsatilla georgica.

[mark smyth]

I'll photograph all my plants tomorrow but here are

close up of the parent
two seedlings

[Gerhard Raschun]

for comparison here is a pict of a first flowering seedling, seeds came from Georgia/Caucasus in 2011

Sorry for poor pict, was rarely at home and never got sun for open flowers

[Susann]

I could not keep away from reading this interesting thread with many beautiful pictures. And of course I also want to comment a few things. I am sorry I can not keep away from the dashboard. I really like Pulsatillas and want everybody else to do the same, so I will try to contribute a little to the discussions as it seems as it is a genus that most of us are interested in.
I think it was Vojtech who sold the seeds  labelled  alba form of P albana ssp georgica, wasn´t it? (Although Mark got a alba form in his garden) As far as I know the georgica IS in cultivation and has been for many years. But I am not absolutely sure Vojtech´s batch of seeds was correctly labelled? The plants gets quite big and does not have the typical albana growt? Somebody who has any opinions about it? Regarding books...Many "truths" are stated in books, and much information is lacking.
The flowers of georgica are nodding in bad weather to protect pistills and pollen, and also in the beginning of the flowering season, but upwards in good weather and in the end of flowering period. It goes for a lot of Pulsatillas.

The yellow albana ssp that figures in the beginning of the thread is seen with many names, it is very confusing when one is not "into" Pulsatillas. You see it as P albana ssp lutea, ssp aurea, ssp flavescens or even P albana `Lutea´. But it is not a cultivar, it is a true member of the albana complex, and -this is good-it comes true from seeds. It is also, as I am sure you all already know, very reliable, grows everywhere and under any condition.  I would say that ssp flavescens is the "most correct" name. But yes, unfortunally you also see it as P albana ssp apiifolia, which confuses it even more, as the apiifolia is the yellow form of alpina, as mentioned above.

In the albana complex, in case somebody is not quite sure about the different ssp:s  ( but I do think we already discussed it in the last thread?) is P albana ssp albana,which is very variable as Olga says. Sometimes you see that one, when slightly yellowish also labelled as P albana `Lutea´. or P albana f lutea, but it is such a common variation, and only one between many shades of colors, so I think we should keep to albana ssp albana whitout any more definations. Then there is the true yellow one; albana ssp flavescens, and georgica that you have already discussed. More there is the beautiful albana ssp armena, with stunning flowers and finally there is the albana ssp violacea, that sometimes is all violet, but sometimes and more nicely, white in the center and violet at the top of the sepals. It looks like it is an aquarelle painting. Someones even add one more ssp to the complex, ssp andina. Taxonomes really like their job, if we let them loose they would probably add new ssp and var every week I am afraid. Not only to albana but to halleri and vulgaris and patens and...So much variation in nature. Where are the limits between one ssp and another, or variation? Perhaps we have to accept the fact it is a very variable genus?

If you ask me I would say that P alpina does look a lot like an Anemone, as it has very special "leaves on the stalk" and Anemone-like flowers. I have never seen it in wild, so I would not dare to say anything about the photos posted here, I trust you others.

Keep discussing and growing these beauties, whatever it is nor not is.

[David Nicholson]

CGW has it as pulsatilla in his book syn. anemone David... It really is a lovely thing so I'll keep my fingers crossed it's the real McCoy ...

Chris, my seed grown P.occidentalis (provided they turn out as labelled) are still doing well would you like one?

[ChrisB]

Yes please!...

[Lesley Cox]

Chris, my seed grown P.occidentalis (provided they turn out as labelled) are still doing well would you like one?

David I wish you very well with the continued health of your P. occidentalis (provided they turn out as labelled). I had this a few years ago from an impeccable NW American source and the seedlings had foliage rather like P. alpina and P. alpina ssp apiifolia, looser and not so fluffy as P. vulgaris. They did well until they began to set buds then the lot (about 20 plants) collapsed and died in a very short time. I had had a photo from the source, a glorious, almost golden flower and very large.

Sorry to tell you this, I really like to make a cheerful contribution.

[Susann]

I have to join in with Lesley, but with ever worse experiences. I have tried P occidentalis many times, with very good germination.  ( it is very easy to see if it is P occidentalis as its first characteristic leave always comes from beneath the cotyledon leaves ( I think I posted a picture to show in the other Pulsatilla thread?). All Pulsatillas of this group, PP alpina, apiifolia and aurea, has this behavior. Perhaps some of the Far East species too? I have  never tried to grow these very difficult species from Kuriles Islands. I will try to find out, I have never thought of it before.

Anyway, what do I do to kill my P occidentalis seedlings? Oh, it is very simple: I just repot them and in a few days they are all dead. Next time I get hold of seeds I will put very few seeds in each pot and not touch them for at least two years, to see if it makes any difference. Probably not, I am a notorious killer but it is usually due to neglectance, not to paying attention to the poor seedlings.