Eranthis 2014

[WimB]

Astragalus, it's Eranthis hyemalis you have....

Edit: If you want to be really sure...look at the tubers...E. cilicica: round tubers E. hyemalis: irregularly shaped tubers.

[WimB]

The interesting thing to me is whether some of the other rarerly-grown Eranthis species that are generally cosseted and grown under glass might be capable of becoming garden plants.

Alan, Eranthis pinnatifida has been growing and flowering outdoors for 5 to 6 years in my garden...the clump doesn't grow quickly but it sets seed every year and they are quite easy to grow them from seed.

[Alan_b]

That's great news, Wim.  I would really love to grow Eranthis pinnatifida in my garden.  Can you recommend a source of the seeds?

[WimB]

That's great news, Wim.  I would really love to grow Eranthis pinnatifida in my garden.  Can you recommend a source of the seeds?

I've sent you a PM.

[Leena]

I have never yet seen Eranthis cilicica naturalized so it is either less hardy or much less common or both.  It would be interesting to know where the ones we can buy in garden centres are raised.

Thank you Alan. It is interesting though that why E.cilicica is sold more commonly (as E.hyemalis), I would have thought that it would be opposite. Anyway, my E.cilicica has not increased at all in maybe four years, so that would also indicate that is is not so vigorous as E.hyemalis. I will have to try to buy E.hyemalis again and hope that I get the right species. I have sown it from seeds exchange seeds last winter, so they may be a good start for E.hyemalis in my garden.
I hope there will also be E.pinnatifida in the seeds exchange in the future.

Edit: If you want to be really sure...look at the tubers...E. cilicica: round tubers E. hyemalis: irregularly shaped tubers.

This was a very good to know, thank you.

[astragalus]

Thanks, Wim. It certainly seems to be E. hyemalis.  I'll be moving a couple of small patches soon and will check the tubers then to be absolutely sure.

[Maggi Young]

Leena - for us cilicica is much less hardy than hyemalis.

[Leena]

Thanks Maggi.

[udo]

Here the differences of the seed pods of different Eranthis:

E.hyemalis Schwefelglanz
E.hyemalis semi-plena form
E.cilicica
E.tubergenii fertile form
E.tubergenii Guinea Gold, never seeds

Eranthis cilicica attaches more seeds per blossom, thereby he is easier absolutely in summer-dry areas to increase than hyemalis.

[Alan_b]

I live in a very summer-dry area and my garden has some large trees that make it even drier.  But my Eranthis hyemalis has reached the point that seedlings are beginning to pop-up all over the garden at some distance from where the original plants grow and have spread - I don't know how they have managed that.  My Schwefelglanz is seeding prolifically and the few that have flowered so far have come true to the parent.

My first attempt to grow Eranthis cilicica was about a decade ago and quickly failed - I don't know why I lost those plants.  I bought a few last year and a few more this year but no sign of any seedlings yet.     

[astragalus]

That's interesting, Alan.  The same thing has happened here with E. hyemalis.  They are popping up ni some other parts of the garden where I never planted them.  The original planting was 6 in the same area.  Perhaps chipmunks or squirrels have done it?  They don't seem to find everything they store in the garden.

[Alan_b]

No chipmunks here and I would have thought the seeds are too small (and come too early in the year) to be of interest to squirrels for storage.  Perhaps some get eaten and pass intact through the digestive system of whatever animal it is?

[Mavers]

I've also noticed seedlings in a part of the garden where eranthis have not been planted.

Some will have to be pulled out as they are emerging among my anemonellas.

[Leena]

Edit: If you want to be really sure...look at the tubers...E. cilicica: round tubers E. hyemalis: irregularly shaped tubers.

I got two bulbs of E.hyemalis last spring from a friend and the tubers were really irregularly shaped and easy to tell I had the real thing, unfortunately no photo, but now I bought more E.hyemalis (because I want more of them  , and when I got to look at these tubers they look more round. Which ones are these? They were dry so I soaked them overnight before taking the picture and planting them. These were bought from a commercial supplier from Netherlands.

[Alan_b]

Good luck with those, Leena.

Here in the UK you can find large naturalised populations of Eranthis hyemalis which set seed in great quantities.  If you want to increase your stock I would have though the best way is probably to get hold of some seed.  If you remind me next year I will try to collect some for you.  Is late April or May the optimum time, I wonder?